TheIndustry.fashion Retail Reset Summit 2025: Unlocking value through circularity

TheIndustry.fashion’s debut summit is bringing together some of the UK’s most forward-thinking fashion leaders for a powerful day of networking, insight, and strategic planning.

Through a programme of panel discussions, keynote interviews, and expert presentations, attendees are gaining critical direction and inspiration on the forces shaping the future of fashion retail.

Taking place at the Nobu Hotel in London, today's event explores the emergence of a new era in fashion retail, equipping attendees with the insights needed to stay ahead of key trends, refine their strategies, and build valuable new industry connections.

Two standout sessions focused on circularity, highlighting how repair, resale, and rental have now moved firmly into the mainstream. Logistics specialist Bleckmann hosted an insightful panel titled "Circularity Takes Centre Stage as Sustainable Practice Goes Mainstream", delving into the operational and strategic considerations of integrating circular models into retail.

Setting the stage for this discussion, Cameron Worth, founder and CEO of SharpEnd / io.tt, first delivered a compelling presentation titled "Creativity Meets Compliance". In it, he explored how brands are navigating the growing landscape of product legislation - such as the Digital Product Passport (DPP) - by leveraging connected technologies like QR codes and NFC.

Through his business, Worth helps brands and retailers connect more closely with their customers by creating rich, connected experiences - including those centred around circularity. These activations are designed to be interactive, story-driven, and capable of tracing products throughout the supply chain.

By scanning a QR code or tapping an NFC tag, Worth helps brands guide consumers to an intuitive, visually-led experience that seamlessly blends product intelligence with embedded marketing.

Speaking about the necessity of implementing these technologies - but doing it well - Worth explains: "Legislation is coming - many global regulations are mandating that brands adopt digital IDs on products. Brands have to do this; it not only benefits their business but also the industry as a whole. But don't settle for mere compliance - make sure it looks good too. Take customers on an intuitive, graphic-led experience."

Having successfully whet the audience’s appetite, Bleckmann's Hans Robben - Programme Manager of The Renewal Workshop - took to the stage alongside Josephine Philips, founder and CEO of SoJo, and Eshita Kabra, founder and CEO of By Rotation.

Bleckmann is a third-party logistics (3PL) and supply chain management company specialising in the fashion and lifestyle sectors. The firm forms strategic partnerships with brands - both big and small - to deliver tailored solutions that align with each client's unique requirements and long-term growth objectives.

Offering an end-to-end logistics service, Bleckmann manages the entire supply chain - from collecting products at the point of manufacture and transporting them into its facilities, to picking, packing, dispatch, and final delivery to the end consumer.

With deep industry experience, the company also supports brands in scaling across multiple territories, while providing expert guidance on strategies that enhance the customer journey, reduce operational costs, and promote sustainability.

At the heart of its sustainability efforts is The Renewal Workshop - a comprehensive suite of circular solutions designed to help brands recover the highest possible value from every product.

This eco-conscious approach is built around three core pillars: determining the most effective approach for handling damaged or returned items; transforming unsellable products into high-quality, sellable items through repair, cleaning, and reprocessing; and giving renewed products a second life by reintroducing them into the market as part of a sustainable resale strategy.

"Three years ago, we acquired The Renewal Workshop and it is now fully integrated into our service model. Our current priority is addressing the most urgent challenges - primarily the issue of damaged returns," shares Robben.

"We’ve found that 50% of returns can be brought back and sold as new. For the remaining items that can’t meet “new” standards, many are still in a good enough state for resale.

"There’s significant untapped value in solving this problem - a challenge that every brand and retailer is facing today."

It comes as circularity becomes increasingly important in Europe’s shift toward more sustainable consumption - among both brands and consumers - with Bleckmann emerging as a key player driving this transition through logistics and repair innovation.

Further proving this point, clothing repair and alterations expert SoJo has expanded its reach through partnerships with major brands like Marks & Spencer and Arket. The collaboration with M&S followed research revealing that only 10% of people feel confident repairing their own clothes, while 60% of consumers seek retailer-led services to help reduce their carbon footprint.

"Damaged products are often treated as a loss - especially when they're not repaired or resold at full value. But the ability to repair and quickly return items to the shop floor unlocks new revenue while minimising cost. What was once a sinkhole for cash can be transformed into a revenue stream," says Philips.

Agreeing with this, Robbon adds: "The annual volume of damaged returns can actually generate profit. Repairing and reselling items as new solves part of the problem - but the other half, resale value, remains a largely untapped opportunity. Once again, it’s about unlocking profit purely by working with damaged garments.

"A key trigger often comes when finance teams question high storage costs - only to discover these are tied up in damaged returns sitting idle. With a quick two-three day repair turnaround, there’s no need to delay bringing products back to market. Timing is critical - and the opportunity is right in front of you."

But circularity goes beyond end of life solutions - it’s also about embedding sustainable strategies throughout the entire product lifecycle, starting from design. While the renewal of returns is a valuable step, true circularity begins at the design stage. This means using fewer trims and fastenings that can’t be repaired, choosing more durable, high-quality materials, and constructing garments in a way that allows for easy alterations and repairs.

Bleckmann, SoJo and By Rotation all recognise the vital link between thoughtful design and long-term garment longevity. "Brands are becoming more aware that if clothing lasts longer, people are more likely to see it as a worthwhile investment," says Kabra.

To support this shift, Bleckmann leverages a wealth of data. "We feed data back to brands - highlighting common manufacturing issues. It’s incredibly valuable, based on damaged returns, and can inform improvements in future production," reveals Robben.

As mentioned, resale is another key pillar of circular fashion, giving garments a second life and reducing waste. Bleckmann supports this by collecting used products, refurbishing them through its renewal process and then reselling them for partner brands. Renewed items re-enter the brand’s inventory and are sold via physical stores, e-commerce sites, or resale marketplaces.

Likewise, rental - while not new in the UK - is rapidly expanding beyond formalwear into everyday wardrobes. From occasionwear to fashion staples, consumers are increasingly renting instead of buying. But to succeed in this model, again, garments must be designed to endure repeated wear, washing, and repair, making durability and smart design essential to sustainability.

One platform at the heart of this concept is By Rotation, whose vision is to become the world’s largest dynamic shared wardrobe - enabling people to benefit financially while reducing their environmental impact. More than just a fashion rental app, By Rotation operates as a conscious and self-sustaining community.

"While rental has gained momentum, there are still many people who haven’t tried it - meaning the only way is up and the opportunity is huge. It’s not just the customer who is evolving, but also the brand mix and the categories involved - from different labels to a wider range of colours and styles," says Kabra.

"There are more renters than lenders, more demand than supply," Kabra continues. "But what we’re seeing in the user journey is that renters are often passing items to others - and then thinking, 'Wait, I have stuff too and could make some money'. So renters are turning into lenders."

"As for brands, it makes sense for them to test and monitor what works - and what doesn’t - in the rental space. If you’re wondering what to do with excess stock, rental could be a viable option. But don’t create stock solely for rental; instead, explore how your existing inventory can work harder."

The future of fashion increasingly points toward circularity, but can the industry fully make the shift? Insights from this session offer a hopeful outlook, emphasising that building longevity, quality, repairability, and efficient logistics into the heart of fashion is both achievable and essential. As these elements become standard practice, they will play a critical role in creating a more sustainable and responsible fashion ecosystem.

"More and more brands are engaging with these new business models," concludes Robben. "We’re working with a wide variety of brands, and we’re seeing a shift from treating circularity as an afterthought to making it a real priority. There’s still room to do more - and do better - but the momentum is positive. We’re optimistic about this shift."