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

 

Menswear startup internship 3/3

12th may - 28 may

Over the past weeks, I’ve gotten to know the team well and have been very well taken care of. I’m truly thankful for everything I’ve learned during this time. It has made me realize how much can be learned in just a few weeks when given the right opportunities.

Since my last blog update, I’ve been more involved in the purchasing side of the business. My supervisor has been asking me which areas I find most interesting and what I would like to learn more about. One of those areas was purchasing, so I got to follow along when the buyer sourced and purchased buttons, fabrics and care labels.

After that, I was given the responsibility of handling the entire purchase order for the restock of the brand’s four signature trouser styles. This was a large and detailed task where I needed to consider several factors: analyzing previous sales data, checking current stock levels and adjusting quantities based on style and size popularity. It was a fun challenge that gave me valuable experience in how purchasing decisions are made.

One of the key things I’ve realized during this internship is how important it is to take initiative. Many of the tasks I’ve worked on came from me showing interest or sharing what I could contribute. After all, when starting as an intern no one knows exactly what you can do. At the same time taking initiative requires having a flexible supervisor who is open to letting you try new things. I feel very fortunate in that sense. I also believe that working in a small team, as opposed to a large company, creates more opportunities for this kind of flexibility and learning by doing.

I am grateful for my time at this internship and all the learnings it have given me!

Menswear startup internship - 2/3

14th - 12th of May

I’m now more than halfway through my internship, and time is moving quickly. The workdays are varied, and I regularly receive new tasks which keeps things interesting. I’ve realized how much I enjoy learning different aspects of the business and appreciate the effort my supervisor puts into making the internship meaningful for me.

After the SS25 launch, I focused on customer care. I worked closely with the customer care manager, helping with email responses, Instagram direct messages and handling returns.

Since the company is still in its start-up phase, there was a need to organize workflows alongside product development and purchasing. I was involved in creating a workflow structure in Excel, which suited me well as I enjoy organizing and bringing clarity to tasks. 

Later, I shifted back to more creative tasks, which I’ve found are my strongest area. For example, I created Instagram stories, including a fit guide for the brand’s four signature trouser styles. These tasks allowed me to contribute with ideas and visual content, which is something I like working with.

One of the highlights so far has been participating in product development. I helped develop knitted shirts for the SS26 collection. I got the chance to create flat sketches in Photoshop and suggest design ideas. I also worked on sketches and color variations for caps. Being part of the design process has been both interesting, fun and a valuable learning experience.

Best regards,

Lilly