Atacama RE-commerce enables consumers to acquire discarded clothing for free, tackling the waste crisis in the fashion industry while promoting sustainability and responsible consumption.
Atacama RE-commerce is an innovative initiative that offers consumers an opportunity to acquire discarded garments for free, only requiring payment for shipping to facilitate the removal of clothes from one of the world’s largest textile dumping grounds, the Atacama Desert in Chile. This program aims to address the pressing waste crisis in the fashion industry.
The platform, developed by Artplan—Brazil’s largest independently-owned advertising agency—provides a unique solution to the staggering amount of waste generated by fast fashion. Each year, the Atacama Desert, situated in northern Chile, receives approximately 39,000 tons of clothing, much of which is new or barely worn. This alarming trend is primarily driven by excess inventory from fast fashion brands across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Rodrigo Almeida, Chief Creative Officer at Artplan, articulated the transformative vision behind the initiative, stating, “This isn’t just e-commerce; it’s RE-commerce. We’re giving discarded items a voice while challenging consumers to take a more critical look at consumption habits. Each piece carries value, memory, and potential for a new beginning.” This philosophy underpins the operation, which meticulously selects and restores garments before listing them on the platform.
The garments offered through Atacama RE-commerce undergo a careful curation process to ensure they meet quality standards. Once restored, items are cleaned, organized, and placed on the digital platform powered by VTEX. Mariano Gomide de Faria, CEO of VTEX, highlighted the initiative’s overarching mission, saying, “We believe every piece has a story and a purpose. Our mission is to rescue these items and give them a second chance, while raising awareness about today’s excessive consumerism in the fashion industry.”
Upon its launch, the platform experienced significant interest, with its first release of products selling out in under five hours and items being shipped to more than ten countries. Looking ahead, Atacama RE-commerce plans to conduct additional product drops to continue its mission of reducing fashion waste.
The project is backed by institutional partnerships with organizations such as Fashion Revolution Brazil and Desierto Vestido, a nonprofit focused on promoting circular economy practices within the textile sector. Fernanda Simon, executive director of Fashion Revolution Brazil, commented on the urgency of the initiative, stating, “We’re living in a Climate Emergency, and the fashion industry needs stronger commitments. This initiative invites reflection on the impacts of our current models of production, consumption, and waste while provoking new relationships with clothing.”
Consumers interested in exploring the offerings of the Atacama RE-commerce platform can access it at Recommerce.com.
Source: Noah Wire Services
