In the ever-evolving landscape of fashion, sustainability is no longer just a trend—it’s a necessity.
Enter Remi, a groundbreaking re-loved fashion marketplace set to transform how New Zealanders buy, sell, and repurpose clothing. At the heart of this innovative platform is Teegan Garton, a visionary entrepreneur who turned a challenging period in her life into a mission to revolutionise the resale fashion industry. In this exclusive Q&A, Teegan shares the inspiration behind Remi, the platform’s unique approach to promoting circularity, and her ambitious vision for the future of sustainable fashion in Aotearoa.
What inspired you to create Remi, and how did your vision for the platform evolve over time?
Remi was created from quite a challenging season of my life. I had just moved back to NZ from France in the midst of COVID, pregnant with a two-and-a-half-year old facing life as a single mum. During the time I lived in France I frequently used the most popular resale platform there and struggled to find the equivalent accessibility in the resale space within NZ. I didn’t have time to search and follow all of the marketplaces and resellers on various different platforms and realised there was a gap in the market for a one stop shop. The vision of Remi began as a marketplace that served as a centralised hub but as I developed the brand and my dreams and vision I realised I wanted it to be so much more. Yes the marketplace is the foundation, but Remi grew into something that is community driven, a social experience, people focused and a driver in the movement towards a circular economy. It is made to be used by individuals, side hustlers, resellers, community/charity initiatives, seconds of established brands. Remi has evolved into something so much larger, hopefully impactful in people’s lives and working towards change for the better.
Remi aims to revolutionize pre-loved fashion in New Zealand. What sets it apart from other secondhand marketplaces?
Remi is made by us, for you. Our goal was to make a platform that not only stood out from the rest but was easy to use, attractive with many points of difference that are focused on adding value to everyone who interacts with Remi. I wanted to make Remi an accessible marketplace for reselling and repurposing but also a foundation for so much for. The ability to impact the community, for users to have a fun social experience and for a wide range of resellers to use. I believe with all of these in mind from the outset, we have created a really value driven platform that I think everyone can enjoy. I wanted branding that was applicable to men and women, to young and old, to resellers and businesses and I think this is just another feature that sets us apart.
While we’re talking second hand clothing, what’s your all-time favorite thrifted/secondhand find in your personal wardrobe?
Oh so many to name! But I would say one would be an amazing pair of Italian leather boots that I found in a small community run op shop in Palmerston North. Whenever I travel anywhere I always hunt out the op shops, you never know what absolute gems you will find. My other would be a coat that I bought secondhand when I moved back to NZ and was soon after going on a trip with my family to Queenstown. I was nearly 9 months pregnant and only had one suitcase moving back from France so couldn’t bring any larger items. Hunting for a secondhand coat was part of the journey that brought me to recognise the need for a centralised, accessible and user friendly platform. I can’t part with the coat (although it’s about 4 sizes too big now) as it’s so much a part of my personal journey and the foundational moments of starting Remi.
You’ve emphasised circularity and affordability as key values for Remi. How does the platform specifically promote these principles in its operations?
At Remi we are transparent in the fact that we are not reinventing the wheel but are dedicated to creating a platform where your wardrobe choices make a difference – one where every purchase is a vote for a more circular forward existence. We have circularity as one of our core values and we believe that the concept of keeping things (ie: fashion items) in a loop, repurposing them and optimising longevity is a core part of a sustainable future. The most reliable way to predict our future is to create it and our focus and value proposition is just that. By embracing the circular economy were reducing waste and ensuring that fashion can be enjoyed responsibly. The basic function of the platform achieves this but I also think it’s about a mindset shift. We will always encourage this on our platform, through accessibility, through education, through highlighting other businesses pushing forward in this space (our Circularity in Aotearoa campaign) and also by supporting community initiatives and different ways to keep resources going around in the ‘loop.’
The fashion industry is facing a sustainability crisis. How does Remi contribute to a more sustainable future for fashion in Aotearoa?
Where to start! A ‘sustainable future for fashion’ is a massively broad, complicated and yet also simple conversation. Sustainability refers to the creation, production and consumption (ie: of fashion) in ways that are environmentally friendly, socially responsible and economically viable over the long term – yes a massive statement. As mentioned our basic role in this space is concentrating on being part of a circular fashion movement. I think the most sustainable things we can do are not about shopping at all – but are rooted in making the most of what already exists, caring for and valuing our things by making intentional choices. For example the anatomy of a sustainable outfit can be described as thrifted, repeated, repaired, borrowed, personal, considered and small business supportive. We believe by aligning our choices, our branding, our socials and our overall goals with these types of concepts, we can contribute to a more sustainable future for fashion in Aotearoa.
What does it mean to have Jessie Kirk, a recognised thought leader in Aotearoa’s re-loved fashion industry, as a spokesperson for Remi, and how has her involvement influenced the platform’s development and mission?
Isn’t Jessie amazing! I have loved watching her journey, she is so inspiring within and out of the fashion space and we are so thankful to partner with her. What I love about Jessie is that her fashion style reflects her and what is personally meaningful to her. I think she adds so much value to her followers and inspires them to wear what they love, what they feel good in and not necessarily what the fast fashion trends tell them they should be wearing. A pillar for website design was the marrying of the marketplace with a social experience, a way to follow your favourite influencer and have access to their Remi page to be in the know when they sell things. You may love their fashion taste, be the same size or simply take inspiration from what they are buying and selling and we have kept this in mind during the design process.
User experience seems central to Remi’s appeal. Can you tell us more about the unique features that make the platform user-friendly and community-driven?
During the design phase of Remi we really focused in on the main ‘problems’ users experienced on other resell platforms, in NZ and throughout the world. User-friendliness was the top priority for customers, who emphasised the importance of easily finding what they’re searching for, enjoying their experience on the platform, and having seamless payment and communication systems. I wanted to make the platform simple to use, a space that invited you back and where community and social driven interactions could be found. I honestly think we have achieved that and will keep pushing forward to make these features even better.
Looking ahead, how do you envision Remi evolving and expanding its role in the sustainable fashion space?
We are only just beginning. Our goal is to make Remi a household name, where “sell it on Remi” or “have you looked on Remi” become commonly used phrases in the resale fashion space. We want to continue expanding, keeping people and community as key drivers in our goals. We want to focus on prolonging the use of clothing and being able to support those who need it most. In terms of forward movement in the sustainable space I will leave a quote by @secondhand.sustainability “You can not change any society unless you take responsibility for it, unless you see yourself as belonging to it and responsible for changing it.”
Remi launches early September 2024
Stay tuned over on the Remi Instagram HERE