Zalando Partners With circular.fashion

Zalando has announced its partnership with circular.fashion, a sustainable change agency creating product and system innovation for a circular economy in fashion and textiles.

With the launch of zImpact, a program that offers visibility, funding and expertise to industry players, the company is creating greater transparency along every part of the supply chain.

Circular.fashion enables a transparent flow of information between material suppliers, brands, customers and recyclers, who are all linked up and provided with important information. The information then is made available via circularity.ID digital codes, which can be sewn into the garment and then easily scanned.

Salah Said, Corporate Responsibility Manager at Zalando, said: “We believe circular.fashion is a very good example of entrepreneurs in the field of transparency. We believe their solution enables brands and consumers to make the right purchasing decision.

“That is why we chose to support them with zImpact. Circular.fashion offers a holistic approach around circularity so every brand can just go there and find everything they need to create a circular product in one place.”

Ina Budde, circular.fashion founder

Ina Budde, founder of circular.fashion, added: “For us at circular.fashion, being part of the zImpact program has been highly valuable. The program has in many ways spearheaded the development of our platform, both in terms of software and technical support through, for example, the hackathons and funding, but also business development in general by impact measurement trainings and other content development.

“Being part of the program has also provided us with great connections to Zalando’s own brands, as well as partner brands, which are highly valuable for our further development. Currently, we have the great opportunity to work in the Zalando partner lab, which makes collaboration even closer and more efficient.”

Last week, circular.fashion was awarded the Global Change Award by the H&M Foundation. As part of the award, all winning teams are launching crowdfunding campaigns throughout the month of April.

The zImpact program focuses on working with startups and is set to:

• Scale innovative digital technology solutions by offering flexible financing, expert guidance, and industry knowledge and connections;
• Raise awareness of sustainable fashion by collaborating with engaged brands and industry partners on events, research and programs;
• Empower customers to engage with sustainable fashion.