Royal visit to Advanced Clothing Solutions (ACS) in Scotland
18/01/2024
HRH The Princess Royal visited Lanarkshire in Scotland on 18 January 2024 to see fashion rental and renewal logistics provider Advanced Clothing Solutions (ACS), in her role as president of UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT).
The ACS business was established in 1997 to offer rental fulfilment and clothing renewal services for the men’s formal hire market but has since expanded into womenswear, childrenswear and outerwear, employing 150 people today.
ACS collaborates with fashion brands and retailers, offering to streamline rental, subscription and resale models to minimise waste and capture value from existing inventory. With a vast scale, its warehouse can store more than three million clothing items and process more than six million units annually.
From eco-friendly cleaning to brand authentication, garment repair, photography, tailored branded packaging and delivery, the company oversees the entire returns and resale process for all fashion goods and accessories.
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal had a tour of the 200,000 sq ft state-of-the-art ACS facility, which is the largest of its kind in Europe, learning about the rental, returns, resale and renewal business models. She had chance to meet with ACS’s dedicated and passionate workforce and hear about the company’s water conservation programme and its sustainable development programme for schools. She was also given more information about a new ozone sanitation process developed with the University of the West of Scotland and the ACS apprenticeship programme for future talent.
ACS has received a series of prestigious accolades in recent years including the King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development in 2023, the Marie Claire Sustainability Awards and the Drapers Sustainability Awards. The company has also gained B-Corp certification and is a Living Wage employer.
Andrew Rough, CEO of ACS, said: “Our environmental commitment, skilled workforce and community engagement is central to our mission of the last 25 years – to cultivate a more sustainable fashion industry not just here in the UK but globally.”
Anthony Burns, COO of ACS, added: “Focusing on people and planet is the cornerstone of building a circular future for the fashion industry. Everyone here at ACS is thrilled to share our innovative approach with Her Royal Highness, our partners, the local community and beyond.”
The Royal Visit forms part of UKFT’s mission to support the sustainable growth of the UK fashion and textile industry.
Adam Mansell, CEO of UKFT, said: “It is a real pleasure us to be able to show HRH The Princess Royal the pioneering work a company like ACS is doing in Scotland, driving action in the transition to the circular economy and investing in the next generation of skilled workers. ACS is helping brands and retailers to embrace new revenue streams while contributing to a greener and more ethical future.”
ACS collaborates directly and indirectly with various fashion brands and retailers, providing circular fashion rental, subscription and resale capabilities. Notable partners include The North Face, Pangaia, Nudie Jeans, Moss, LK Bennett, CaaStle, Zoa, HEWI and Reflaunt.