Pre-loved fashion reseller Messina Hembry is on a mission to address a major issues holding its sector back: the hidden costs that inhibit it scaling into profitability. And it’s using artificial intelligence (AI) to address the issue.
Messina Hembry has partnered with Aistetic, a University of Oxford spin-off that has “revolutionised the listing process” for its brand, helping it “successfully carve out a niche in vintage and resale fashion with over 7,000 new pieces being uploaded each week”.
It says that despite the sector seeing rapid growth, the market has a persistent issue, noting that while Vinted has recently turned a profit, other major resale platforms such as ThredUp and The RealReal “have faced challenges after their IPOs, struggling to find the balance between sustainability and profitability”.
It points to the costly and inefficient labour-intensive process of re-merchandising secondhand clothing, noting that each pre-loved piece is unique, “requiring careful attention, from quality control to photography, to ensure that it’s ready for resale”.
Additionally, the complexity of reverse SKU logistics — essentially managing single-item fulfilment on a massive scale — adds to the friction that resale platforms face.
On the shopper side, the struggle is just as real. While some relish the thrill of hunting for the perfect pre-owned item, many others are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of choices and the frustration of endless scrolling through disorganised listings.
“Resale platforms must capture the excitement of the treasure hunt while simultaneously eliminating the time-consuming process of scrolling, searching, and endless comparisons. What shoppers need are tools that make the search faster, smarter, and more personalised,” the company said.
So Aistetic’s AI-powered computer vision solution claims to enable Messina Hembry to tag, label, and describe garments directly from images, automating the once-manual process of cataloging each item.
What once required significant human labour now happens at lightning speed, unlocking the potential to scale in ways that were previously impossible. This breakthrough technology allows the company to tag and list more items more effectively, we’re told.
Messina Hembry’s CEO Zac Hembry, said: “Using Aistetic’s AI Listing solution has revolutionised our workflow. We’ve seen a 3x increase in our listing capacity, a 70% reduction in our workflows and increases in conversions linked to faster, more accurate tagging”.
Duncan McKay, CEO of Aistetic, added:“Our goal is to empower resale platforms with the AI tools they need to scale profitably while driving sustainability. Through this partnership with Messina Hembry, we’re helping them unlock more capacity, enhance the shopping experience, and contribute to the circular economy.
“AI is making it possible for resale platforms to scale quickly and profitably while reducing the friction that often frustrates shoppers.”
eBay continues to develop its fashion resale category introducing a “groundbreaking” editorial and fashion film project, ‘The Goat Dancer’, culminating in the launch of an inspirational fashion edit.
The digital retail giant is “championing the transformative potential of pre-loved fashion sourced entirely on eBay” by joining forces with fashion photographer Nick Knight, stylist Lara McGrath and creative film/photography venue ShowStudio to develop the project.
With McGrath having established “an inventive and outré approach to styling” and Knight being “captivated by the stylist’s ability to layer and style pre-loved garments into visionary ensembles”, the stylist documents mirror portraits of herself in public changing rooms.
The ShowStudio collaboration brings that creative spirit to life “offering a treasure trove of fashion finds – all £50 and under – ready to be revived and reimagined”.
From scoring Jil Sander shoes for £30 to finding beauty in a Per Una chiffon top, repurposing a kimono into a fishtail skirt, or transforming a bedspread into a dramatic cape, “the project showcases the endless possibilities of second-hand fashion reimagined”.
With old-school glamour inspiring the hair look for the shoot created by Eugene Souleiman, and noughties-inspired make-up by Lynski, Knight and McGrath “crafted a surreal visual narrative that highlights the potential of reimagining fashion through sustainability and artistry”.
Live-streamed on ShowStudio, the shoot “celebrates individuality, reinvention, and the thrill of uncovering hidden gems in pre-loved fashion on eBay—proving that style, creativity, and sustainability go hand in hand”.
To celebrate the collaboration, eBay has also curated an exclusive ShowStudio x Lara McGrath edit featuring secondhand fashion pieces inspired by the shoot, “inviting designers to reimagine archival and pre-loved styles into fresh, relevant works of art that transcend time”.
Dior announced on Wednesday the opening of a new store in Vienna, Austria.
Dior opens new boutique in Vienna’s Goldenes Quartier. – Dior
Located on Tuchlauben Street in the Goldenes Quartier, the city’s luxury fashion epicenter, the boutique spans over 1,000 square meters and houses Dior’s diverse collections, from women’s and men’s ready-to-wear to bags, shoes and accessories, including jewelry, Dior maison lines and perfumes.
The boutique is enhanced by a signature concept designed by architect Peter Marino, defined by a refined atmosphere illuminated by light tones. Design details combining cabochon stone, wood, Versailles parquet flooring and moldings create an ultra-contemporary aesthetic, while honouring the House’s storied heritage.
Honoring Christian Dior’s passion for art and design, the boutique features a magnetic installation by Claudia Wieser, paintings by Christian Eisenberger, Rudolf Polanszky, John McAllister, Maysha Mohamedi, Ross Bleckner, and Donald Sultan, as well as creations by Étienne Moyat and Franck Évennou. Photographic prints on mirror by Marc Swanson and a striking bronze sculpture by Philippe Pasqua add to the boutique’s artistic allure.
The boutique’s furniture selection also contributes to its distinct identity, featuring pieces from designers such as Claude Lalanne, Studio Glithero, Alasdair Cooke, Ado Chale, Delos & Ubiedo, Gary Noffke, Osvaldo Borsani, Ginger & Jagger, and B G Robinson.
Completing the space is the display of multiple reinterpretations of the iconic Lady Dior bag. In the boutique’s window, a multitude of variations is presented, sublimated by minerals—a feat of Isaac Monté—creating a chromatic finish. Within the store, visitors can explore a dedicated wall celebrating the ninth edition of the Dior Lady Art project, by several international artists.
Bernard Arnault, 76, could remain at the helm of the world’s largest luxury group LVMH until he’s 85 if shareholders back a company proposal at its annual shareholder meeting on April 17.
Reuters
Investors in LVMH, which owns high-end labels including Louis Vuitton, Dior and Tiffany, will vote on a change to company bylaws raising the maximum age of its chairman and chief executive officer from 80, according to a company filing.
The maximum age was already increased from 75 in 2022.
Arnault, who is CEO, chairman and, along with his family, controlling shareholder of LVMH, built his sprawling empire spanning hotels and fashion houses through acquisitions.
Chairman of the company since 1989, the tycoon has not publicly named a successor. Every high-level management change is highly scrutinised, kicking off a fresh round of speculation over which of his five children might succeed him.
All of Arnault’s children hold top management positions in the group. The eldest, Delphine, 49, and Antoine, 47, are children from his first marriage.
Alexandre, 32, Frederic, 30, and Jean, 26, are children of the luxury executive’s current wife, Helene Mercier.