The Or Foundation and Vestiaire Collective are turning fashion waste into luxury, proving that sustainability and creativity can coexist.
Every year, consumers spend billions of dollars chasing deals on fast fashion that exacerbate a growing environmental crisis. The global fashion industry produces between 80 and 150 billion new garments annually, despite there already being enough clothing in circulation to outfit the next six generations. This overproduction leaves lasting scars on the environment and disproportionately impacts communities in the Global South, where much of the industry’s waste ends up. In Ghana, the Kantamanto Market processes 15 million secondhand garments weekly, with 40 percent going unsold and contributing to overwhelming waste. Now, a groundbreaking partnership between The Or Foundation and secondhand platform Vestiaire Collective is challenging the narrative of Black Friday by promoting upcycled luxury and redefining consumer values.
The Or Foundation, an environmental justice organization based in Accra, has teamed up with Vestiaire Collective to showcase one-of-a-kind creations by 11 Ghanaian designers. These pieces — ranging from jackets and handbags to pants and sweatshirts — are crafted from discarded textiles sourced at Kantamanto Market, the world’s largest secondhand clothing hub. By reimagining discarded clothing as high-end art, this collaboration brings attention to the creativity and resilience of upcyclers who transform waste into fashion statements.
“As a fellow organization that champions the resale community, we’re proud to partner with Vestiaire Collective to share and uplift the vibrant upcycling culture of Kantamanto with the world, and showcase the artistry of reuse and repair,” Liz Ricketts, co-founder and Executive Director of The Or Foundation, said in a statement announcing the launch.
This partnership is about more than just retail. Proceeds will benefit both the designers and the wider Kantamanto Market community through The Or Foundation’s Secondhand Solidarity Fund. Since its inception in 2021, the fund has provided critical relief to market workers, including fire safety equipment, direct financial aid, and recovery support after devastating fires and floods. This initiative also aligns with The Or Foundation’s broader mission to create a Justice-Led Circular Economy — an approach that not only addresses the waste crisis but also uplifts the communities most impacted by it.
Kantamanto market: ground zero for fashion waste and innovation
Kantamanto Market is more than just a secondhand clothing hub; it’s a microcosm of the global fashion industry’s overproduction problem. The market employs 30,000 people who recirculate 25 million garments monthly through resale, repair, and remanufacturing. Yet, the influx of unsold items from the Global North creates a staggering waste problem, highlighting the inequities baked into the system. The Or Foundation works at the intersection of these challenges, providing training and resources to local upcyclers and tailors who turn discarded garments into wearable art.
The designs featured on Vestiaire Collective are a testament to this ingenuity, showcasing how waste can be transformed into high-value products. These creations also serve as a powerful statement about the potential for circular fashion to redefine luxury. Ricketts says the hope is that this collaboration inspires people to take a look into their closets and reconsider the value of their clothing. “What can be repaired or transformed through over-dye, tailoring, or upcycling?” she asked.
Vestiaire Collective’s Bold Stand Against Fast Fashion
For Vestiaire Collective, a certified B Corporation, the partnership with The Or Foundation builds on its long-standing commitment to sustainable fashion. In 2022, the platform banned more than 60 fast fashion brands from its platform in a decisive move against overconsumption. More recently, Vestiaire Collective has launched an innovative educational initiative targeting influencers — a group often criticized for promoting fast fashion. The six-month program invites influencers and their followers to explore the darker side of the fashion industry through interactive discussions, masterclasses, and even field trips to clothing landfill sites.
“Vestiaire Collective is taking bold steps to tackle one of the main promoters of fast fashion, namely influencers,” said Dounia Wone, the company’s chief impact officer. “We truly believe that with the right tools, influencers can become leaders of change.” This initiative coincides with legislative action in France, where the Anti-Fast Fashion Bill has passed the National Assembly and is awaiting final approval in the Senate. The bill would ban advertising by fast fashion brands and influencers who promote their products, marking a significant step toward curbing overproduction and overconsumption.
Vestiaire Collective has also joined forces with the French Federation of Circular Fashion to push for further reforms, underscoring its commitment to reshaping industry norms. Through its partnership with The Or Foundation, the platform is highlighting the power of circular fashion not just as a sustainability strategy but as an opportunity to celebrate craftsmanship and community-driven solutions.
The collaboration between The Or Foundation and Vestiaire Collective represents a shift in how the fashion industry addresses its waste problem. At the heart of this partnership is the #SpeakVolumes campaign, which calls on brands to disclose annual production volumes to drive data-informed solutions. Transparency is a crucial step toward accountability, and this initiative aims to create systemic change that prioritizes equity and sustainability.
Shop the Vestiaire Collective x Or Foundation collection here.
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