Danielle Vermeer: Shame Won't Stop People from Buying Shein, But This Will

#3: In this episode, Brittany is joined by Danielle Vermeer, Co-founder and CEO of Teleport, the "TikTok for thrifting" app.

With over a decade of experience in fashion, tech, and sustainability, they discuss the perceived value of clothing and the challenges of changing consumer behavior, especially among GenZ.

Danielle shares insights from her time at Amazon, where she worked on luxury resale and learned the importance of customer obsession. She also highlights the gaps between sustainable and fast fashion marketing, emphasizing that shaming consumers for their choices won’t drive meaningful change. Instead Danielle stresses that to move the needle in sustainable fashion, brands need to realistically address what consumers are currently purchasing (and why) and help align their actions with their stated values.

The conversation explores the role of social media in accelerating fashion trends, the impact of online identity on consumer choices, and the potential for policy to influence sustainable behaviors. Danielle also shares her thoughts on the future of the secondhand market and how Teleport aims to bridge the gap between the desire for sustainable fashion and the practicalities of finding and purchasing secondhand items.

Practical advice is also given on how sustainable fashion brands can improve their marketing strategies and customer engagement to better compete with mainstream fashion brands.

Teleport Instagram: @teleport.ootd

Teleport TikTok: @teleport.app

Connect with Danielle Vermeer on Twitter

Connect with Danielle Vermeer on LinkedIn

RSVP for The Psychology Behind Overconsumption with Patagonia's Aileen Ottenweller

American Marketing Association research on luxury customers and signaling

58% of U.S. consumers resold clothes online in the last year (PYMNTS)

40% of Gen Z has "very unfavorable" vs. 40% has "very favorable" views on fast fashion (Business of Fashion)

Teleport is a video-first marketplace, often dubbed the "TikTok for thrifting," where users can buy and sell from outfit videos. Click here to get $10 free credits when you join Teleport.

Produced by The Sustainable Fashion Forum