How Sole Responsibility is Building a Fast-Growing Business from Fashion Returns

How Sole Responsibility is Building a Fast-Growing Business from Fashion Returns

From eCommerce MasterPlan by Chloë Thomas

June 1, 2026 · 32 min · Episode 597

About this episode

Simon Payne discusses how Sole Responsibility is transforming fashion retail through resale and sustainability.

Simon Payne is the co-founder at Sole Responsibility, a sustainable retail business specialising in the resale and takeback of seconds in the footwear and clothing space. They resell 10,000s of sub-prime shoes and garments a year with growth at 30% year on year. In this episode, Simon joins Chloe Thomas to explore how resale commerce, changing consumer behavior, AI, and upcoming sustainability legislation are reshaping the future of fashion retail. They discuss why secondhand is becoming mainstream, what ESPR means for brands, and how retailers can turn returns and resale into long-term opportunities. Hit PLAY to hear: Why secondhand fashion is becoming mainstream faster than brands expected 👟 The surprising way retailers are turning returns into revenue 💰 How AI is helping identify and resell thousands of unique products What Europe’s new ESPR legislation could mean for eCommerce brands ⚖️ Why platforms like Vinted are changing consumer behavior forever The big question fashion brands may soon have to face: produce less or lose relevance? 👀 Dive in: [05:21] Using AI for product identification [07:34] Focusing on product returns and resale [10:32] Rise of social live shopping…

People in this episode

Host: Chloë Thomas

Guest: Simon Payne

Topics covered

  • sustainable retail
  • resale commerce
  • consumer behavior
  • AI in fashion
  • sustainability legislation
  • fashion returns
  • secondhand fashion

Keywords

  • sustainable fashion
  • resale
  • returns
  • AI
  • consumer behavior
  • fashion retail
  • secondhand
  • ESPR
  • Vinted

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Sole Responsibility, Vinted, ESPR

Places: Europe, UK

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