European online fashion platform Zalando is to launch a 'Pre-Owned' section later this year to meet the demand for secondhand clothing from sustainability-focused shoppers and bargain hunters.

The company, which bills itself as Europe’s leading platform for fashion and lifestyle, says the Pre-Owned section - due to go live in the autumn in Germany - will also cater to customers who want to sell their unwanted garments.

Zalando has previously dipped its toe in the secondhand market with its Wardrobe reselling app and its Zircle pop-up store in Berlin but this will be the first time it has become a part of its main e-commerce website.

Torben Hansen, Zalando's VP for Recommerce, said Pre-Owned would offer a digital space for pre-owned items - all with the look, feel and convenience of Zalando.

"It’s super exciting to see something we’ve been laying the groundwork for during the last two years launch as its own category. All the things our customers love about Zalando, they can experience with pre-owned items: It's a new playground. We’re pretty excited," he said.

"This is what we want to bring to the pre-owned fashion landscape: an easy and pleasurable way of shopping, great convenience and, yeap, the 100 day free returns Zalando customers have been enjoying since we began.

"Customers will also be able to sell their items to Zalando where, after a quality check, they will become available on the fashion store. The view is to make selling as easy as buying, and we think this comes pretty close."

Zalandod's SVP for Product Design, Anne Pascual, said the decision had been taken to launch the 'Pre-Owned' section because of the global growth of the secondhand garment market.

"On the one hand, customers are increasingly in search of pre-owned items whether for reasons of sustainability or to enrich their looks with a unique piece. On the other hand, decluttering is now part of the fashion conversation, and customers are in search of innovative ways to do so," she said.

"For us, yes, it’s about following or anticipating trends, but it’s also about adding another dimension to Zalando... Whatever you want, whoever you are, however you want it. Pre-owned feels like a natural addition in that case."

Source: EcoTextile News