Circular trade is the future - for your wallet and the climate

The Swedish Trade Federation recently presented its Style Index, summarizing the fashion industry's sales development over the past year. It has been a tough year with an even tougher ending for clothing retailers, and the outlook is no brighter. Clothing retailers recorded an increase of only 0.3% year-on-year in December and a 2% increase over the whole year.

The decline in the clothing trade is a natural consequence of economic development, but we would like to think that part of it also has to do with increased awareness and the realization that the climate and nature crisis is a serious matter that needs to be addressed now. The huge volumes put on the market, with no real demand and no chance of good management at their untimely end-of-life, are a threat to children's safety, now and in the future.

When Erikshjälpen Second Hand now summarizes its year 2023, we can see that circular trade is here to stay. In 2023, sales of adult clothing increased by 8 percent. This means a turnover of 1,268,654 garments in our stores. In total, Erikshjälpen Second Hand also increased its total sales by 10 percent in 2023 and an increase of 9 percent in the number of customers.

Our hope is that fashion producers will allow this period of economic downturn to be a reflection on the problem of volume. In 2023, it has become clearer than ever that there is no circular value chain in the fast fashion system. It is high time for change. Let's see reduced volumes of newly produced fashion on the market and make sure that what is produced is of design and quality that can be reused. This is a win-win for retailers, us and future generations.

Author: Emelie Johansson