Clothing Brands Take Control of Secondhand Sales - Archive

The Growing Problem of Textile Waste

The fashion industry generates a significant amount of waste, with an estimated 13 million tons of textiles ending up in landfills annually.

While resale platforms have emerged to address this issue, some brands were not adequately represented in these spaces. This gap in the market prompted the creation of a new solution.

Archive: Empowering Brands in the Resale Market

Emily Gittins and Ryan Rowe, the co-founders of Archive, launched their company in February 2021 with a dual mission: to reduce textile waste and to enable brands to directly manage their own resale initiatives.

Archive provides resale technology that allows brands to integrate a secondhand marketplace directly into their existing online retail platforms.

Fueling Growth with New Funding

A recent $8 million funding round is enabling Archive to expand its operations and further develop its technology.

This investment will be used to scale the team and enhance the platform's capabilities, allowing it to service a growing number of brand partnerships.

The Evolution of Resale

Gittins and Rowe observed the transition of resale from traditional consignment shops to online marketplaces like Poshmark, ThredUp, and The RealReal.

They envision a future where brands reclaim ownership of the resale process, fostering a more direct connection with their customers.

Archive is designed as a white-labeled, peer-to-peer solution that seamlessly integrates with a brand’s existing retail channels.

Beyond Resale: Building Brand Communities

The platform facilitates direct transactions between buyers and sellers, minimizing the complexities of inventory management and logistics.

Archive also aims to cultivate brand loyalty by providing a dedicated space for enthusiasts to connect and trade merchandise.

The company is expanding its services to assist brands with managing returned or slightly damaged inventory.

Increasing Brand Interest in Resale

In late 2021, brands began prioritizing resale as a key strategic initiative.

This shift prompted Gittins and Rowe to seek additional venture capital to meet the increasing demand for their services.

Current Brand Partnerships

Archive has already partnered with several prominent brands, including Dagne Dover (Almost Vintage), Filippa K. (Preowned), M.M. LaFleur (Second Act), The North Face (Renewed Marketplace), and Oscar de la Renta (Encore).

Currently, a pipeline of over 100 brands are interested in collaborating with Archive.

Investment Details

The funding round, totaling nearly $10 million, was co-led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and Bain Capital Ventures.

Notable investors also include Firstmark and a group of angel investors, such as Oscar de la Renta CEO Alex Bolen and Zola co-founder Shan Lyn-Ma.

Future Development

The majority of the funding will be allocated to scaling the company and investing in technology and product development.

Archive’s goal is to create customized and unique resale experiences for each brand and its customer base.

Market Potential

The secondhand retail market is estimated to be a $100 billion industry, with brand-driven resale expected to be a major growth driver.

Lightspeed partner Alex Taussig believes Archive is the first company to develop resale tools specifically tailored to the needs of brands.

The platform’s ability to attract a diverse range of brands early on demonstrates its potential for widespread adoption.

Archive provides a dedicated community for brand enthusiasts, allowing them to buy and sell within a trusted ecosystem.