eBay, a leading destination for new and pre-loved fashion and luxury, has announced today the global expansion of its Circular Fashion Fund. 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 15th November 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.
The CFF is supported by the British Fashion Council and is in line with their mission to address the fashion industry’s environmental impact and the ongoing climate crisis. 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 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 Ffashion 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 also 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 UK, supported by the British Fashion Council, the Fund is entering its third year. The winner will receive a £50,000 cash prize, whilst the two runner-ups will receive £25,000 each. 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:
- Caroline Rush, CEO, British Fashion Council
- Charlotte Mair, Founder and Managing Director of ‘The Fitting Room’
- Emily Chan, Senior Sustainability & Features Editor, British Vogue
- Henri Jaanimägi, Global Head of eBay Ventures, Inorganic & Strategic Partnerships
- Jane Shepherdson CBE, Chairperson, My Wardrobe HQ
- Jemma Tadd, eBay Head of UK Fashion
- Joe Metcalfe, FounderThrift+
- Kirsty Keoghan, eBay GM Global Fashion
- Patrick Mcdowell, Founder of Patrick Mcdowell; Luxury Fashion
- Viola Jardon, Program Director, Innovation Programs, Cambridge University
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. Caroline Rush, CEO, British Fashion Council, commented: “Building on the success of the past two years, we remain focused on boosting excellence and innovation in the British fashion community. Small businesses are integral to building an ecosystem that can create specialised solutions and we want to help them scale. The Circular Fashion Fund has been a game-changer and we are thrilled to support the new ideas and entrepreneurial spirit from this next cohort. Together, we’re making the fashion industry more sustainable, one step at a time.”
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 helped us bring sustainable fashion education to classrooms nationwide and potentially 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.”
