More than 70 fashion brands and retailers operating in Australia have joined a new Fashion Impact Collective, launched by Thread Together to combat excess stock and offer help for those experiencing hardship.
The list includes major retail groups and brands, such as Bec + Bridge, Cotton On, David Jones, Dissh, Gildan Brands Australia, JD Sports Australia, Oroton, PVH Brands Australia, Retail Apparel Group, Seafolly, The Iconic, Under Armour and Universal Store.
Members of the Fashion Impact Collective can make an annual contribution starting from $500, tiered by business revenue. Those with an annual revenue of $10 million or more contribute $1,500 annually, while those above $100 million pay $3,000 per year.
The annual contributions go towards funding and scaling nationwide infrastructure for Thread Together. Launched in 2012 by Andie Halas, the charity aims to collect brand new, end-of-line stock from fashion brands and retailers, which are then distributed to those in need.
According to Thread Together, the Fashion Impact Collective is a way for brands to manage excess stock, helping reduce disposal, freight and storage costs while delivering social and environmental impact.
"For more than a decade, the fashion industry has trusted Thread Together to give its unsold stock a purpose, and together we've clothed hundreds of thousands of people with dignity,” Thread Together CEO Anthony Chesler said.
“Getting a brand-new garment to someone who needs it takes people, infrastructure and operations, and that's something no single brand can sustain alone. The Fashion Impact Collective is about the industry coming together to share that responsibility.
"Our founding brands have shown what's possible when we act together. Fashion has the power to do more. Every garment represents dignity, confidence and hope, and together we can make sure what we build today remains sustainable tomorrow.”
Outside of the Fashion Impact Collective, Thread Together works with nearly 2,000 fashion partners and brands across the industry, keeps more than two million items in circulation each year, clothes more than 100,000 people annually and works with more than 3,000 charity partners nationwide.