In a fusion of high fashion and digital retail, Amazon has partnered with the luxury resale platform Hardly Ever Worn It (HEWI) to offer pre-owned designer items in the UK, Germany, Spain, and Italy. The collaboration, which began in February 2024, introduces a range of women’s ready-to-wear, shoes, accessories, jewellery, and watches from top brands such as Dior, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermes, Gucci, Alexander McQueen, and Valentino to the Luxury Stores section on Amazon.
Amazon and HEWI: A Match Made in Fashion Heaven
The partnership between Amazon and HEWI represents a significant stride in making luxury fashion more accessible to a wider audience. As a leading e-commerce platform, Amazon brings its vast reach and logistical prowess to the table, while HEWI contributes its expertise in sourcing and curating pre-owned luxury items.
Through this collaboration, HEWI will deliver its luxury resale offering to a broader audience, allowing Amazon customers in Europe to shop for secondhand designer goods without compromising on quality or authenticity. The items, characterized as ‘hardly ever worn,’ undergo a rigorous pre-screening process to ensure they meet HEWI’s high standards.
Affordable Luxury: The Pre-Loved Advantage
The collaboration offers customers an opportunity to purchase coveted designer pieces at significantly lower prices than their retail value. For instance, a Chanel Pre-Loved Limited Edition Red Jersey Flap Bag, originally retailing for over £2,000, is listed on Amazon for £1,930. Similarly, a Louis Vuitton Pre-Loved Brown Monogram Canvas Sirius 70 Suitcase, which typically retails for around £1,700, can be found on Amazon for £825.
While these pre-loved items are in conditions ranging from ‘good’ to ‘excellent,’ the limited nature of these unique pieces necessitates quick purchasing decisions. The partnership reflects Amazon’s commitment to redefining the luxury shopping experience for customers across Europe by offering accessible luxury.
Circular Fashion: A Sustainable Future
The collaboration between Amazon and HEWI comes at a time when the demand for pre-owned luxury goods is increasing, driven by growing environmental concerns and a shift in consumer preferences towards sustainable and circular fashion. By offering pre-owned goods, Amazon is not only catering to this demand but also promoting a more sustainable and circular shopping experience.
In a joint statement, the VP of Amazon Fashion Europe and the CEO of Hardly Ever Worn It expressed their excitement about the collaboration and the opportunity to make high-end circular fashion more accessible. The partnership is expected to drive growth in the luxury resale market and expand the customer base for pre-owned designer items.
With this collaboration, Amazon and HEWI are redefining the luxury shopping landscape, offering customers an opportunity to own their piece of the luxury pie while promoting a more sustainable and circular fashion future.
As the world of fashion continues to evolve, it is clear that the partnership between Amazon and HEWI represents a significant step forward in making luxury fashion accessible, affordable, and sustainable. The fusion of these two giants is set to transform the way we perceive and engage with luxury fashion, ultimately reshaping the fashion industry as we know it.
