Did you know that kids can speed through seven sizes of clothing in the first two years of their lives? This adds to the already-massive amount of waste generated by the fashion industry each year. Retykle has been tackling this problem since 2016, allowing parents to resell their gently worn children’s clothes on the platform and keep them in circulation for longer.
Sarah Garner’s company, Retykle, is now an institution in the Hong Kong kids’ clothing scene, and we had the chance to chat with her about the inspiration behind starting the company, her top picks for back-to-school, and what’s next.
Giveaway
We’re partnering with Retykle for a back to school giveaway, where two lucky winners will each win an HK$800 voucher each to shop on retykle.com. Follow us on Instagram @8shadesofficial for more details!
How did you first come up with the idea for Retykle?
I’d worked in luxury fashion for over 10 years and had begun to feel that the relentless pace of the industry was unsustainable. At the same time that I was questioning my role within the industry, I was also becoming a mom.
Upon having my first child, I was struck with the pace at which babies outgrow their clothes and the temporary nature of everything you buy for them. Having kids, inadvertently, creates massive waste due to this temporary use cycle and I felt that I could use my experience to create a circular fashion solution that resolves to keep items in circulation for longer, extending their lifespan and keeping items out of the landfill.
We endeavour to keep solving for full circularity such that kids don’t have to impact their future earth just by being born.
What’s one simple thing everyone can do to be more sustainable?
Consider making a portion of everything you purchase secondhand. Every little bit helps to increase the product lifespan and the simple act of a secondhand purchase can serve as a lesson to your kids about responsible consumption.
Also, try to fix something that requires mending with your kids so that they learn not to treat items as disposable when they are broken, but rather understand the importance of repairing to keep them out of the garbage. Something as simple as getting dressed can become a family philosophy about consumption.
What are your top five picks for back to school?
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Reusable Silicone Sandwich Bag
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See also: Retykle’s Back To School Edit and Activewear Edit
What are some exciting things you’re working on next?
We’re expanding our on-the-ground operations to Singapore in a few weeks! We can’t wait to open the sell-side to our customers in Singapore and expand our community and impact in the market.
Be sure to follow our Instagram account at @8shadesofficial for more information on how to enter our giveaway with Retykle!
See also: 8Shades Of… Eugenia Chow AKA. @Eugreenia
