eBay Canada partners with Canadian designer Preloved to bring sustainable<br>fashions to eBay.ca

TORONTO, June 21 /CNW/ To help consumers adopt a greener lifestyle, eBay Canada today announced a partnership with Canadian designer Preloved to introduce a collection of eco-friendly clothing available exclusively on eBay.ca beginning in Fall 2010.

The collection, to be called Preloved for eBay, will be designed with the Preloved philosophy of sustainability and include one-of-a-kind pieces created using reclaimed, vintage fabrics. The collection signals the first time Preloved will make their designs available on eBay.ca.

"We're excited about the opportunity to bring Preloved designs to an international community of eco-conscious consumers," said Julia Grieve, founder, Preloved. "Our focus on producing sustainable clothing was a natural fit with eBay's commitment to providing Canadian consumers with green choices."

Consumers often turn to eBay for used, vintage, or refurbished goods, and the Preloved for eBay collection will give eBay buyers another green option in the Clothing, Shoes, and Accessories category.

"Consumers are often faced with a lack of options and this makes it difficult to lead a greener lifestyle," said Kevin Wolfley, eBay Canada's Green Team leader. "Our partnership with Preloved allows us to increase the eco-friendly options available on eBay.ca while also helping to reduce the environmental impact of unwanted items of clothing."

Almost 60 per cent of Canadians give away items of clothing they've only worn once or twice and nearly one-third of Canadians get rid of items of clothing that still have the price tag attached, according to a recent survey commissioned by eBay Canada. Giving these items a new home means reducing one's carbon footprint:

    
    -   Choosing a gently worn sweater saves the energy equivalent of
        68 loads of laundry.
    -   Selecting a previously-owned leather clutch saves as much energy as
        not watching TV for three days straight.
    -   Buying a previously loved leather handbag saves as much energy as a
        flight from London to Paris.
    

The collection will be unveiled in Fall 2010 and will include classic and new Preloved designs.

About the survey

The survey was conducted between June 7th and June 9th, 2010 using a national random sample of 1,518 respondents from Leger Marketing's Web panel. This method simulates a probability sample which would yield a maximum margin of error of +/-2.5%, 19 times out of 20.

About eBay

Founded in 1995 in San Jose, Calif., eBay Inc. connects millions of buyers and sellers globally on a daily basis through eBay, the world's largest online marketplace, and PayPal, which enables individuals and businesses to securely, easily and quickly send and receive online payments. We also reach millions through specialized marketplaces such as StubHub, the world's largest ticket marketplace, and eBay Classifieds sites, which together have a presence in more than 1,000 cities around the world. In Canada, eBay was visited by nearly 7.1 million Canadians in May 2010. (comScore Media Metrix).

About Preloved

Preloved creates one of a kind clothing from reclaimed vintage fabrics. Our passion is design and our philosophy is sustainability. Our garments are proudly designed and manufactured in Canada. With successful retail locations in Toronto, Montreal, and Sydney, Australia, and wholesale collections at leading fashion retailers around the world, we've been turning heads since 1995.

For further information: media please contact: Nicole Tuschak, Environics Communications on behalf of eBay Canada, 416.969.2712, [email protected]; Gema Rayo, Environics Communications on behalf of eBay Canada, 416.969.2665, [email protected]