Arnsdorf is the first Australian label to join circular fashion platform SwapChain

Swap ’til you drop.

Melbourne fashion label Arnsdorf is making history as the first Australian brand to make the move towards circular fashion. The label has partnered with the global clothing exchange platform SwapChain, which aims to redefine second-hand shopping.

Founded by Jade Sarita Arnott, Arnsdorf has been making a conscious effort to be sustainable ever since its relaunch in 2016. With a focus on slow fashion, the label produces high-quality pieces with delicate and unique details that bring new meaning to the idea of a timeless wardrobe. 

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Ticking all the boxes as an ethically conscious label, Arnsdorf designs toward a sustainable, fair, gender-equal and transparent future of fashion. The brand also credits the origins of its materials, makers’ names and costings on its website, making it easy for consumers to feel confident in their ethical shopping efforts. From staple items and corporate attire to statement event pieces and accessories, the local brand is shaping up to be a pillar of sustainable Australian fashion.

As of this month, Arnsdorf is also the first brand in Australia to be part of an initiative pursuing a circular economy within the fashion industry. As part of Melbourne Fashion Festival’s Fashion Weekend, the local label has teamed up with Global Fashion Exchange as the first Australian retailer to launch on its new platform for circular consumerism, SwapChain.

Networked via new technology, SwapChain uses advanced computers to track and trace a garment’s supply chain and life cycle. It also aims to provide information on how the clothes we purchase affect the planet by listing estimated data on garment water usage and carbon metrics. 

Breaking the stigma around second-hand clothing, SwapChain aims to create greater awareness of sustainable consumerism by proving that buying second-hand doesn’t mean a lack of quality or choice. 

Arnsdorf founder and designer, Jade Sarita Arnott, says of the partnership, “We are really excited to be taking this next step in our circularity journey. We have wonderful, loyal and dedicated customers and it is exciting to offer them this opportunity to give their Arnsdorf garments a new life in exchange for a different piece. We are honoured to be partnering with SwapChain to be the first to bring this technology and process to Australia.”

The partnership with Global Fashion Exchange and SwapChain is set to launch in Melbourne on March 12 with a week-long fashion swap event at the Arnsdorf boutique in Fitzroy.

For those looking to get involved, you can bring your old Arnsdorf clothes into the store from now until March 7. Just make sure whatever you’re bringing in to swap is clean and undamaged.

Staff will assess your pieces to determine the original value of your garment and give you a corresponding number of tokens, which can then be traded for pieces from a designated SwapChain section between March 12 to 20. 

For more information on the event, click here.