Takeback Friday

What is Black Friday?

Most of us can’t get away from the Black Friday marketing, but just in case you’ve managed to dodge it so far, here’s a run down of what to expect.

Every year, the end of November comes, and retailers put on massive sales, extra advertising and ultra-cheap deals, in order to shift their summer stock in time for gift-giving season.

All over the world, retailers are slashing their prices, offering deals and discounts that can even sometimes leave them losing money on their items. The name of the game is to get people shopping, and buying as much as possible.

Over the years, it’s evolved into a symbol of excess and overconsumption, with a frenzied rush for bargains resulting in a surge of purchases.

Ultimately, people end up spending a lot of money on things they don’t need. According to the Green Alliance, as much as 80% of items that are bought on Black Friday, as well as their packaging, are thrown away after just a few uses, or even after not being used at all.

As you can imagine, this equates to a lot of unnecessary waste, and contributes to a culture of thoughtless shopping - not good news.

And yes, many items end up being returned to the company in the days after Black Friday, which would seem like a solution, but often these aren’t able to be put back on sale, especially when businesses are clearing stock in preparation for Christmas sales.

The environmental impact is massive - with an increase in online shopping meaning more and more packaging and more transportation emissions. Especially with offers like free shipping and returns, the issue is made even worse.

According to this 2021 report by price comparison website Money.co.uk, deliveries from Black Friday sales were estimated to release more than 429,000 metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

Ethically, Black Friday can be an issue too, often leading to staff being underpaid and overworked. If a brand is pricing things cheaply, it’s always important to do your research - someone’s paying that price.

Ultimately, though transportation and packaging make an impact on the environment, it’s the sheer amount of products that are being made brand new and sold to people who don’t really need them or won’t actually use them, which is contributing to the most environmental damage.

Why We Don't Participate in Black Friday

From the beginning, we decided we wouldn’t take part in Black Friday sales. It doesn’t align with our philosophy for a lot of reasons. Our main goal is not to encourage excess consumption and to shop slowly and mindfully.

The idea of Black Friday is to push people to buy as much stuff as possible, at the biggest discount possible, and that fundamentally goes against what we believe in.

That’s why we avoid offering sales and discounts - we want you to shop for what you want and need, and not just because something is a good price.

Our priority is making sure that clothes aren’t being thrown away, and the resources are being rehomed, or recycled, so that we make the most of the valuable resources they’re made from.

What Should You Do Instead?

We decided to celebrate Takeback Friday instead of Black Friday, and we want you to get involved.

When it seems like everyone else is caught up in the shopping craze, it’s time to break free and opt for the more sustainable path. Instead of buying something new this year, take part in our takeback scheme.

Send us your old clothes, in whatever condition, and we’ll make sure they find new homes, or are responsibly recycled, helping you reduce the environmental impact of textile waste.

You can take a look at our brand partners here, and find out which of your favourite brands are offering the scheme.

What You'll Get in Return

By participating in our Takeback Friday programme, you'll not only contribute to a greener planet, but you'll also receive a voucher for your favourite shop.

That means the clothes you decide to part with won’t end up in landfill, but instead they’ll circulate back into the fashion ecosystem. And you can spend your voucher on something you want and need - another day of the year.

Still Want to Buy Something New?

If you’re still keen to take part in Black Friday, or there’s something you really need, then try to opt for pre-loved instead of buying brand new when possible. That way you’re saving clothes from landfill, not contributing to anything new being made, and you can still enjoy a discount - in fact, a discount that is available all year round.

Shop our pre-loved selection of clothes, shoes and accessories here, save them from becoming waste textiles, and minimise the environmental impact of something being made from scratch.

Black Friday Alternatives

We’re not the only ones taking a stand against Black Friday. These are some of the most popular initiatives you can take part in instead of buying new things.

Green Friday

Green Friday is a movement that encourages shopping sustainably and responsibly on Black Friday. Opting for small local businesses, choosing pre-loved over new, and supporting ethical and eco-friendly practices are all ways you can take part in redefining the narrative of the day.

Buy Nothing Day

Theoretically easy to take part in because it doesn’t involve doing anything, Buy Nothing Day takes place on the same day as Black Friday, and challenges you to buy absolutely nothing for one whole day.

You’ll have to pick either Buy Nothing Day or Green Friday to take part in though, as they both happen on the day of Black Friday. Which one would you choose?

Brands Boycotting Black Friday

We’re not the only ones taking a stand against Black Friday. Some of our favourite brands and companies are also using the day as an opportunity to create some buzz, and get people thinking about their own impact.

Here are some of our favourite initiatives that promote alternative ways to spend the day.

Patagonia

It’s no surprise to anyone who knows Patagonia, that they aren’t Black Friday advocates, to say the least. Instead, the outdoor clothes retailer takes a pretty bold stance - donating 100% of their sales all weekend to environmental causes.

Freitag

Swiss accessory and bag brand Freitag has transformed Black Friday into a swapping day, instead of a shopping day. Every year, they close their online store, and replace it with global swap shops, encouraging their customers to exchange old bags instead of purchasing new ones.

Me + Em

Clothes retailer Me and Em avoid Black Friday too, and instead, they avoid sales, and donate a portion of their profits to the charity Women for Women International over the course of the weekend.

Raeburn

Not shy to do things differently, Raeburn are big Black Friday boycotters. Their Buy Nothing New campaign challenges the traditional narrative of the day, much like Buy Nothing Day. Every year, they close their online store, and sell pre-loved pieces in their physical shops. In the past, they’ve also operated repair shops, where customers are able to bring in clothes from any brand, and get them repaired.

This year, they’re collaborating with eyewear brand Cubitts, offering free of charge repairs on any Raeburn or Cubitts items that need an extra bit of TLC.

Not on the Highstreet

Another example of a company taking a stand is the small business marketplace Not on the Highstreet. Their message is simple: buy nothing unless it’s from a small business. Often the ones who benefit from Black Friday the most are the big companies who make a lot of money (and environmental damage) so buying from small businesses makes sure you’re giving a little bit back. Bonus points if they’re sustainable too.

If You Do Need to Buy Something New

We understand that sometimes you need new things.

All we ask is that you make the decision to purchase consciously, and when you're done, consider sending them back to us.

Mindful consumption really is the cornerstone of shopping responsibly. Make sure you need what you’re buying, and that you will actually use it.

Instead of buying new clothes, why not pick up something pre-loved from one of our partner brands here, keeping it out of landfill, and avoiding production of something new.

As the Black Friday madness begins, together we can redefine our approach to what we buy and why we buy it. Takeback Friday is one of many meaningful alternatives to choose to take part in. It’s here to help us make collectively better choices, so we can shape a future where our fashion decisions create a healthier planet.