Hong Kong-based flash sale luxury retailer OnTheList is the latest sustainable fashion business to launch in Australia, hot on the heels of Poshmark, Queen of Raw and Depop. Already a well-known entity across Beijing, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai, OnThe List is a membership-based luxury platform that sells past season inventory from a wide range of fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands. The business has previously worked with brands such as Furla, Jimmy Choo, Armani, Sandro & Maj
Maje, Diane von Furstenberg, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Ted Baker. The brand’s first Australian flash sale on March 1 will be with Longchamp.
“Most past-season items would ultimately end up in the landfills or are incinerated at the end of their shelf-life. OnTheList was founded to reduce waste and minimise the retail industry’s environmental impact, offering retailers a sustainable solution for inventory,” co-founder Diego Lacoste told Inside Retail.
“Australia has always been on the top of our list when considering the expansion of our business. We have always admired the stylish, sophisticated, and effortless style of Australians and their love of quality brands. Over the last five years, we have noticed a strong focus on sustainability and social conciseness, especially in the Australian market.”
Once members have signed up to OntheList, they will receive email invites to the members-only flash sales, which last for a week and sometimes offer up to 90 per cent off products from participating brands.
In Asia, the business has already begun rolling out physical stores, including a 600sqm store in Central, Hong Kong and a showroom at Raffles Place in Singapore. Depending on how the pandemic plays out in the future, plans are underway to open a showroom in Australia later down the track.
“We have found that our members appreciate being able to touch and feel the products before they purchase, whilst having the convenience of shopping and having items delivered at a click of a button,” explained Lacoste.
“The omnichannel presence allows customers the option to head down to the store to try on the items or to purchase online, so they do not have to carry the items home.”
Since it launched five years ago, OntheList has created a community of more than 500,000 sustainable fashionistas all over the world and events play a significant role in the business, including social events like swap parties and wellness and lifestyle activities. The plan is to host similar events in Australia in the future.
OntheList is also looking to expand into other international markets, including Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand.
Beyond luxury fashion
In Asia, OntheList has started expanding into other categories such as stationery, homewares and appliances, as well as services such as hotels, hotel staycations and facial beauty packages.
Earlier this month, OntheList launched an app with French social enterprise Phenix to target food waste, offering customers excess products at discounted prices from restaurants, bakeries and supermarkets that would otherwise be discarded.
Another interesting initiative by the business included the launch of a fashion boutique in Hong Kong, in partnership with a charity called 1ofaKind. The store sells pre-loved clothing and pieces donated by retailers, while sales staff all come from vulnerable backgrounds and profits go directly to the homeless community.