The term ' fast fashion ' was coined in the 1990s to put a name to the rapid production model followed by Zara, which in turn was followed by the wearers of fashion. Ever since the shelf life of clothes became shorter and shorter with seasons, cycles and fads determining their usefulness. It is only in recent years that environmentalists have shed light on the hazardous effect that fast fashion is having on the environment with piles and piles of clothes being turned into garbage dumps.
Now, thrifting clothes that are pre-used, pre-loved or second-hand clothes are all the rage among the new generation that has taken up the efforts to know more about climate conservation and the steps towards it. Phoebe Gates , the youngest daughter of tech billionaire Bill Gates is one such member of this generation who is aiming to blend fashion, technology and sustainability through Phia , an AI-powered platform that aims to revolutionize how people shop for second-hand clothing.
According to The Verge, the platform which is a brainchild of Phoebe, 22, and her former Stanford roommate Sophia Kianni , 23, was launched on April 24 and analyses market trends and compares them to a database of over 250 million second-hand products from platforms such as eBay, StockX, ThredUp , Vestiaire Collective, Poshmark and The Real Real.
“This entire industry of fashion tech is fascinating to me. Women are spending a huge amount of money on shopping, and the fact we’re not delivering a personalized experience to them that’s good for their wallets and the world is crazy to me,” said Gates to the New York Post.
Gates' Phia comes at a time when the second-hand clothing industry is on the rise. According to a 2023 report by ThredUp, the global resale market is expected to double by 2027, reaching a value of $350 billion. While Phia is not the only platform in the second-hand clothing market, Gates as its founder is bringing the platform a fate that might make it stand out.
By her venture, Gates is not only taking an initiative towards climate conservation but also emphasising it as the need of the hour. The fashion industry is one of the biggest contributors to global carbon emissions and water pollution, generating over 92 million tonnes of textile waste, as per the United Nations Environment Programme.
By providing users with "the best price in one click" Phia might as well give the second-hand clothing market the push it needs. “How do you know that you’re not getting scammed? How do you know it’s actually the best price possible? We built the tool that we wish had existed back when we were in college,” said Kianni. It is the perfect new generation initiative to work towards climate conservation, by tackling the problem rather than just highlighting it.
Now, thrifting clothes that are pre-used, pre-loved or second-hand clothes are all the rage among the new generation that has taken up the efforts to know more about climate conservation and the steps towards it. Phoebe Gates , the youngest daughter of tech billionaire Bill Gates is one such member of this generation who is aiming to blend fashion, technology and sustainability through Phia , an AI-powered platform that aims to revolutionize how people shop for second-hand clothing.
According to The Verge, the platform which is a brainchild of Phoebe, 22, and her former Stanford roommate Sophia Kianni , 23, was launched on April 24 and analyses market trends and compares them to a database of over 250 million second-hand products from platforms such as eBay, StockX, ThredUp , Vestiaire Collective, Poshmark and The Real Real.
“This entire industry of fashion tech is fascinating to me. Women are spending a huge amount of money on shopping, and the fact we’re not delivering a personalized experience to them that’s good for their wallets and the world is crazy to me,” said Gates to the New York Post.
Gates' Phia comes at a time when the second-hand clothing industry is on the rise. According to a 2023 report by ThredUp, the global resale market is expected to double by 2027, reaching a value of $350 billion. While Phia is not the only platform in the second-hand clothing market, Gates as its founder is bringing the platform a fate that might make it stand out.
By her venture, Gates is not only taking an initiative towards climate conservation but also emphasising it as the need of the hour. The fashion industry is one of the biggest contributors to global carbon emissions and water pollution, generating over 92 million tonnes of textile waste, as per the United Nations Environment Programme.
By providing users with "the best price in one click" Phia might as well give the second-hand clothing market the push it needs. “How do you know that you’re not getting scammed? How do you know it’s actually the best price possible? We built the tool that we wish had existed back when we were in college,” said Kianni. It is the perfect new generation initiative to work towards climate conservation, by tackling the problem rather than just highlighting it.
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