ThredUp’s Resale-as-a-Service Builds Momentum with 3 New Brands, Fabletics Expansion

Fabletics is expanding its branded resale program with Thredup as other brands tap the platform for their own.

As brands increasingly look to resale to build their sustainability credentials, ThredUp’s white label resale-as-a-service (RaaS) is proving to be an appealing plug-and-play option for retailers. In the leadup to Earth Day, American Eagle, Toms and The Sak all added new resale programs powered by ThredUp’s RaaS, and Fabletics has expanded its existing RaaS resale program to include a secondhand shop on its website.

The growing usage of its RaaS offering is good news for ThredUp, which is still looking for ways — as many resale platforms are — to make the mechanics of its own resale marketplace work financially. ThredUp recently began testing new fee structures aimed at solving this challenge, including fees for its Clean Out Kit service, which was previously free, and raising the restocking fee for returned items.

Fabletics and Yitty Begin Selling Secondhand

Activewear brand Fabletics and its sister brand Yitty, a shapewear label created by Grammy Award-winning musician Lizzo, have expanded their resale programs with ThredUp to include a secondhand shop of Fabletics and Yitty products available directly on the brands’ joint website.

“One of the key ways we partner with brands through RaaS is helping them test, learn and iterate so they can figure out what an effective resale program means for their customer,” said James Reinhart, CEO of ThredUp in a statement. “Fabletics is an excellent example of a brand which started with a Clean Out program that resonated well with customers. Now, they are expanding their program allowing customers to both trade in and purchase secondhand clothing directly. We’re proud to help Fabletics grow their program as they double down on resale.”

Fabletics launched its existing resale program with ThredUp in July 2021, allowing customers to resell their gently worn items on the ThredUp marketplace for Fabletics shopping credit. Customers can continue to earn Fabletics and Yitty shopping credit for sending in gently worn items from any brand through the Fabletics Clean Out program. For the items that sell on ThredUp, customers receive a Fabletics/Yitty credit that can be used both online and in-store. Additionally, customers that sell secondhand items on ThredUp themselves can choose to turn their ThredUp sales credit into Fabletics and Yitty credit, with a value that is 15% higher than the cash payment option.

“We are excited to extend our partnership with ThredUp and give a second life to Fabletics and Yitty products,” said Adam Goldenberg, CEO of Fabletics, Inc. in a statement. “Resale is important to our business model and directly benefits our community, ongoing sustainability goals and the environment.”

Conscious Brands Toms, The Sak Dive into Resale

New brands also continue to join the ThredUp RaaS lineup, which already services more than 42 client brands including J.CrewKate Spade and Francesca’s. The latest additions include mission-based footwear brand Toms, handbag and footwear brand The Sak and, as previously reported, teen lifestyle brand American Eagle.

“Since our founding, we’ve always thought beyond the bag,” said Keri Talucci, Head of Sustainability at The Sak Brand Group in a statement. “Each style captures our love of handcrafted textural designs rooted in both traditional and reinvented techniques. As our customers decide to refresh their wardrobes, we want to provide them with a sustainable solution that allows them to responsibly pass along their items. By leveraging ThredUp’s RaaS, we’re able to provide a circular solution to our shoppers and encourage them to give their pre-loved items a second life.”

Toms and The Sak customers can now send in their gently used items from any brand to ThredUp in exchange for a Toms.com or The Sak credit. To participate, customers can generate a prepaid shipping label from TheSak.Thredup.com or Toms.Thredup.com, fill any shippable box or bag with apparel, shoes and accessories, and ship it to ThredUp for free. For items that sell on ThredUp, customers then receive a shopping credit with the brand through which they initiated the Clean Out process.

Toms customers can now also shop for used Toms products in a new Preloved section of the brand’s website.

“As the resale market gains momentum, we’re pleased to offer our customers two easy ways to contribute to the circular economy — shopping secondhand or sending in gently used items to give them a second life,” said Amy Smith, Chief Brand Officer at Toms in a statement. “As a mission-driven brand in business to improve lives, Toms is thrilled to launch this partnership with ThredUp as an extension of our ongoing B Corp and sustainability efforts, giving customers a new way to ‘Wear Good.’”