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Carly Ridloff is the founder and CEO of The Exchange Project. It is a “resale ecosystem” she developed because of her commitment to the environment and her desire to help women recognize they don’t have to “choose between aesthetics and values.”
“I operate at the intersection of resale market growth and cultural behavior change, helping women see resale not as secondhand, but as elevated, edited, and aspirational,” says Ridloff.
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Fashion Resale Driven by Both Conviction and Taste
The Exchange Project was born out of Ridloff’s concern for the environment after she watched two documentaries on waste in the fashion industry, The True Cost and A Plastic Ocean. The documentaries impacted how she regarded consumption and waste, making her aware of just how “resource-intensive” the industry was and its impact on the world.
It was also a personal conviction that eventually led to Ridloff starting The Exchange Project. She understood that the contents of closets were most likely destined to end up in landfills or become ocean waste. It was clear to Ridloff that real change would only come with systemic and cultural shifts.
“I believe the future of fashion is circular, curated, and community-led, and The Exchange Project exists to make that future tangible and profitable,” says Ridloff.
Desiring to be part of that change, she started The Exchange Project. Originally “small, curated clothing swaps,” it bloomed over time and now includes live events, a luxury consignment line, showroom appointments, and online access. Since its inception in 2021, The Exchange Project has held 20 events on the East Coast attended by women who “value style, fashion, sustainability, and intention.”
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A Grassroots Idea That Evolved Into a Larger Platform
Ridloff has always been passionate about fashion and was intentional about how she built her life and dressed. The reality that fashion had a dire environmental cost weighed on her, and she believed there had to be a way to address the issue without sacrificing her style.
The first intimate clothing swaps eventually evolved into a nationwide consignment platform. The resale model purposely makes “circular fashion aspirational, curated, and social.” It’s not just about sustainability, but smart economics and a way to change behavior around fashion consumption.
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Built Around Culture, Not Just Commerce
Circular fashion is smart economics, according to Ridloff, but she also acknowledges that even reputable consignment platforms don’t always benefit the sellers. After she received a check for $4 from a shop, she knew she could do better for other sellers.
Ridloff points out that many women have high-quality pieces in their closets that aren’t being worn. These are designer items and investment pieces that have real value. Her vision for The Exchange Project was a curated resale model where luxury fashion could continue on in the closet of another woman.
“That insight became the foundation for The Exchange Project: a highly edited consignment and luxury resale platform that treats secondhand fashion with the same level of curation and desirability as traditional retail,” says Ridloff.
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Ridloff’s Work Extends Beyond Resale Transactions
Having built her company from scratch, handling the pricing strategy, intake systems, merchandising, logistics, and community building, Ridloff has become a thought leader at the intersection of fashion, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. As an advocate for intentional consumption and circular fashion, she has been featured in publications and was recognized by Marquis Who’s Who.
Ridloff has also appeared on panels discussing the “powerful connection between mindset, entrepreneurship, and fashion.” Through these industry conversations, she advocates for a future in fashion where luxury and contemporary fashion continue to circulate among those interested in quality, sustainable practices, and preserving the environment.
In Partnership with APG
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