Fashion etailer Oh Polly has worked with BA Fashion Design students from the London College of Contemporary Arts to rework deadstock and returned Oh Polly pieces, breathing new life into products and taking a more sustainable approach to fashion.
While considering key S/S 2026 trends, the students worked in teams to develop mood boards before carefully selecting garments to upcycle. Judges considered design technique, innovation in upcycling materials, and attention to detail in the construction of the garment, before a styled catwalk presentation.
Additionally, the construction of the garment as well as the successful creation of volume and shape was considered, alongside how well their final designs align with the style of the designer chosen as inspiration.
Shania Pallicer McPherson, sustainability coordinator at Oh Polly, said: “We’re proud to continue our upcycling collaboration with LCCA for a second year, supporting emerging talent as they explore innovative ways to reimagine our return stock. Each group developed creative pieces aligned with the circular design brief, and it’s been a pleasure to see their ideas brought to life.”
In May, Oh Polly introduced a fully branded resale marketplace, hosted in partnership with platform Treet, as it looked to compete with the likes of Depop and Vinted.
The brand, which started as an eBay seller, launched Oh Polly Pre-loved accessible via a link on their website, where customers can buy and sell pre-owned items. Sellers will create their own listings, which will be reviewed by Treet.
The fashion brand has also looked to limit return rates with an increasing scale of return fees. Oh Polly calculates the returns fee based on the percentage of items returned. If a customer returned up to 50% of their order they will be charged £2.99 to send it back. If they wish to return between 90 – 100% of their order the charge rises to £8.99.
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