What: Lululemon partnered with Redress to launch a take-back and resale scheme in Hong Kong, combining operational rigour with community engagement to promote circular fashion.

Why it is important: The partnership demonstrates how operational innovation and nonprofit collaboration can drive scalable circular models, as seen in recent retail developments.

Lululemon’s collaboration with Redress in Hong Kong marks a significant step in the evolution of circular retail, as the two organisations piloted a comprehensive take-back and resale program across four stores. Over five months, more than 3,800 garments were collected, meticulously sorted, and either repaired, resold, or donated, ensuring minimal waste and maximum product lifecycle extension. The initiative unfolded in two phases: first, a take-back activation incentivised customers to return gently used items in exchange for vouchers; second, a Like New pop-up event transformed the backend process into a vibrant community experience, featuring curated resale racks and interactive upcycling workshops. This approach not only tested the operational feasibility of circularity in a market with complex attitudes toward secondhand goods but also fostered cultural change by engaging consumers in creative reuse. The pilot’s success underscores the necessity of robust infrastructure, nonprofit partnerships, and consumer education in scaling circular retail, positioning Hong Kong as a valuable testing ground for broader adoption in Asia and beyond. 

IADS Notes: The Lululemon and Redress initiative, as reported by Inside Retail in November 2025, exemplifies the retail sector’s shift toward scalable circular business models. The Retail Bulletin in March 2025 highlighted the growing importance of circular strategies, while the Kearney CFX report in Fashion Network (July 2025) and Drapers’ coverage of John Lewis (October 2025) both emphasized the operational and collaborative challenges of scaling such models. Retail Asia’s December 2024 report on the rise of secondhand shopping further confirms the relevance of these developments, showing that the Lululemon-Redress pilot is part of a global movement transforming retail’s future.

How Lululemon and Redress are experimenting with circular retail in Hong Kong