M&S has just taken a big step forward in the fashion resale sector, launching a dedicated service with eBay across clothing, footwear and accessories.

It said the partnership, through an official M&S x eBay store and supported by repair specialist Reskinned, “makes it easy for customers to trade its unwanted items and offers a one-stop destination to shop favourite styles”.

With M&S claimed to be one of the most searched-for brands on eBay, pairing the digital retailer’s reach across millions of fashion-conscious shoppers with Reskinned’s expertise in garment repair, resale and recycling, the new online service will now “extend the lifecycle of M&S garments and reduces textile waste by giving quality pre-loved items a new home”, the high street giant added.

The launch is the latest initiative under its ‘Another Life’ scheme, part of its wider Plan A strategy in Fashion, Home & Beauty, “bringing together M&S’ approach to circularity into one place with a focus on the four R’s; Rewear, Repair, Recycle and Resale”. 

It added: “Having been the first major UK retailer to launch a clothes recycling scheme back in 2008, M&S is now completing the final R – Resale”.

It also noted that sales linked to the M&S x eBay store will result in 15% of M&S’s resale profits going to its long-standing partner Oxfam.

The new partnership accepts re-wearable items including footwear, handbags, belts, hats and scarves, which were previously excluded from M&S’s in-store clothes recycling scheme — “and brings everything together in one easy, online experience for customers to recycle and repurchase”.

The resale service begins with customers completing a short form on M&S.com or scanning QR codes in M&S’s Fashion, Home & Beauty stores, then sending their items using a free local courier service to Reskinned.

For each return that includes at least one M&S-labelled item, customers receive a £5 off a spend of £35 or more on fashion, home, and beauty products online (valid for four weeks from date of issue).

Items that can be worn again are professionally cleaned, repaired and listed by Reskinned on the M&S x eBay store. Items that cannot be resold will be responsibly repurposed or recycled, it said.

Monique Leewenburgh, director of Sourcing and Technology in Fashion, Home & Beauty at M&S, said: “We are committed to supporting customers to do the right thing and playing our part in reducing textile waste. [The partnership] with pre-loved experts at eBay and Reskinned… not only offers more ways for customers to give items Another Life, but also an opportunity for customers to purchase items they might have missed from previous seasons.”

Kirsty Keoghan, senior director, Europe Fashion at eBay, added: “For nearly three decades, eBay has partnered with fashion brands to help them sell seamlessly at every stage of the inventory lifecycle, while championing the principles of recommerce and the circular economy.

“M&S is a beloved British institution, known for its enduring quality and style, and a staple in wardrobes across the UK. Welcoming M&S to the eBay marketplace represents an exciting milestone in our mission to make circular fashion more accessible, appealing, and scalable.”

Circular Economy minister Mary Creagh  also said: “Our Plan for Change is focused on cleaning up Britain, ending our throwaway culture and ensuring that the 700,000 odd tonnes of clothes we throw away each year are worn more. Only government and businesses working together can stop fashion costing the earth, which is why I welcome this new initiative from M&S – a great way for consumers to be rewarded for providing a new home for old favourites.”