Marks & Spencer (M&S) has launched a secondhand clothing store on eBay, tapping into the growing demand for preloved fashion. The retailer will sell old favourites from its 'Another Life' recycling scheme, formerly known as 'shwopping', which has collected 36.5 million items over the past decade.
Customers who donate at least one M&S item through the scheme will receive a £5 voucher when they spend £35 online. Donations are processed via a free courier service to Reskinned, a repair and resale specialist, which will clean and fix wearable items for listing on the M&S eBay store. Non-saleable items will be responsibly recycled.
Oxfam, M&S's long-time charity partner, will receive a 15% share of profits from eBay sales. The charity will continue to sell non-M&S donations directly in its outlets. Katharine Beacham, M&S's head of sustainability in fashion, said the revamped scheme aims to encourage customers to give clothes another life.
The move comes as the secondhand clothing market surges. Depop recently reported a 35% sales increase, while Vinted saw a 41% rise in 2024. M&S will evaluate the eBay store's success before potentially offering resale through its own channels. The government's circular economy minister, Mary Creagh, praised the initiative as a way to tackle the UK's 700,000 tonnes of annual clothing waste.
