Mulberry just entered its rep era and honestly, it’s a smart move. They’ve launched a take-back scheme that actually centres regeneration. Instead of just reselling second-hand stock or greenwashing us with capsule collections, they’re inviting customers to return old leather bags to be repaired, reworked, and reintroduced. Iconic.
Let’s be real: leather has a complicated past. It’s durable and high-quality, sure, but also resource-heavy and carbon-loaded. Mulberry's trying to fix that contradiction without losing what makes their products feel luxury. The Somerset workshops they use are powered by renewable energy, and the whole model leans on UK-based production, which means local jobs, lower emissions, and higher accountability.
And it’s not just a gimmick. They’ve built a model that could influence the resale and rental space in a big way. If a Mulberry bag can be loved, re-loved, and re-designed over a 10-year period, that’s a whole new brand economy. You’re no longer selling an object, you’re selling a lifecycle.
For independent UK creatives, this is a masterclass in remixing. You don’t need to have factories or in-house tannery tech. What you can do is bake long-term thinking into your work from day one. What if your next piece came with a repair plan, or a discount for return, or instructions to dye or re-embellish after wear? That’s how circular fashion becomes culture.
Mulberry’s strategy also hints at something bigger: a shift from ownership to stewardship. We’re not just talking about how we buy things, we’re talking about how we care for them, pass them on, or bring them back.
It’s a mindset shift, and honestly? One that Gen Z already gets. Sustainability doesn’t have to be static. It can be stylish, fun, flexible, and full of second chances. Just like your favourite bag.