Sustainable Apparel and Textiles Conference

29th - 30th April 2026

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Dragons den style presentation – Can we decouple profit and production through resale?

Case study
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The global second-hand market is allegedly booming, growing approximately 3x faster than the overall global apparel market (ThreadUp). Among circular business models, resale stands as the one showing real returns and returning behaviour, particularly among Gen Z consumers (BCG).

Beneath the celebratory headlines, there’s some key questions for sustainability teams to consider:

  • Are resale models genuinely reducing our environmental footprint, or are they normalising overconsumption? A recent Nature study argues the latter. Affordability, not sustainability, is still the main reason people buy second-hand (BCG), so does resale simply make it easier to buy more?
  • Why should CFOs, especially non-luxury ones, pursue resale when traditional linear models still generate higher revenue?

In this dynamic Dragons’ Den-session, we’ll hear from 3 practical case studies and dive into whether resale can and should scale further.

Case study

What to expect from this type of session...

You’ll hear a step-by-step breakdown of a very focused case study. From concept creation and business buy in; to identification of the right partners and implementation; to understanding impact and ROI. Always grounded in a real-world example, these sessions provide clear guidance and action points to take back to your own organisation.

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Day 0

Tuesday 28th April 2026

Time
Session title
Session theme
Session type
2:30pm - 5:00pm
Workshop
5:00pm - 6:00pm
Networking
Day 1

Wednesday 29th April 2026

Time
Session title
Session theme
Session type
9:20am - 10:05am
C-suite priorities: Are quarterly results crowding out long-term survival in the boardroom? 
Finisterre | Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail | Asket | Sustainabelle
Plenary
10:05am - 10:45am
Fair purchasing or failed partnerships? What does real supplier-brand collaboration look like in practice? 
Oritain | Artistic Garment Industries (AGI Denim) | MANGO | Ethical Trading Initiative
Case study
10:45am - 11:30am
11:30am - 12:10pm
Net-zero: Everyone pays for inaction. Who pays for action? 
Marks & Spencer | Soorty Enterprises | Action Speaks Louder | Sustainable & Social
Plenary
12:10pm - 1:00pm
Plenary
1:00pm - 2:00pm
2:00pm - 2:45pm
2:45pm - 3:30pm
3:30pm - 4:15pm
4:45pm - 5:30pm
5:30pm - 6:30pm
Day 2

Thursday 30th April 2026

Time
Session title
Session theme
Session type
9:00am - 9:50am
The consumption cyclone: Can circularity fix overproduction? 
Hirdaramani Group | Reju | Primark | Tapestry | Sustainabelle
Plenary
10:20am - 10:45am
10:45am - 11:15am
Transitioning to regenerative cotton: Impact, opportunity, and operational reality from farm to brand 
Turnrow Farm Services | COTTON USA™ and U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol
Case study
12:45pm - 1:45pm
1:45pm - 2:10pm
A just transition: How we can centre waste pickers, not just waste, in the circular economy 
Saamuhika Shakti | H&M Foundation | Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute
Plenary
2:55pm - 3:30pm
Plenary
3:30pm - 3:45pm
Plenary