Melbourne fashion label Arnsdorf became the first Australian label to collaborate with the global clothing exchange platform SwapChain which aims to redefine second-hand shopping. By making a move towards circular fashion, Arnsdorf has made history as the first Australian brand to do so.

Arnsdorf was founded by Jade Sarita Arnott and ever since its relaunch in 2016, it has been making a conscious effort to become a sustainable label. The label focuses on slow fashion and produces high-quality pieces with delicate and unique details which gives a completely contemporary meaning to the idea of a timeless wardrobe.

Being an ethically conscious label, Arnsdorf focuses on a sustainable, gender-equal, fair, and transparent future of fashion. On its website, the brand credits the origins of its raw materials and makers’ names along with costings. This results in making the consumers easy to feel confident in their ethical shopping efforts. This local brand is shaping up to be a pillar of sustainable Australian fashion and sells everything from staple items and corporate attire to statement event pieces and accessories.

Along with this Arnsdorf has become the first brand in Australia to be part of an initiative tracking a circular economy within the fashion industry. As the first Australian retailer, this local label has partnered with Global Fashion Exchange to launch its new platform for circular consumerism, SwapChain.

SwapChain is networked via new technology and uses advanced computers to track and trace everything from a garment’s supply chain and life cycle. By listing estimated data on garment water usage and carbon metrics, it also aims to provide information on how the clothes consumers purchase affect the planet.

SwapChain aims to create greater awareness of sustainable consumerism. They do this by breaking the stigma of second-hand clothing and proving that buying second-hand doesn’t mean a lack of quality or choice.

About this partnership, Jade Sarita Arnott Arnsdorf founder and designer said that in their circular journey, they feel really excited to be taking this step. They feel excited to offer this opportunity to their loyal and dedicated customers, as they can give their Arnsdorf garments a new life in exchange for a different piece. By partnering with SwapChain and becoming the first to bring this technology and process to Australia make them feel honored.

The partnership between Global Fashion Exchange and SwapChain will be launched in Melbourne on March 12 which will coincide with Melbourne Fashion Festival. This will be a week-long fashion swap event at the Arnsdorf boutique in Fitzroy. Consumers can get involved in this by bringing their old Arnsdorf clothes into the store from now until March 7. The old pieces will be assessed by staff and then their original value will be determined. After this token will be given to consumers and they can use it to buy pieces from a designated SwapChain section between March 12 to 20.