But in 2020, things began to change – in more ways than one!

12 million people in the UK purchased a pre-loved item that year, a huge surge driven largely by changing habits during lockdown. However, this was a trend that was already growing as more and more customers realise the economic and environmental costs of “fast fashion”.

The rising costs of living across the globe are pushing people to avoid spending on clothes they don’t need and instead look for ways to extend the lifetime of their most beloved items. On top of this, more people than ever are purchasing high-quality second-hand items from charity shops, as well enjoying “swap parties” where they can exchange old items with friends.

The pandemic also taught us that this is a business which is always in demand, no matter how the rest of the economy is doing. When things are going well, people spend more on clothes and want them to fit just right – but when times are tough, they rely more on repairing and recycling to make their clothes last longer.

Now that more and more people are realising the joys of purchasing pre-loved items, and how much easier it is for them to alter and repairing clothing using companies like The Zip Yard, there’s no going back. Demand for our services is booming.