Rag News: April 2019
Used Denim in Numbers Denim is a very popular, long lasting material within the fashion industry. In fact, denim represents 7% of total used clothing. When the bales of mixed rags leave the thrift store warehouse, only 60% of denim within these bales will find new lives in second hand markets. That includes […]
The Continued Journey of Used Credential Clothing – How & Where We Ship
Not long ago we discussed the global journey of credential clothing, talking about how garments begin in a factory in one part of the world, make their initial journey of distribution to a different region, live their first lives before moving onto a new iteration in likely yet another country. Today we’re going to focus […]
Mixed Rags and Their Importance in the Global Circular Economy
If you’ve traveled to developing countries or off-the-beaten-path destinations, or you’ve seen some of these places on the news or in documentaries, you may have noticed that a good percentage of the population is wearing clothing that looks like it could have been purchased at a suburban mall some years ago. That’s no coincidence. Chances […]
When It Doesn’t Spark Joy, Even for Charities or Thrift Stores
Does it spark joy? That is the question of the moment, as set forth by de-cluttering guru Marie Kondo. The “KonMari” phenomenon has swept a wide swatch of Netflix audiences across the world, thanks to her recent series “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.” As we discussed in a February blog post on this site, […]
Helene Carter, New Elected Member of the Board of Directors of SMART
We are happy to announce the election of Helene Carter to the Board of Directors of the Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association (SMART). The election took place on Monday, March 4, 2019 during the SMART Annual Meeting. Helene will serve a two-year term on the Board. Congratulations Helene Carter! About Helene Carter As […]
Rag News: March 2019
Denim Upcycle The term “upcycle” is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “the reuse of discarded items or materials in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original”. It was used for first time in the 1990s as a blend of up- and recycle. LABEL is […]
Increasing Used Clothing Collection through Participating Return-It Depots
What happens when the leader in the wholesale used goods industry in Canada joins forces with the largest recycling depot network in British Columbia? The answer is a convenient textile recycling program in one of the largest cities in Canada. Bank & Vogue, a Canadian based company with a global footprint, has a commitment […]
Bank & Vogue’s Role in the Circular Economy: A Sustainable Model for Future Fashion
If you’ve been reading the Bank & Vogue blog for any span of time now, you’ve probably noticed we’re quite keen on the concept & value of the Circular Economy. We’ve been big proponents of this economic model for many years, and we aren’t too shy to toot our own horn a little about […]
Beyond Retro: Finding a New Purpose for Clothing in the Circular Economy
You probably know us here at Bank & Vogue as a global leader in the facilitation, logistics, purchase and reselling of wholesale used goods. We take a great deal of pride in being an active player in the Circular Economy of Fashion, committed to sustainable solutions that reduce waste and increase the reuse and […]
Marie Kondo, Mixed Rags & Solving the Crisis of Stuff with Joy
Thrift store donations are up significantly this year, and that’s largely due to a phenomenon created from some unlikely sources. Netflix, the global video streaming giant, released a series called “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.” This comes on the tails of a successful book by Ms. Kondo, who has become known as the expert […]
