The fashion industry has concerned Emily Gittins since adolescence.
The sector is, after all, one of the most polluting in the world. According to some sources, it is responsible for nearly 10% of the earth’s CO2 emissions and more than 20% of all water waste.
Yet people still want more, fast.
“The way we consume today is hugely problematic,” Gittins told TechCrunch.
In 2021, Gittins teamed up with Ryan Rowe to launch Archive, a company that provides software to fashion brands and merchants so they can create resale platforms tailored to each business’s wants and needs, including a spot where people can sell used clothes to each other.
Competitors include Trove and Treet, which also creates online resale software for brands to sell used items. Archive says its product is different because it can support global brands across various continents.
Archive’s features include smart pricing and product feeds; and warehouse management to handle intake, processing, repair, and fulfillment; it also provides tools to analyze profits and costs and allows brands to connect it to their own tools and share data. Archive already works with more than 50 brands, including New Balance, The North Face, and Oscar de la Renta, Gittins says.
There is a massive opportunity in the general second-hand market, which is expected to hit $73 billion by 2028 in the U.S. alone, according to the resale report by retailer ThreadUp. That share of the fashion industry is only expected to increase, as the Guardian reported, especially among young people and anyone else looking for more eco, and budget-friendly options.
That’s what convinced VCs to invest a $30 million Series B, led by Energize Capital. Other investors include Lightspeed Venture Partners, G9 Ventures, and Bain Capital. Archive has raised $54 million in total funding to date. Archive will use the new funding to further develop its resale software and more product innovation.
Another good sign for the clothing resale industry is growing legislation in a number of states that encourages it, like California’s new Responsible Textile Recovery Act, and well as similar legislation in Europe.
“We’ve debunked the concern that resale cannibalizes full-price scales,” Gittins added. “We’re in scaling mode with many of our brands and are excited to be launching resale businesses for so many new brands in 2025.”
