Rohan N | BA User Experience Design I’m Rohan. I’m a UI/UX Designer, focusing on sustainability in fashion, especially with respect to recommerce applications like Vinted and Depop. Think of recommerce apps as online thrift stores, where people can buy and sell second-hand clothes. I became interested in this subject fairly recently, when I grew tired of the amount of clothes cluttering my room. Many of these items no longer fit me or my style, but they were still good quality. I didn’t feel like throwing them away because I knew that they could be of use to other people and was aware of the environmental impact of fast fashion. Eventually, a friend of mine introduced me to Vinted after I lamented about my dilemma regarding storage space versus sustainability. At first, it seemed like a godsend. I was able to declutter my closet while still being “sustainable”. I believed it gave clothes another a chance - a new lease of life. Conversely, it even helped me pick up some more fashion forward pieces at a more affordable price. The success behind Vinted, Depop and other similar applications I feel can be attributed to rising sustainability concerns among consumers, largely driven by the cost-of-living crisis and growing awareness of fast fashion landfills and the exploitation of 3rd world labour. Additionally, the trend cycle of modern fashion is diminishing which means that brands need to change production in the short-term just to keep up with trends (as opposed to just doing Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter). This leaves consumers with an abundance of low-quality affordable clothes that need to be replaced every so often. As an intervention into this problem, recommerce apps make sense. Fundamentally, consumers buy clothes for cheaper prices while allowing other consumers to declutter sustainably. As my usage of Vinted and Depop increased, especially as a UI/UX designer, I noticed how in-app elements support the circular economy behind these platforms. For example, when you first sign up, Vinted prompts you with an offer for free delivery for your first sale. This appears as a banner style notification and in-app. I feel that this helps get the ball rolling with new users. It lets them know that Vinted isn’t just about buying, but also selling. Additionally, Vinted offers discounts on bulk purchases, allowing buyers to save on shipping charges when they buy a set of items, as opposed to buying items individually. Shopping for designer brands second-hand, especially online was always risky. It was difficult to ascertain authenticity through a screen. Even seasoned thrift veterans could have trouble spotting well-made duplicates. That’s why, Vinted now offers a feature called “Item Verification”. They claim to have a team of experts with experience in authenticity checking. This service is free for sellers and costs £10 for buyers. By offering this service to sellers for free, Vinted fosters trust among buyers, making them more likely to purchase pre-owned designer items. These products are typically made with higher-quality materials, resulting in a longer lifespan compared to fast fashion products. By authenticating them, Vinted encourages the resale and reuse of high-quality items, which would otherwise be challenging without the verification check. However, I did experience some downfalls. While Vinted's platform for buying and selling second-hand clothing promotes sustainability and the circular economy, it also presents a paradox. The abundance of cheap clothes available on Vinted can lead to overconsumption, which is unfortunately something I had a problem with. The psychology of bargains always enticed me to find a better deal or a better item of clothing, which led me to buy clothes that I didn’t really need. To address this, I would like to propose a feature that would allow users to create a lookbook of their wardrobe on vinted, sort of like a digital closet. Vinted would use this list to ensure that users only fill in the gaps in their closet and notify them if they’re buying too many similar items. Additionally, I feel that shipping is where Vinted could make some headway. To further reduce the carbon footprint associated with shipping, Vinted can highlight items closer to the user, minimizing travel distance and emissions. Another feature that I would appreciate is a UI element that that quantifies the environmental impact of each purchase on Vinted. This would help users visualise their contributions better and perhaps gamify the sustainability process by encouraging users to work towards achieving better numbers. Integrating a carbon savings calculator into the app can make the abstract idea of "saving the environment" more tangible and compelling. Many airlines have similar features which can be used as a reference.
In conclusion, the growing awareness of the ethical and environmental concerns surrounding fast fashion is driving the emergence of recommerce apps like Vinted and Depop. As a UI/UX designer focused on sustainability, my work with Vinted shows the importance of refining user interfaces and journeys in eco-friendly shopping. While these platforms allow for sustainable decluttering and shopping, challenges such as overconsumption and shipping emissions still persist. To address this, proposed UI/UX advancements include location relevant searches, a digital closet to keep track of purchases and a carbon savings calculator. These changes can help users of Vinted and other similar platforms make more informed and more eco-conscious choices when it comes to buying and selling second-hand items online. References: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/mar/27/secondhand-clothing-on-track-to-take-10-of-global-fashion-sales https://www.vinted.co.uk/help/5/260-bundles-policy https://lookastic.com/ https://www.vinted.co.uk/help/1147 https://www.vinted.co.uk/item_verification
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