In Szn: Where second-hand is not second-best

Aim

A more sustainable solution to the rising one-time wear fashion culture - A tech platform where second-hand is not second-best.

What is in szn?

In Szn is the first fashion resale platform that is exclusive to in-season clothes. Providing those who seek staying in fashion a more sustainable and convenient way to shop second-hand.

Why was in szn created?

It has become customary for women to buy new clothes for each wedding, party or holiday they attend. The clothes are generally worn once and then stuffed into the depths of their wardrobe, saved for "another occasion". This aforementioned occasion unfortunately never comes around. When you get the next invite to a wedding or party, you buy the next new style that you haven't been photographed in or haven't been seen in. Its a vicious cycle again. 

This is extremely wasteful - in terms of the money spent and the unused clothes that hang in wardrobes. We've set out to solve the issues around why second-hand channels weren't used as much in the past.

Source: Fashion Revolution based on data from Barnados, 2019

How does in szn help solve this.

We have created a platform that innovatively solves these issues. Our technology only allows the resale of clothes that are currently in season. This creates an efficiency for consumers, allowing people who have an outfit that they will not wear again to connect with people who would buy that same outfit brand new in store. 

We have spent years researching the pain-points that buyers & sellers experience with second-hand resale and have set out to solve each issue. Most second-hand shops/ platforms largely cater to the vintage or high-end market. The majority of sales by volume (and the highest environmental offenders) however do not come from these segments. 

The central issue that in szn solves:

• For buyers: The inconvenient customer experience associated with finding an in-trend bargain on a second-hand platform. Currently buyers must hunt for countless hours through old and worn-out clothing to find something in fashion. 
• For sellers: They must significantly discount their items for buyers due to the inconvenient buyer experience. This often deters sellers from selling, even though the likelihood of them wearing the item again is extremely low. However, in szn sellers are able to recover a high value for their item, as demand for the product still exists in-store.

This innovation encourages people who have never shopped second-hand to make that leap, without having to compromise on style.

What will your funding have an impact on?

If you watched last month's Patriot Act episode on the fashion industry on Netflix, you would've heard Hasan Minhaj say “If everyone bought one used item this year instead of new, it could save nearly 6bn pounds of CO2 emissions – that’s equivalent to removing half a million cars off the road for a year.”

We created in szn to help tackle the environmental impact that garments have, when they're only worn once. It is wasteful, expensive and unsustainable, both in terms of the environmental cost of making new clothes and the accumulation of underused garments in landfills.

Your funding will help our mission to increase the proportion of people that use second-hand fashion channels vs. those who dont. This will be done by strategic marketing campaigns and for necessary technology & IT improvements for the business to take on more customers. 

Why the time for in szn is now?

The launch of the web platform is scheduled for early 2020. Your funding can help tip the scales and increase the number of people who shop second-hand.

Sources: (1) UK Environmental Audit Committee in 2019, (2) Censuswide survey commissioned by Barnados in 2019, (3) Evening Standard survey in 2019, (4) WRAP in 2019, (5) Ellen McArthur Foundation in 2017 and (6) Hubbub in 2017.

This project successfully funded on 24th December 2019