A.P.C. Expands Its Recycling Program to the UK, Germany, & More
As the fashion world pushes for sustainability.
Having launched its “RECYCLING” program in France one year ago, and in the US earlier this year, A.P.C. has now announced it will be expanding the sustainability project across Europe.
The house founded by Jean Touitou will open the program to its stores located in Belgium, the UK and Germany for those who want to bring back clothes and shoes they no longer find useful. For those unfamiliar, A.P.C.’s “RECYCLING” program will allow customers to return their old A.P.C. clothing and textiles for store credit according to specific rates. A.P.C. will transfer the pre-owned clothes to a recycling facility where they are broken down into fibers and re-used.
Announcing the initiative, A.P.C. founder Jean Touitou shared:
“Something made a lasting impression on me when I was a kid in Tunis. Amongst the continuous ballet of street vendors, who walked down the road pushing ahead a kind of huge wheelbarrow two of them weren’t selling anything. Instead, they were picking things up. Each of these vendors or collectors had a slogan. The one who picked up clothes would say “roba vecchia” or “vecchia” for short.
The one who wanted old bread would say something else, I can’t remember what, even though he was the one who intrigued me most. What could these pieces of old bread be used for? It wasn’t until much later that I understood: these leftovers added “substance” to home-cooked meals. An authentic meatball has to be prepared with old bread. This idea of recycling things has always been somewhere at the back of my mind. At A.P.C., we explore this idea with quilts, Butlers and tote bags. So it was only natural to invite our customers to bring their “roba vecchia” back to A.P.C. These garments will get a second life and help people who don’t necessarily have the means to dress in good-quality clothes.”
A.P.C.’ “RECYCLING” program is now available in A.P.C. stores in France, Belgium, UK, Germany and the US. All items from the A.P.C. ready-to-wear and shoe collections are valid.
In case you’ve missed it, A.P.C. showcases its core values and upcoming collaborations for Spring/Summer 2020.
