Fast fashion platform Shein is expanding its resale program to Europe and the UK after debuting the peer-to-peer exchange in the U.S. in October 2022.
The Shein Exchange resale platform allows users to easily buy and sell previously owned Shein products within the Shein app. The program’s expansion into Europe will roll out in phases, beginning in France — which has, coincidentally, been one of the most proactive countries fighting the impact of fast fashion with legislation and regulation. Users in France can now access the Shein Exchange, with the resale platform set to expand to the UK and Germany in subsequent phases.
Since the launch of Shein Exchange in the U.S., the platform has continued to gain traction. In 2023, more than 4.2 million new U.S. users signed up to join the Shein Exchange, with 115,000+ pre-owned items listed for sale by more than 95,000 unique sellers, according to Shein.
Shein Exchange is available directly within the Shein app in markets where it has launched. A streamlined process pre-populates a list of customers’ previous purchases with a button next to each that says “sell,” aiming to make it easy for users to resell items. Shein customers looking to explore pre-loved styles can use the search and filter tools within the platform to create more targeted search results.
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The program is part of Shein’s larger commitment to address the ongoing issues of textile waste and build a more circular fashion industry in the face of criticism around its manufacturing processes and role in the fast fashion sector.
“As a member of the World Circular Textiles Day community, we know that there is a lot of work to be done to achieve a fully circular textile future by 2050,” said Caitrin Watson, Director of Sustainability at Shein in a statement. “Shein continues to integrate circular practices into our business model by increasing the use of recycled and rescued materials, while also designing platforms and programs to help extend the lifecycle of our products. With the extension of our Shein Exchange platform into Europe and the UK, we hope to provide more of our global customer community with ways to easily participate in the circular economy and promote the environmental benefits of shopping secondhand rather than buying new.”
