Both fashion-conscious prospective customers and the environment are to benefit equally from the approach: "We offer our customers the return of urban outdoor clothing at the end of its utilisation time and combine the return with an attractive incentive system," says Bettina Bothe, Head of Brand at Elkline GmbH, describing the transition from the first to the second life cycle of a textile. "Worn garments are sent directly to WKS. The experts in Wilsum examine, clean and repair them depending on their condition. Afterwards, they are offered for sale under SECOND LIFE by Elkline." Elkline and WKS believe that by reprocessing clothing items, more than 50 percent of CO2 emissions can be avoided on average compared to new production and disposal. "Prospective buyers of used products benefit from clothing that is as sustainable as it is high quality at lower prices."
"We are pleased to offer our textile expertise together with the innovative fashion label Elkline in a holistic solution," says Michael Hofmann, Managing Director at WKS. "We will certify the inspection and, if necessary, repair with our WKS seal of quality on each approved garment. This will also make it clear to second-hand users that they are purchasing a garment that has been independently tested for safety and reliability."
