Luxury resale platform Vestiaire Collective has partnered with the nonprofit Or Foundation to launch a collection of upcycled clothing and accessories created by designers in Ghana. The collection, made from repurposed T-shirts, denim, tapestries, and sweatshirts, features handbags, pants, jackets, and sweatshirts crafted from materials sourced at Accra’s Kantamanto Market, one of the world’s largest secondhand clothing hubs.
This marks the Or Foundation’s first collaboration with a luxury platform. The Ghana-based organization focuses on environmental justice, fashion waste solutions, and supporting Kantamanto-based upcyclers and tailors. “We’re proud to partner with Vestiaire Collective to showcase the artistry of reuse and repair,” said Liz Ricketts, co-founder and executive director of The Or Foundation. “We hope this inspires people to rethink the value of their clothing.”
Proceeds from the collection will support both the designers and the Kantamanto community through the Or Foundation’s Secondhand Solidarity Fund. The launch aligns with Vestiaire Collective’s push for sustainable fashion. Last year, the platform banned 30 fast fashion brands from resale, citing environmental concerns. It also signed a petition in August advocating for the removal of sales tax on secondhand apparel in the U.S.
Each week, about 15 million secondhand garments arrive at Kantamanto Market from countries like the U.S., U.K., and Canada, with roughly 40% left unsold and turned into waste. However, a May report from the Ghana Used Clothing Dealers Association and a 2022 Or Foundation study found that less than 5% of imported secondhand clothing is actually considered waste, highlighting the potential for upcycling and reuse.
