How Sustainable is The RealReal?

‍Fast fashion and ultra-fast fashion brands have popularized business models built on underpaid employees, cheap fabrics, and clothes that only last for a few wash cycles.

‍

The large textile waste and water pollution created by the fashion industry is taking a toll on the planet. Buying secondhand clothing is a great way to increase the lifespan of clothes and keep them out of landfills. It also reduces the need to manufacture new clothes.

‍

Sustainable luxury brand The RealReal is enabling that by extending the lifecycle of luxury items.

About TheRealReal

‍

Founder and former CEO Julie Wainwright conceived the idea for The RealReal while shopping with a friend who was purchasing items from a consignment rack in the back of an upscale boutique.

‍

Intrigued, Wainwright inquired about the friend's choice and learned that trust in the shop owner, the curated aesthetics of the store, and fantastic deals on renowned brands like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci were the driving factors.

‍

This revelation shifted Wainwright's perspective on consignment, leading her to delve into research on the luxury and resale markets. After personally experimenting with resale methods, she recognized a significant market opportunity to create a captivating shopping experience, preserve the allure of luxury brands, ensure authenticity, and eliminate consignment barriers.

‍

In 2012, Wainwright selected a name, registered the business, and secured capital. The doors to The RealReal opened in June 2011. The company actively contributes to a more sustainable future by maintaining the circulation of luxury goods. In addition to apparel, The RealReal offers jewelry, watches, and home products from various luxury brands.

‍

What makes The RealReal sustainable?

‍

The RealReal teamed up with leading environmental consulting firm Shift Advantage and sustainable textile leaders from the World Resources Institute and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to develop a first-of-its-kind calculator to measure the greenhouse gases, energy output, and water usage saved by the selling process since the founding of The RealReal. Here are the results:

‍

The RealReal has saved 62,559 metric tons of carbon since its founding, which is equivalent to what 10.4 million trees absorb in one year.
Selling on The RealReal has saved 3.3 billion liters of water since its founding, which is equivalent to 14 billion 8 oz. glasses of water.

‍

To encourage consumers to sell their luxury goods on the platform, The RealReal has partnered with a few luxury brands:

Members who sold a Burberry item were offered a personal styling appointment and British High Tea at a Burberry store.
Selling any Stella McCartney item on The RealReal allows consumers to earn $100 to shop at Stella McCartney.
For every member who bought or sold a Gucci item during the partnership, a donation was made to One Tree Planted to support global reforestation.

‍

The RealReal is also one of the founding organizations of the American Circular Textiles Policy Group or ACT, a collective of retailers and companies cofounded by Circular Services Group (CSG, advocating for policies promoting circularity and reuse as a waste management solution.

What can The RealReal do better?

‍

A few sellers on various review sites have expressed concerns about the lack of transparency around pricing and shipment delays. Instances like these could discourage individuals from selling their used clothes.

‍