Rasmus Araviita – a pioneer in secondhand business attire
According to a recent study, the generation born in the 1990s and 2000s prefers secondhand clothing, and as many as 53% of representatives of the Y and Z generations plan to increase their purchases of used clothes. By 2030, the global secondhand clothing market is estimated to be twice as large as fast fashion.
Now, a new, more ecological generation is rising among business decision-makers and influencers. One of them is Helsinki-based Rasmus Araviita, who has built a career from salesperson to team leader and later to the head of a sales organization. Working as Head of Sales at Finland’s largest sales service company, Bookers, Rasmus has for some time been acquiring used clothes for work. A leadership role involves a lot of sales and stakeholder work, including with listed companies, which highlights the importance of business attire.
In recent years, Rasmus has become enthusiastic about the circular economy and started exploring secondhand fashion after being involved in the Finnish Easy Recycling concept founded by his brother Valtteri, which has grown rapidly in recent times. Through his work as well, business connected to the circular economy is familiar to Rasmus, who leads a sales organization.
One of Rasmus’s own favorite brands is Suitsupply, which originated in Amsterdam in 2000. The brand has quickly gained popularity among business dressers.
The rise of secondhand clothing in business attire is also reflected in Emmy’s statistics. Of the more than 80,000 unique products in the selection, about 50% are suitable choices for business attire in terms of condition, brand, and style. Emmy carefully inspects the quality and condition of all products, which is why Rasmus also prefers Emmy for acquiring work clothes.
In the picture, Rasmus is dressed in a Suitsupply suit found at Emmy on a Sunday in September, which has been taken into use for work.
“I have several suits that I rotate. Most likely, I wear this suit on average one day a week,” says Rasmus.