eBay partners with British Fashion Council,
Council of Fashion Designers of America, Fashion Council
Germany and the Australian Fashion Council, to extend its impact
across the globe
SAN
JOSE, Calif., Oct. 16,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- eBay, a leading destination for
new and pre-loved fashion and luxury, has announced today the
global expansion of its Circular Fashion Fund (CFF). The fund is
designed to help fashion start-ups scale circular solutions, from
production to end-of-life, including rental and repair services.
Applications are open from now until November 15, 2024, and innovative tech start-ups
and small businesses can apply via eBay's website [here].
Since it launched in the UK in 2022, the CFF has helped 15
businesses scale their circular solutions including The Seam, which
allows businesses to offer garment care & repair services at
scale to extend the life of clothes, and RCYCL, creators of the
innovative at-home fashion recycling program for unwearable
clothing. Now in its third year in the UK, the CFF is set to launch
in the US and Germany for the
first time having successfully expanded to Australia last year.
As part of eBay's commitment to the circular economy, the global
expansion of the CFF extends its reach to invest in businesses that
bring new technology and services to the market and help people
think and shop differently. eBay is transforming the buying and
selling experience so that more brands, sellers and buyers can
participate in circular fashion.
The CFF will provide a global investment of $1.2 million to start-ups in the global markets
by the end of 2025, and over 200 hours of mentoring and networking
support for applicants from industry experts. Past judges have
included Hugo Adams, CEO of Kelpi
Sustainable Materials and KITX Founder Kit
Willow. To further amplify its impact, eBay Ventures will
select one winner from the global selection of finalists to become
"Circular Fashion Innovator of the Year" and receive an investment
of $300,000.
Kirsty Keoghan, Global GM of
Fashion at eBay, commented:
"The Circular Fashion Fund is a catalyst for collaboration by
combining the global scale and power of established companies like
eBay with the creativity and innovation of nimble start-ups. We're
not only helping to scale circular solutions but bringing together
the most knowledgeable and respected experts in the industry.
Together, we're making a positive impact on the circular economy
and truly reshaping the future of fashion."
In the US, in partnership with the Council of Fashion
Designers of America (CFDA), the Fund will launch for the first
time in 2024. The winner in the US market will receive a
$50,000 cash prize, whilst the two
runner-ups will receive $25,000
respectively. All three finalists will receive bespoke mentoring
sessions, educational workshops and networking opportunities.
The winners will be chosen by a judging panel of industry
experts across fashion, academia and sustainability. This panel
includes:
- Brittany Sierra, Founder and CEO
of the Sustainable Fashion Forum
- Henri Jaanimägi, Global Head of eBay Ventures & Strategic
Partnerships
- Jacques Agbobly, Designer & Founder, Agbobly
- John Bartlett, Director, Parsons
Fashion Executive & Professional Studies
- Kate Danielsen, eBay Fashion
Category Manager
- Kirsty Keoghan, Global GM of
Fashion at eBay,
- Margherita Maccapani Missoni, Founder & Designer,
Maccapani
- Rachel Cernansky, Sustainability
Editor, Vogue Business
- Shelly Xu, Founder, Shelly Xu
Design
- Steven Kolb, CEO of CFDA
Previous winners include Swoperz, which hosts a child-run
swapping service for clothing, and Dempstah, a design practice that
recycles Australian textile waste into spun yarn
in collaboration with a network of international and local
textile mills.
Steven Kolb, CEO of CFDA Quote:
"eBay Circular Fashion Fund champions innovative solutions to
sustainability in fashion and reflects CFDA's passion for driving
change and motivation to reduce fashion's environmental impact. We
wholeheartedly support eBay's investment in innovation and
education, and their leadership in driving the circular fashion
agenda while championing the innovators who are catalysts for
positive change."
Vicky Fuller, co-founder of
Swoperz and UK 2023 Circular Fashion Fund winner,
commented:
"Winning the Circular Fashion Fund has been transformative for
Swoperz. It enabled us to partner with new organisations and helped
us bring sustainable fashion education to classrooms nationwide and
host swap shops at 500 schools. Our book, 'The Swoperz Fashion
Show,' has been read 653 times, sparking vital conversations about
conscious consumption so we can make sustainable fashion a reality
for children. We're grateful to the CFF for amplifying our mission
as we work towards a more sustainable fashion future."
About eBay
eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY) is a global commerce leader that
connects people and builds communities to create economic
opportunity for all. Our technology empowers millions of buyers and
sellers in more than 190 markets around the world, providing
everyone the opportunity to grow and thrive. Founded in 1995 in
San Jose, California, eBay is one
of the world's largest and most vibrant marketplaces for
discovering great value and unique selection. In 2023, eBay enabled
more than $73 billion of gross
merchandise volume. For more information about the company and its
global portfolio of online brands,
visit www.ebayinc.com.
About the CFDA:
The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA) is a
not-for-profit trade association founded in 1962 with a membership
of more than 420 of America's foremost womenswear, menswear,
jewelry, and accessory designers. Pillars include Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion through the IMPACT initiative, as well as
Sustainability in Fashion. The organization provides its Members
with timely and relevant thought-leadership and business
development support. Emerging designers and students are supported
through professional development programming and numerous grant and
scholarship opportunities. In addition to hosting the annual CFDA
Fashion Awards, the organization owns the Fashion Calendar and is
the organizer of the Official New York Fashion Week Schedule. The
CFDA Foundation, Inc. is a separate, not-for-profit organized to
mobilize the membership to raise funds for charitable causes and
engage in civic initiatives.
About Swoperz:
Swoperz was founded by parents. As parents we know how much
kids' clothes cost, how fast they outgrow them and how often their
style changes. We are also conscious of the global issues of
dressing our kids in a sustainable way. We want our kids to be in
control of their style but always with a conscience. So, we've
created a safe, grownup verified environment where kids can swap
their clothes without any worries about the planet or their online
safety.
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SOURCE eBay Inc.