The Benefits of a Pre-Order Model in Fashion
What is A Pre-Order Model?
With pre-orders, customers see a product, purchase it, and then receive it weeks (or months) later. With a pre-order model, brands do not produce a product until it has been ordered by someone. There are several benefits to this slow fashion model!
#1: LESS WASTE
A pre-order model inherently reduces textile waste since a brand is only producing the amount of pieces that will be purchased.
Estimates suggest the fashion industry overproduces by about 30-40%.*
Pre-orders also help with calculating exactly how much fabric, components (buttons, zippers, fasteners, etc.) should be ordered and produced.
#2: REDUCES RESOURCE USE
When a brand is not overproducing, this means that fewer fabrics and fibers are needed to make their collections.
This also means less water, less energy use, and fewer dyes are needed. It could even mean reduced shipments and therefore reduced transportation emissions.
#3: FEWER WORKING HOURS FOR MAKERS
Garment workers are notoriously overworked and underpaid. But if a brand is ordering fewer better items, this could enable a reduction in working hours for makers.
If a brand also gives their manufacturers enough lead time, it can reduce overtime as well.
#4: FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
New collections can cost upwards of $15,000-$30,000* to create, making it a financial hurdle for many sustainable small businesses.
With a pre-order model, small businesses can get the financing they need to launch a new collection.
#5: MORE AFFORDABLE THAN MADE-TO-ORDER
While there are a slew of benefits for made-to-order models (where each piece is created for each individual), the pre-order model can keep the prices of garments more affordable.
In Luna + Sun's research, they found that their production costs would be 3x higher in a made-to-order model compared with a pre-order model.
The Pre-order model in practice
Have you seen any brands using the pre-order model before? It's an approach used by many slow fashion brands, including Luna + Sun.
This conscious Australian fashion label is testing the market prior to releasing their upcoming Amma Collection. The collection is currently available for pre-order through the crowdsourcing site Lift Women.
Luna + Sun is using an "all-or-nothing" model, meaning they'll only start production once they reach the required number of orders.
THE AMMA COLLECTION
The Amma Collection is a collection of 100% natural fabric (organic cotton + linen) garments that will be ethically made in Australia in sizes AU 6-18.
The collection was created to celebrate motherhood (Amma means Mother in Singhalese). Each piece is bump- and feeding-friendly, designed to adapt to your changing body throughout pregnancy, breastfeeding, and life.
These flexible pieces are ideal for taking wearers through fluctuations in sizes and can be loved by anyone at any stage in their life.
To view Luna + Sun's Amma Collection and check out their pre-order crowdfunding campaign.
To check out Luna + Sun's collection that's available for pre-order, visit Luna + Sun's website.
