- $200,000 AUD to be made available for businesses, social enterprises and charities* using technology, products and services to advance fashion’s circular economy
- Applications are open now until Friday, 10th November 2023
Today, eBay Australia has announced the Circular Fashion Fund, supported by the Australian Fashion Council (AFC). The initiative will offer $200,000 AUD in funding for Australian start-ups* specialising in circular fashion solutions. Entries are now open.
With every Australian buying 27 kilograms of new clothing a year and throwing away 23 kilograms on average each year[1], the Fund aims to bring together emerging technologies and forward-thinking solutions from innovative start-ups that can help change customer behaviours within the fashion industry and advance the circular economy.
eBay will support the winner and two runners-up of the Circular Fashion Fund by providing financial support via the Fund, mentorship, industry networking opportunities and a platform to showcase their innovative circular fashion solutions to a wider audience. The winners will be chosen by a judging panel of industry experts across fashion, academia, logistics and sustainability. The panel includes KITX Founder Kit Willow, Australian Fashion Council Danielle Kent, Sendle Founder & CEO James Chin Moody, Liandra Founder and Creative Director, Liandra Gaykamangu, Director of UTS and TAFE NSW’s Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Fashion & Textiles Dr Lisa Lake, The Growth Activists CEO Rosanna Iacono and Head of Fashion eBay Australia, Brooke Eichhorn.
Applications are open until Friday, 10 November 2023. Businesses can apply via a simple form on eBay’s website: www.ebay.com.au/fashionfund. A shortlist of six finalists will be invited to pitch their ideas to the judges, who will select the three overall funding recipients. The winner will receive a $100,000 grant, and the two runners-up will each be awarded a $50,000 grant. In addition, the three recipients will then enter into a six-week program of mentoring, networking opportunities and workshops, including a workshop hosted by Clare Press, Founder of The Wardrobe Crisis. During this program, the winners will learn how to market their concepts to external stakeholders.
eBay Australia’s Head of Fashion, Brooke Eichhorn, said: “We understand that eBay can play a role in circular fashion by using our scale and expertise for good. We are committing support to small businesses to drive positive change through innovation in the fashion industry. We are proud to announce this year we’ve become patrons of the Australian Fashion Council and are launching the Circular Fashion Fund. These initiatives will help revolutionise how fashion is created, consumed and recycled, making sustainable fashion practices more accessible for everyone.”
The Fund comes at a key moment for circular fashion, as appetite for pre-loved items continues to grow with recent eBay research finding nearly half of Australians (45%) surveyed reported they have increased their purchases of pre-loved fashion in the past two years2. The research further reveals that Australians are challenging and changing what it means to buy, sell and love fashion with one in three Australians (30%) surveyed stated half of their wardrobe is made up of pre-loved fashion and accessories3.
The Australian Fashion Council CEO, Leila Naja Hibri, said: “To transition to a circular economy by 2030 and Net Zero by 2050, the Australian fashion industry needs to fundamentally transform how clothing is designed, produced, consumed and disposed of. For decades, eBay has been leading the charge in recommerce, driving the circular economy through its resale marketplace, in particular for fashion. eBay’s Circular Fashion Fund not only compliments but helps accelerate the roadmap for Seamless, the national clothing stewardship scheme, bringing us closer to our goal of achieving clothing circularity in Australia by 2030.”
The Circular Fashion Fund is an initiative launching on Monday, 25 September 2023, which coincides with the launch of the UK’s own initiative.
To be considered for the eBay Circular Fashion Fund, applicants should meet the following criteria:
- *Applicants must have an established business that has been trading for a minimum of six months and a maximum of six years.
- The applicant’s company must be based in Australia, hold an ABN, and can be a charity, social enterprise, or registered company.
- The Fund is open to both eBay and non-eBay sellers.
- Full T&Cs are available here: www.ebay.com.au/sellercentre/fashion-fund-terms
Judging process:
- Applications close on Friday, 10 November 2023.
- Applicants will be informed if they have been shortlisted w/c 13 November 2023.
- Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by the eBay team. The next process will be to pitch their proposals to a panel committee of industry experts and eBay leadership on w/c 27 November 2023.
- Three finalists will then enter into a program of mentoring, workshops and networking opportunities, culminating in a finale showcase that will announce the overall winner w/c 26 February 2024.
About eBay:
eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY) is a global commerce leader that connects millions of buyers and sellers in more than 190 markets around the world. We exist to enable economic opportunity for individuals, entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations of all sizes. Founded in 1995 in San Jose, California, eBay is one of the world’s largest and most vibrant marketplaces for discovering great value and unique selection. In 2022, eBay enabled nearly $74B USD of gross merchandise volume. For more information about the company and its global portfolio of online brands, visit www.ebayinc.com.
About the Australian Fashion Council:
The Australian Fashion Council (AFC) is the peak body for the Australian fashion and textile industry (also known as Textile, Clothing and Footwear – TCF), having represented and served the industry for over 65 years. The AFC’s aim is to guide the transformation of our industry to a socially, environmentally, and economically prosperous circular economy by 2030 and to net zero by 2050. Find out more here: https://ausfashioncouncil.com/
1https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-03/258735_australian_fashion_council.pdf
2Lonergan research commissioned by eBay Australia surveying 1,100 Australians 18+. April 2023.
3Lonergan research commissioned by eBay Australia surveying 1,100 Australians 18+. April 2023.
4Lonergan research commissioned by eBay Australia surveying 1,100 Australians 18+. April 2023.
