H&M starts charging shoppers £1.99 for online returns
High street fashion retailer H&M has joined other companies in charging shoppers who return items purchased online. Customers must now pay £1.99 to return parcels either in store or online, with the cost of the return being deducted from their refund. Rival high street stores including Zara, Boohoo, Uniqlo and Next already charge for online returns, with retail experts predicting that even more are likely to follow suit. During the pandemic, when online shopping inevitably soared in popularity, customers became increasingly more reliant on returning items when they did not fit. However, this also led to a rise in people buying items in bulk and returning almost all those items, some of them worn. While most online and high street retailers do not formally announce the move to charge for returns, many have introduced the change under the radar, with H&M implementing the return fee this summer. Business analysts have told the BBC that other retailers are likely to do the same. "It’s interesting that companies seem to be doing it by stealth, but it’s a sensible thing to be doing," retail expert Jonathan De Mello told the outlet. "It makes economic sense, as it discourages shoppers from bulk buying online products and then returning the majority of them. That’s been a real problem for companies." While H&M shoppers might be disappointed in the extra returns fee, added De Mello, most might understand why a company would need to make this decision, especially when it comes to the environment. Many shoppers are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of deliveries and returns, from courier vans to wasted packaging. Retail expert and analyst Natalie Berg wrote on Twitter/X that retailers have “created a monster” with free returns. “​​H&M charging for returns. Retailers have created a monster with free returns. It makes financial and environmental sense to put an end to this ‘buy to try’ mentality.” But Berg pointed out that customers who have signed up to H&M membership would be exempt from the extra fee for returning items. “This is actually a really delicate way to tier your customers,” Berg said of the membership scheme. “Slowly climb down from costly promises by limiting those benefits to loyalty members. Retailers have become too generous over the past decade. Save that generosity for your most valuable customers.” Read More Inside London’s first Vogue World: Thong leotards and Anna Wintour’s VIP assembly line Voguewashing London Fashion Week won’t pay the wages of Britain’s young fashion designers Bridesmaid who “didn’t love” her dress spends 35 years wearing it around the world Meghan Markle praised for mixing high-fashion with affordable pieces Vogue World wowed but won’t pay the wages of young fashion designers Ukrainian designers prove beauty can come from darkness at London Fashion Week
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Breakfast at Burberry’s: Fashion house launches collaboration with London café
Burberry has launched a project designed to mix British luxury with everyday life – and it’ll all start with their take on the most important meal of the day. The heritage fashion house has announced a new initiative, Burberry Streets, which will see the brand take a more prominent place within a selection of cities. Through experiences, installations and events across cities such as London, Seoul and Shanghai, Burberry will showcase signature elements of the brand, such as the seasonal check pattern in knight blue, rose print, and the newly redefined Equestrian Knight Design. In London, the Burberry Streets takeover will begin with the brand having a major presence in Norman’s Cafe, a restaurant in Archway that serves all-day breakfast food, as well as sandwiches. As part of London Fashion Week, which runs from 15 to 19 September, a travelling Norman’s food truck will make appearances on The Strand and Duke of York Square. The food establishment shared news of the collaboration with a post on social media on Monday (11 September). Alongside an image of a meal of two fried eggs and chunky chips, on a plate branded with the Burberry logo in blue, the straightforward caption reads: “2 eggs & chips. @burberry will be taking over Norman’s cafe for London fashion week, Wednesday to Sunday.” In response, fans of both the brand and the restaurant voiced their approval for the impending linkup. “Name a more iconic duo I’ll wait!” reads one supportive comment, while another Instagram user deemed it “the Great British pairing”. Outside of the collaboration with Norman’s Cafe, Burberry Streets will incorporate symbols of the house in multiple locations across the capital. Flags featuring the new rose print will fly above Bond Street and Piccadilly’s screens will be lit up with videos from the Winter 2023 campaign. The Equestrian Knight will take to the streets in the form of chalk stencils on paths and in parks, while black cabs will be wrapped in Daniel Lee’s English rose print. Burberry Streets will land in Seoul and Shanghai in October. Lee’s first collection for the brand, Winter 2023, is available now. In a statement, Rod Manley, the Chief Marketing Officer of Burberry, shared the company’s anticipation for the designer’s work to reach buyers. “We are so excited to see Daniel’s first collection arriving in-store and online,” he said. “With our redesigned website, new brand signifiers across product and branding and the launch of our global Burberry Streets initiative here in our home market, we're looking forward to sharing the new Burberry world with our clients.” Read More How Burberry evolved from humble raincoat maker to luxury fashion giant Kate Middleton re-wears Alexander McQueen suit to watch England beat Argentina in Rugby World Cup Kanye West’s ‘wife’ Bianca Censori uses pillow to cover nearly nude outfit in latest Italy controversy Secondhand September: The best places to buy pre-loved fashion online How Burberry evolved from humble raincoat maker to luxury fashion giant Kate Middleton re-wears Alexander McQueen suit to watch Rugby World Cup
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Secondhand September: The best places to buy pre-loved fashion online
This month marks the start of the autumn/winter fashion season and it’s also Second Hand September, Oxfam’s annual event encouraging consumers to avoid buying new items for 30 days. You don’t have to go rummaging through charity shops or car boot sales if you want to refresh your wardrobe for autumn or stock up on basics – there’s now a swathe of amazing sites that let you shop for pre-loved clothes from the comfort of your own home. By saying no to new, you can help prevent good quality garments from going to landfill and save money when you bag a bargain for a fraction of what it would have cost originally – and you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to pre-owned clothes shopping online. From resale platforms where users list their unwanted or unworn garments to vintage and designer-focused e-commerce retailers, here’s our pick of the best secondhand fashion sites… Vinted A peer-to-peer marketplace with a community of 75 million across the world, Vinted lets you buy direct from other users. The site has become so popular you might find the sheer array of products overwhelming at first. The key is to filter as much as possible. Try narrowing search results down by ticking the brands you usually buy on the high street (and avoiding the ones you don’t like), then sorting by price to find the cheapest options. Depop Hugely popular with Gen Z fashion obsessives, Depop is the go-to site for current trends, upcycled pieces and the latest vintage finds. Listings show how long ago an item was uploaded, so if it’s been on the site for a while you can try offering a lower price to the seller. Facebook Marketplace Connecting buyers and sellers in the same area, Facebook Marketplace is often the go-to site for people looking to clear out an overstuffed wardrobe or get rid of clothes when moving house. You just need a Facebook account to log in. Payment is completed via Messenger and you can arrange local pick-up or delivery (if the user offers that option). As well as individual items, look out for sellers offloading bundles of clothing in one size. eBay Having partnered with Love Island and appointed two former islanders as pre-loved ambassadors, online shopping behemoth eBay wants to be known as a leader in sustainable fashion. To simplify secondhand clothes shopping, the site now has a dedicated pre-loved fashion hub, where you can find items grouped by brand, trend, season, occasion, and more. ASOS Marketplace Focusing on the latest looks, ASOS Marketplace hosts independent brands and vintage boutiques – so make sure to tick the ‘vintage’ option under ‘condition’ when browsing for secondhand items. Charity shop sites While it’s great to support your local charity shops, you can also find some brilliant bargains and hand-picked premium pieces on charities’ online stores. Oxfam and Shelter have dedicated sites, while British Heart Foundation and British Red Cross have eBay shops. Vintage retailers If you’re lacking any decent vintage boutiques near you, don’t worry, because some of the biggest names in the game have online stores packed with gems from days gone by. Check out well-known brands like Beyond Retro and Rokit for retro threads dating as far back as the 1940s. Designer resale sites In the last few years, a crop of slick websites has popped up to serve shoppers hunting for secondhand luxury fashion. Head to sites such as Vestiaire Collective, Sellier, Lampoo and The Cirkel for designer clothes and accessories from brands like Burberry, Chanel, Gucci, Fendi and many more. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live What are gynaecological cancers and how can you prevent them? Alzheimer’s: How and when to talk to someone about their memory loss As Simon Cowell shares positive therapy experience, how can it help even if you aren’t in crisis?
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