Clarks is partnering with family-to-family marketplace dotte to help give its shoes a second life. The collaboration sees customers selling a pair of their child’s outgrown Clarks shoes on the dotte platform receiving a 15% discount off Clarks’ new collection online. Keeping the shoes in circulation reduces waste. It also minimises the impact of fast fashion by extending the lifespan of the shoes.
A fully circular kidswear peer-to-peer resale marketplace, dotte allows parents to buy, sell, donate and recycle outgrown children’s clothing. A recent study from Opinium Research showed that parents throw 183 million items of children’s clothing into the bin. Furthermore, 162 million pairs of children’s shoes are going into landfill every year.
The dotte collective is made up of 16 independent, sustainably-minded kidswear brands and major retailers including M&S and Clarks. The platform provides kidswear brands with a service to reduce their overall impact on the planet. It also unites them with a community of eager resellers.
Commenting on the partnership with Clarks is Samantha Valentine, co-founder of dotte.
“We are very excited to welcome Clarks to our resale collective. We know that on average, 12 pairs of shoes are thrown into the bin every year by parents; piles of outgrown kids’ clothes and shoes mount up with no clear options for how to pass them on. So, we created a simple solution to allow parents to sell their kids’ clothes (or donate or recycle them), and recoup some of the costs at the same time as lowering their family carbon footprint.
“Not just a quality family favourite, Clarks is also highly trusted by parents when it comes to taking care of their little ones’ growing feet. Having them on board will help us educate people on how to ensure a good fit and keep their kids’ feet healthy when shopping second-hand. And, as another major retailer joins our resale collective, not only will it encourage more families to get involved, but further emphasises the importance of the circular economy for brands.”
Also speaking on the new collaboration is Clarks Global Chief Marketing & Digital Officer, Tara McRae. “We’re excited to partner with dotte as we continue our journey towards being more environmentally conscious. As a mom, I know just how many pairs of shoes our fast-growing kids can get through. We hope this partnership will give many pairs of Clarks shoes a second life and encourage more families to buy pre-loved clothing.”
The partnership coincides with the recent launch of Clarks’ new sustainability platform.
Titled ‘Every Move Matters,’ the new initiative introduces a Sustainability Advisory Panel of leading experts on the environment. The panel will help advise on strategy, plans and the execution of the brand’s global sustainability approach.
Every Move Matters represents the first step towards Clarks’ wider sustainability goals and ultimately closing the loop. It also offers the community an efficient, easy and environmentally friendly solution for their outgrown Clarks kids’ shoes.
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