Blog 1/3 - RAI for SCArCITY project.

A month into my research Assistant internship which is part of the FORMAS-funded project SCArCITY: Scaling Circular Business Models in Cascaded Systems, which focuses on understanding how Circular business models (CBM's) operate and scale across different cascading loops in the textile and clothing (T&C)  industry. The purpose of the study that I am doing isto explore how textile materials/products can move through different stages while retaining value overtime and how this performance can be evaluated

The first four weeks have been mainly focused on building a foundational understanding of the topic with the core work of Sirkin and ten Houten (1994), redefining the purpose and methodology with guidance from my supervisor. The framework and four principles from Sirkin and ten Houten (1994), appropriate fit, augmentation, consecutive relinking and balancing resource metabolism have been important in helping me understand cascading and material flow better. The next step was to understand cascading in T&C industry in relation with circular economy CE.

Finding literature was a real challenge to begin with due to the papers being relatively fresh and most keywords gave back less than 20 papers of which only few were appropriate fit for the study. Thankfully my fellow research assistant intern was helpful and gave me some creative ways to look for literature. Another challenge is narrowing down, finding how much is enough and to understand the use of grey literature. The use of grey literature (wood industry) for the study is needed as mentioned by my supervisor to understand the cascading systems can be analysed in practice, tracking product flows across multiple uses.

The methodology for my study is critical literature review, where different strands of literature (CBM, Cascading, CE indicators and lifecycle assessment) are analysed through the lens of the four core principles of cascading. At this stage, the work is still in progress and the next step is to continue this analysis and begin structuring the key dimensions that will support the development of KPI's.

Overall the first month has been focused on the key concepts, theoretical grounding and establishing analytical direction. It has been a lot of reading once the challenge of finding literature was conquered. The next week will be more reading and I am following my supervisors guidance in this regard as he suggested to start writing only after reading and structuring the literature in detail. 

Sangavi Vetrivel 

Blog post 1 on comparing CAD/CAM software for textile design

 A month has gone by and during that month it has been a lot of reading articles. Much more than I originally thought. My planning report is basically out the window at this stage.

But this reading has been very interesting, I've looked into other research doing silimar studies but in other fields or software and by doing so I have learnt some new methodology that can be used for decision making and comparisons. 

Brzozowski and Birfer (2017) lists in their article the different and most popular Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) that are used for comparing ERP systems, which feels like it could be applyed on other software comparisons as well. They do mention the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as the top one with Fuzzy AHP as the second, which is what my literature study has also shown to be the case. Even though I have run into Fuzzy AHP more than plain AHP. Good thing I like math... Also, please do not make me say those names out loud in the presentations because there's no way I'll be able to pronounce them correctly and I am sorry in advanve for butchering them.

AHP then, is a structured method for making complex decisions by breaking them down into smaller, more manageble parts. It works in four stages;

1. Structuring the problem as a hierarchy for comparison, including the goal for the decision, the criteria and the subcriteria and the options that are to be compared.

2. Compare each criteria pairwise by asking if criterion A is more important than criterion B and if so then by how much on a scale of 1 to 9 where 1 is equally important and 9 is extremly more important.

3. Calculate the comparisons into numerical weigths

4. Eacxh alternative is scored against the criteria which shows the best option.

Fuzzy AHP includes for the indecision that may accompany the comparison, that is that if you choose 3, you might mean 2, 3 or 4 and include these as a fuzzy numerical set to be counted with instead. 

Basically it's a lot of math. And possibly a questionnaire in order to get more reliable weights for each criteria. 

Well, that's it for now. Back to reading, writing and figuring out criteria!

Blog #1 - Internship at the Swedish EPA

 

Over the past weeks, I have started my internship at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, working within the Department for a Resource Efficient Society. This experience has given me an interesting introduction to how sustainability work is carried out on a national level, as well as within a broader European and international context.

The Swedish EPA works on behalf of the Swedish government, but also plays an important role within the EU and in international environmental cooperation. The agency leads and coordinates environmental efforts in Sweden and is organised into different departments. I am part of the Department for a Resource Efficient Society, which focuses on the transition to a circular economy and reducing environmental impact.

So far, I have had the opportunity to participate in various meetings, dialogues, and conferences. One thing that has stood out to me is how much collaboration is involved. Many discussions include stakeholders from different sectors, which highlights how complex and interconnected sustainability challenges are. It is not just about environmental issues in isolation, but also about balancing economic and social perspectives.

I am also beginning to understand more about how EU regulations are implemented in practice, and how they influence national policies and decision-making. This has helped me connect theoretical knowledge from my studies to real-world processes.

At this stage, I am mostly observing and learning, but it already feels valuable to see how policies and strategies are shaped. I am looking forward to becoming more involved in ongoing projects and contributing more actively in the coming weeks.

Internship at an online fashion store, 1/3

I’m doing my internship at a smaller online fashion store based in Gothenburg that resells premium brands such as Malina, Gant, Barbour, and Busnel. I have now completed my first weeks and I have already gained valuable insights into several areas of the company. Mainly these weeks have been about getting familiar with the daily operations, such as warehouse tasks involving packing orders, putting new products in their system, and marketing.One of the most interesting parts so far has been participating in buying meetings with other brands. Here, I have observed how decisions are made regarding which product to buy from up-coming collections. 

What I noticed was how strongly these decisions are guided by the target customers. Rather than simply following trends, there is a clear focus on selecting pieces that fit the brand’s identity and what they believe their customers will actually buy. They have a more mature customer which has different needs/preferences when looking for clothes than someone my age that is around 25. This made me think more of how important it is to balance intuition, experience, knowing your customer, and market awareness in buying decisions.

I have also been adding new products into the company’s system, including writing product descriptions. Writing product descriptions made me aware of how important it is to be very detailed about how a garment feel, look, and function, as it is the only source of knowledge about the product. The way a product is described may influence how it is perceived and give somewhat an idea of how it looks in real life since the customers can’t try it before they buy it.

Another area I have been working with is content creation for their social media. Here, I noticed that marketing decisions are closely connected to inventory. For example, it is important not to promote products that are low in stock since then the customer can’t buy what is marketed. But also promote products that are high in stock and that haven’t sold as much. This made me reflect on how different parts of the business such as marketing and logistics, are highly interconnected and need to be aligned.

These first weeks have given me a broader understanding of how a premium fashion retailer operates, and I am looking forward to continuing exploring how these different elements come together. I have already noticed how different functions within the company influence each other. From buying and product presentation to marketing and communication, everything plays a role in shaping the overall customer experience.

Intern Nobo Design 1/3

 I am doing my internship at Nobo Design, an online store for women’s fashion that sells more than 80 different brands like Filippa K, Anine Bing and Twist & Tango.

During the first weeks, I have tried many different tasks. The first days, I worked in the warehouse to get an understanding of the products. Over the past weekend, they had a sale on the whole website, which meant there were many extra orders to pack on Monday, and I helped with that. It gave me a good overview of the different brands quite quickly.

Since then I have added new items to the internal system, including information like supplier reference, color codes, article numbers, purchase price, and selling price. I have also written product descriptions and published them on the website. I realized that it can be a bit challenging to make a short text both informative and inspiring at the same time, but it has still been very fun.

Besides that, I have created content for both TikTok and Instagram. These are quite different, since they want to reach teenagers on TikTok, while their main target group on Instagram is around 60 years old.

Finally, I have also joined buying meetings with some of the brands. It has been very interesting to see how different the sales approaches are and how important building relationships is to get Nobo to buy more products, even though sales numbers are of course also important.

It has been fun to try many different things because every day is different. I have already gained a good understanding of many parts of the company, and I hope to learn even more in the coming weeks!

Consulting field study 1/3

 Blogpost Nr.1

I have now for three weeks worked with my consulting field study for Värnamo of Sweden together with Digital Business Lab. 

The family owned business is run by the third generation now and has been in business since the 1950’s. They are a small - to medium sized enterprise (SME) who manufactures mainly pillows, duvet and mattress protection. In their factory in Värnamo they perform the final assembly of the product, stuffing the products with synthetic fibers and the final sewing. 

They are the only company in Sweden who still have their own production in Sweden but they also have production in China, Denmark, Pakistan and Spain. 

Their products can be found at multiple brands stores or their website, otherwise they perform a B2B operation where their biggest clients are hotels, cruise ships and resorts. 

My consulting field study is focusing on how SMEs can strategically implement a digital product passport (DPP). I have conducted my research based on regulations of the European Commission, research articles, reports, videos and websites to get both a broad understanding of what kind of information is out there and how it performs more specifically for SMEs. 

Because the regulations are not yet determinant of what is mandatory to include in the DPP resulting in hesitation upon which data is more important or prioritized to gather. 

My discoveries are making me realize what a big challenge this transition is for sustainability, circular business models, DPP and to understand the EUs regulations is for SMEs. 

It is challenging for me who has the knowledge even from before and even harder now with more knowledge to understand how SMEs can leverage these regulations without proper research and understanding. 

I'm trying to step up and go from theoretical learning into practical, to get actual facts and information on how SMEs are approaching these regulations and the implementation of DPP in practice. Together with the understanding of the software and how the data is collected and put into use.

Fashion Events Intern 1/3

With a background in event management, I have always been interested in events. Over time, my interest in fashion and the creative industries has also grown, hence why I chose this Master’s programme to deepen my knowledge in these fields. For my CFS, I decided to pursue an internship that combines these areas. I am currently working as a Member Events Intern at a members’ club in Stockholm that functions as a hub for creatives across different industries, including fashion, where I am involved in planning and executing various events for members.

So far, I’ve attended meetings, assisted in coordination, and been present during events, which has given me insight into both the behind-the-scenes work and the event experience itself. My role also involves supporting different parts of the planning process, communicating with different departments, and helping ensure that events run smoothly from preparation to execution. Since the club brings together people from different creative and fashion-related fields, it also offers a valuable environment for meeting and interacting with individuals working across the industry. We also run several events each week, often with different themes where various fields come together, which makes the work very dynamic and insightful. Being involved in this day-to-day work comes with a lot of responsibility, which I find both challenging and very fun. Looking ahead, we are currently preparing for several upcoming fashion-related events later this spring, as well as activities connected to Stockholm Fashion Week. I am looking forward to being more involved in these projects and gaining further insight into how larger events are planned and executed.

Overall, these first weeks have given me a better understanding of how events function not just as experiences, but as carefully created environments where people connect and build networks. The sense of community and networking in these settings is something I find particularly interesting, which will be the main theme for my report as well.

Gina Tricot purchasing intern 1/3

 Blog 1/3 

Hi! As of writing this post I'm 3 weeks into my internship as a purchasing intern at Gina Tricot's head office in Borås. For this period, I will be rotating across three different teams (all purchasing): jersey, knitwear and heavy woven. 

This friday I finished my time with the jersey team. Most of my days has involved checking different kinds of samples (lab dips, bulk samples, shipment samples, proto samples, photo samples). Each of them needs to be approved by before anything goes forward. Here, I look at the colour, the quality, eventual pilling or bleeding, fit, etc. What I haven't really thought about before was that each single garment demands multiple decisons, emails and follow-ups before heading to production. Moreso, I have also been taught the data systems they use, how they communicate to their suppliers, and a lot of Excel... 

What struck me the most, and inspired my report topic, is how the people (mainly the ones working in purchasing) talk about sustainability. During my bachelor and this master, I think that I have gained a clear, defined concept of what sustainability truly is and possible ways to incorporate it and handle it in the textile industry. But at Gina Tricot, the definition of sustainability feels unclear and messier. One thing that has been on my mind a lot is that quality seems to be the main focus of sustainability for them (e.g. longevity of the garment). But at the same time, the purchasers wants to keep the prices as low as possible for their GM to be high, so that means changing the materials to cheaper alternatives. For me, this is contradictory.

However, I also have to keep in mind that this is a fast fashion company at the end of the day. This has also led me to think about what it means to be a fast fashion company that wants to do better, as Gina Tricot has a sustainability team, material policies, certifications and long term goals. But at the same time, they are a fashion company that releases new styles every single week. This tension is real, and this is what I tend to explore for my final report. 

I'm am looking forward for the next 3 weeks where I will be assisting the jersey team, and meeting the girls who are part of it!!

Thanks for reading !! :) 

Zoë

1/3 Creative Content Intern

Hey, 

I'm happy to share some of my experiences from the past weeks as a Creative Content Intern.

As the link between the Creative and Performance Marketing teams, my daily tasks revolve around creating content, editing visuals, and writing copy for different platforms as well as analytical tasks surrounding the performance of those contents. I further support campaign ideation and conduct trend research, which keeps me constantly engaged with what is relevant in the industry.

Working in a small-scale company has alloved me to take on ownership and responsibility from day one. This has been both rewarding and exciting, and it is helping me gain as much insight as possible during this period. My role spans multiple platforms, a variety of tasks and creative projects, and frequent collaboration with different departments. 

A key part of my internship also involves exploring how Artificial Intelligence can be integrated into marekting and creative workflows. As such a prominent topic in the industry , I am looking forward to diving deeper into the real opportunities and challenges it presents.

So far, I have been enjoying the experience a lot, have had a warm welcome and have gained valuable insights, which makes me even more excited for the rest of the internship.  

 

Blog post 2/3

 

FAST FASHION AND WHAT WE DON’T SEE

 

During my internship at Erikshjälpen, I observed something that made me reflect more deeply on the role of fast fashion within secondhand systems. While working in the sorting section, I noticed that certain fast fashion garments were consistently removed from the sorting process.

 

What stood out to me was that these items were not always damaged or worn out. In many cases, they appeared new and in good condition. However, despite their appearance, they were still discarded and did not proceed further into the system. When I asked about why this was so, I was informed that there are concerns regarding the uncertainty of materials, especially chemicals and production processes used in some fast fashion garments. As a result, these items are often not considered suitable to circulate within the secondhand market.

 

This observation highlights an important aspect of clothing that is often overlooked. As consumers, we tend to focus on visible qualities such as price, style, and appearance when purchasing garments. Fast fashion attracts buyers with affordability and trend driven designs. However, what is not visible are the underlying production processes, material composition, and potential quality concerns associated with these garments.

 

Through my experience, I began to understand that the value of clothing is not determined solely by how it looks or how new it appears. Instead, factors such as material, quality, durability, and production standards play a significant role in determining whether a garment can be reused or circulated within secondhand systems. This explains why some items, even when they appear perfectly wearable, are still filtered out during sorting.

 

In addition, this experience revealed that secondhand retail is not simply a passive system where all donated clothes are accepted and resold. Rather, it operates as an active filtering process. Decisions are made based on established criteria, and only garments that meet certain standards are allowed to reenter the market. This means that secondhand systems also play a role in shaping what is considered acceptable for reuse.

 

This has completely changed the way I think about fast fashion. It is not only about how quickly clothes are produced or how affordable they are, but also about their long-term value and impact. The fact that some garments are excluded from reuse raises important questions about sustainability, quality, and responsibility within the fashion industry.

 

Overall, this experience demonstrates that not all garments are suitable for a second life, even within systems designed to promote reuse. It also shows that secondhand retail involves more than resale, it involves careful decision-making about what should continue circulating and what should not. This has made me more aware of the importance of considering not just how clothing looks, but also what lies behind its production and how it fits into a more sustainable lifecycle. In purchasing clothing items moving forward I prefer to go for clothes that have second value and are in line with sustainability practices.

-Suror-

Blog #1: Loggit

I have been interning part-time for a few months with Loggit, a Norwegian startup that makes reusable packaging for e-commerce. I have had the chance to sit in on several meetings with a local apparel company here in Borås regarding a pilot for reusable shipping bags, so far, and one of the most interesting things to watch was how quickly ideas are turned into reality in the startup space - it took only a few weeks between the initial in-person meeting with the company and the production of the initial prototype, and really only a few more weeks for the prototype to be more or less finalized. I feel this sense of urgency is important to enact meaningful change.

The experience has also made me think more about how frame sustainability issues from a more business-oriented perspective; while I personally consider sustainability to be a societal priority, businesses need to be able to justify change from financially and operationally as well.

Since going full time at the beginning of April, though, most of my focus has been on a report I am working on regarding the global market for reusable packaging and the key players currently in the space. It is a slightly different approach to research than I had gotten used to at school, with a greater focus on corporate and industry sources over academic journals, and a greater emphasis on conciseness over extensive theoretical backing. This is something I think I will be revisiting through the period, especially as I start thinking about the final report for this course as well.

Internship at Revolution Race Blog 1/3

I have now spent a couple of weeks at RevolutionRace, and I am really enjoying my internship so far. RevolutionRace is a Swedish outdoor clothing company founded in Borås in 2014. The company focuses on creating functional, colorful, and affordable outdoor clothing, sold mainly through its own online channels directly to customers. 

I am part of the Growth and Marketplace team, where much of the work is directly visible to customers. It has been exciting to see how many different parts of the company work together to create a strong brand and a smooth online experience.

One of the things I have enjoyed most is getting the opportunity to visit different departments across the company, including customer service, the studio and photography team, and the e-commerce team that builds and maintains the website. It has given me a much better understanding of everything that happens behind the scenes and how different teams contribute to the final customer experience.

So far, I have worked on updating brand stores for the spring season by changing images, text, videos, and links to improve the customer journey. I have also helped with administrative setup, updated product detail pages for new products, joined meetings with external partners, and taken part in planning newsletters and Amazon push notifications for May and June.

What I find most interesting is seeing how much work happens behind the scenes before a customer clicks "buy." Even small changes, such as updating an image or improving a link, can make a difference in how customers experience a brand. It has been a great start to my internship, and I am looking forward to learning even more in the coming weeks.

Communications and Commercial Intern

Communications and Commercial Intern: Post 1/3

Irene Rumiz

Hi! 

I'm glad to share my experience from these past two weeks as a Communications and Commercial Intern at The Loop Factory. It has been an amazing and eye-opening experience, both within the sustainability field and in getting to know the working environment in Sweden. It has been incredible to combine my previous work experience in marketing and management with the sustainability knowledge I’ve acquired from several courses at university. This is my first time working in a company whose core mission is sustainability and making the world a better place by reducing and optimizing waste. I’ve had the opportunity not only to be included in ongoing projects and collaborate with different team members, but also to take the lead on one project, which has really boosted my confidence. It means a lot that they trust me and believe I’m capable of it.

I also had the opportunity to visit the lab and see how transformation occurs, how waste is turned into something entirely new. That was truly impressive. It shows that the circular economy is actually possible. This experience has undoubtedly opened my eyes and expanded my horizons, because it’s very different to read about it than to see and understand how it actually works.

Another important aspect of these two weeks is the cultural differences I’ve experienced compared to work environments back home (Dominican Republic) and here in Sweden. The kindness and understanding among coworkers is impressive; no one judges or talks behind your back, which is something more common back home. The flexibility with time, the design of the office space (it even has a resting room!), and, of course, fika, are all things that stand out. The fact that all team members, regardless of role, eat together and share stories and experiences during lunch, or that taking a walk after eating is normal and accepted, shows how important it is in Sweden to balance work and well-being. Healthy and happy employees are more productive, and that’s sometimes overshadowed back home by the pressure to produce constantly.

Last but not least, commuting has been a completely new experience for me. Since The Loop Factory is in Varberg, I travel there by train, and I must admit, I like it. It’s my first time commuting to work, and this routine is interesting and enjoyable (at least for now, let’s see in a few weeks).

I’ll keep you posted on how it goes :)

IR

fabrics & trims sourcing intern TOTEME. BLOG 1/3

My first two weeks as an intern at the fashion company Toteme have been a blast. It has been a mix of excitement and curiosity, but also some scary unknowns that comes with moving to a new city, entering a new environment, and meeting new people. I have a strong educational background in this field, but zero working experience, so I am constantly learning something new. Honestly, it has been really refreshing to switch environments for a while, from the classroom to the real world.

I started my first day in the product development department, but then moved into raw material sourcing, working with fabrics and trims. A lot of what I have been doing so far has been very hands on. I have been cutting fabrics into swatches, and preparing fabric cards with details such as material composition, supplier, and price per meter. These are later presented to the design team during meetings for future collections.

It has been interesting to see how the process works in practice. The designers present what kind of garments and materials they are looking for, and the sourcing team responds by finding and presenting suitable options. I really like how this creates a connection between different departments and shows how important collaboration is within the company.

I have also spent a lot of time going through the in-house fabric archive, organizing and sorting samples while getting more familiar with different materials, finishes, and suppliers. It has been a great way to better understand fabrics in terms of composition, texture, weight, and finish. One of the highlights so far has been helping with fabric research, especially searching for different options for fabrics, linings, and trims within the archive.

Alongside this, I have been helping with daily tasks such as collecting and sending packages, scanning and copying documents, moving boxes, and occasionally steaming garments. These tasks might not sound very exciting, but they are all part of how everything works day to day, and being involved in them has actually been really insightful.

The biggest highlight of these two weeks has been meeting all my new colleagues. Everyone has been very welcoming, and it has been interesting to see how a fashion company operates in practice. The office space is also super cool!

Overall, these first two weeks have been very rewarding in terms of practical learning, but also a great experience socially in a diverse and international workplace.

That’s it for now. Updating again in two weeks!

Peace out,

/ Noah

Global Marketing Intern 1/3

 Hello everyone!

I’m happy to share with you that I’ve now completed my first month as a global marketing intern at a global lifestyle brand operating within the premium fashion industry. 

From day one, I’ve felt very welcomed by my team. The team itself is relatively small, but highly cross-functional. I work closely not only within my team, but have also been involved in meetings and activities involving other functions across the organization, such as the brand team, wholesale, local marketing departments, and content creators. This has given me a broader understanding of how different parts of the business connect.

I started my internship just as the SS26 campaign was launched, which meant that a large part of my first month has been focused on supporting the marketing around that launch and following up on how it performed in press and social media. My role is quite broad and more of a coordinator role, where I’ve been involved in a range of different tasks, which has given me exposure to several areas within marketing. This includes working closely with PR agencies, coordinating influencer marketing, planning social media content and putting together monthly marketing reports, including presenting relevant KPIs and summarizing key insights. I’ve also been part of an ongoing project related to store openings in new markets, events and other brand-building activations aimed at strengthening organic reach and brand awareness. This also connects closely to my field study, where I’m examining which marketing functions are most critical for driving sales but also in order to build brand awareness across both new and existing markets, while still maintaining a consistent brand identity.

So far, I've really enjoyed my time here and during these weeks I've learned a lot already. Looking forward to the next coming weeks! 

/Lisa Sandell

Production Intern at Hodakova 1/3

 Post 1/3 

The past two weeks have greatly verified my expectations against reality. Working closely with both logistics and sourcing departments, I had the chance to see and experience what production using deadstock garments is like. Before starting the internship, I perceived deadstock sourcing as the holy grail of sustainable production - now, I see the plethora of complexities and limitations that are bound to such an innovative and relatively new approach to production. Due to its novelty, the solutions and structures of conventional production management are sometimes inapplicable, requiring new standards and 'know-hows'. 

The process is particularly lengthy and both time and labour consuming. Sourcing and procurement, including building a reliable supplier base, requires plenty of time, research, and patience, as per my supervisor's experience. Each sourced garment goes under thorough quality control to ensure garments are in top-tier condition (e.g. checking for pilling, discolouration, stains, general signs of wear and tear). Some garment repairs and handling take place in-house, including stitching or sewing, removing pilling or stains. Then, the garments are checked against tech-pack criteria, e.g. exact measurements or colour way needed for a specific style and pattern. Once the alignment between the garment and the ready-to-wear garment's material consumption is met, the deadstock material needs to be marked with its purpose before landing in factual manufacture - clear communication, similarly to conventional production, remains at core of all production activities. After successful productions, ready-to-wear garments are again quality-checked, packed appropriately and shipped to ordering stores. 

Although it has only been two weeks so far, I am beyond grateful to be constantly learning about the complexity of implementing sustainable solutions and innovations within the supply chain/production. While thinking about how said processes can be streamlined for more efficient production using deadstock, I wonder: do we actually have to make everything faster and more efficient? Perhaps that's both the 'cost' and 'benefit' of sustainability - to slow down, become more attentive, handle the garment with more thorough care (and awe). 

The Journey Before the Store.

 

Blog Post 1/3

The Journey Before the Store.

 

Let me take you on a journey, behind the scenes of what truly happens to garments before they get to the stores. When people shop in secondhand stores, it often feels like everything donated simply ends up on the shop floor. From my experience working at Erikshjälpen so far, I have realized that this not the case. There is a detailed and structured process that determines what is sold, what is repaired, what is sent to other countries and what is removed completely.

 

The sorting process begins with what is known as light sorting. At this stage, clothes are quickly assessed and separated into different categories. For example, clothes from the brand “157” are placed in a box labelled for Estonia and are sent there. Items that are still good but need some form of repair, washing, or treatment are placed in what is called the Human Bridge box. These items are later picked up, processed, and eventually returned for sale if they meet the required standard.

 

Other garments that are clean, meet quality standards and need no mending will be placed in a large wooden box for further sorting. Accessories such as caps, scarves, ties, and gloves are sorted separately into their own category. There are also special sorting boxes for seasonal items like Christmas clothing, as well as for well-known sports brands such as Addidas and Nike.

 

After the light sorting stage, the process moves into heavy sorting. This is where the large wooden box from light sorting is further divided into more specific categories. Clothing is sorted into different groups such as men’s trousers, women’s trousers, women’s tops, men’s tops, women’s jackets and raincoats, button-down jackets, dresses and skirts, and children’s clothing from ages 0 to youth.

 

In addition to these categories, there are also specific containers for items that cannot be sold. Torn or damaged clothes are separated, and gym wear is also placed in its own category. Interestingly, I observed that items from certain fast fashion brands, particularly Shein, are often discarded and do not proceed further in the system. Personal items such as underwear, socks, bras, and swimwear are also removed and never make it to the shop floor.

 

Once the sorting is completed, the remaining items are prepared for pricing. What stood out to me is that pricing is not based on how new or visually appealing an item looks, but rather on an existing price list determined by brand of clothes. This shows how structured and standardized the system is, rather than subjective.

 

Overall, this experience has given me a deeper understanding of how much work happens behind the scenes in secondhand retail. It is not simply about reselling donated clothes, but about making careful decisions at every stage. The process ensures quality, consistency, and efficiency, while also highlighting that not everything donated is suitable for reuse.

I have also learned that it is better to invest in quality clothes from good brands, as they are more likely to retain secondhand value. Additionally, I have come to understand that buying secondhand clothes does not make you inferior rather, it means you are part of a larger cycle of sustainability and reuse.

Suror