E-commerce designer company Messina is joining the UK’s net zero drive with a rapid expansion in sales of ‘pre-loved’ clothes.
Its current purpose-built warehouse, in Port One Logistics Park, Suffolk, is already equipped with reclaimed fixtures and fittings to process and resell two million items every year.
A new mega-warehouse on the same site, which spans 250,000 sq ft, will see output increase to 10 million items per year, a move which will make it the largest single stockist of vintage designer clothes in Europe.
Manufacturing 10m items of new clothing would require 50 billion litres of clean water and generate over 150,000 tonnes of CO2. Messina’s expansion at Port One will thus contribute towards a significant drop in national carbon emissions.
Messina, which was founded by the Hembry brothers at university in 2011, plans to increase staff numbers from 30 to 100, and then up to 325 in 2024/5 when the mega warehouse opens.
Murray Gibson, UK Logistics and Warehousing Manager at Messina, says:“Messina has been leading the way in reclaiming, processing, cleaning and re-selling pre-loved designer clothes to the world, delivering to almost every country with our biodegradable packaging.
“This unique Suffolk firm has successfully developed a loyal following of customers from high society, titled and famous names to school and university students.
“The business is best known for saving discerning clothes buyers significant sums of money through the recycling of all kinds of branded garments, however they are not just saving people money but also helping save over 150,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year as a consequence of their expansion into new, additional premises at Port One.
“We’re delighted to house a thriving business with a social and environmental conscience and are delighted to be demonstrating that profit can indeed be made whilst also being kind to the planet.”
Messina will be touring the country with a UK roadshow next year, with staff travelling by EVs to each venue where they will present their stock and share their experiences of working in the recycled fashion industry.
