Gloucestershire activewear brand, Sara Da Silva Brazilian Sportswear, is the first of its kind in the UK to successfully launch a pre-order capsule collection, to reduce waste and increase sustainability for the brand.
The exclusive ‘Sampa’ collection launched on the Sara Da Silva website on Monday 6 and is available to pre-order until Sunday 19 June 2022 – with the company having already reached a full order book, adding extra pre-order spots to meet demand.
Consisting of eight limited edition leggings designs, each pair from the collection is made-to-order in a bid to make the brand more sustainable and offer more inclusive sizing, without increasing waste.
Customers pre-order and pay for their leggings in advance, choosing from size XS (equivalent to a UK size 4 to 6) up to XXL (equivalent to a UK size 22 to 24) with a choice of full or 7/8 leg lengths, too.
The leggings cost from £68, with early bird discounts of 20 per cent for pre-orders of one pair; 25 per cent for two; and 30 per cent for three pairs – with the brand describing the discounts as ‘a special incentive for the customer who advance orders… to reward those who invested in our products that are not yet produced and are willing to wait four to five weeks for physical delivery’.
As well as helping the business to become more sustainable by reducing the waste associated with producing surplus products where supply outstrips demand, the pre-order system helps to reduce its carbon footprint even further by reducing the size and frequency of shipments, as well as minimising the return rate by offering a wider variety of sizes.
Any returns received due to sizing issues will receive a full refund, with returned items being resold to Sara Da Silva’s existing customer network.
Co-founder Simon Monahan said: ‘The initiative allows us to help reduce waste, build a more sustainable business model and reduce our carbon footprint. 99.99 per cent of contemporary fashion is available on-demand but puts a massive strain on the businesses, supply chains and the environment. Products are produced in surplus and speculatively using trading history and forecast models, leading to many wasted resources.
‘Usually, a collection or product line is paid for up to a year in advance and recouped over time. However, operating in this manner puts the business at high risk of over-exposure and is highly vulnerable to changes in market conditions, such as economic declines or changing consumer sentiment.
‘Given the current economic climate, rising inflation, and the emanating recession, finding a long-term solution was important, especially in the fashion industry, which is so fickle and vulnerable to change.’
Sara Da Silva’s ‘Sampa’ collection is available to pre-order online until Sunday 19 June 2022.
