Over a year ago, the French ready-to-wear brand A.P.C. has initiated its very own “Recycling Program” in Paris. Earlier this year, the label has brought the program into the U.S. Now, this week marks the program’s expansion into Belgium, Germany and the UK.

Customers across Europe and the U.S. will be given the opportunity to return their old A.P.C. clothing items from any ready-to-wear and shoe collections in exchange for store credit valid in all A.P.C. stores in the country of return. The stores will be collecting garments and transferring them to a recycling facility where the items are to be broken down into fibers that will be re-used.

Founder Jean Touitou shared in a statement:

“Something made a lasting impression on me when I was a kid in Tunis. Amongst the continuous ballet of street vendors, who walked down the road pushing ahead a kind of huge wheelbarrow two of them weren’t selling anything. Instead, they were picking things up. Each of these vendors or collectors had a slogan. The one who picked up clothes would say ‘roba vecchia’ or ‘vecchia’ for short.

The one who wanted old bread would say something else, I can’t remember what, even though he was the one who intrigued me most. What could these pieces of old bread be used for? It wasn’t until much later that I understood: these leftovers added “substance” to home-cooked meals. An authentic meatball has to be prepared with old bread.

This idea of recycling things has always been somewhere at the back of my mind. At A.P.C., we explore this idea with quilts, Butlers and tote bags.

So it was only natural to invite our customers to bring their ‘roba vecchia’ back to A.P.C. These garments will get a second life and help people who don’t necessarily have the means to dress in good-quality clothes.”

View this post on Instagram

A.P.C. expands their RECYCLING program to Belgium, UK, Germany and US after starting in France a year ago. This program allows customers to return their old A.P.C. clothing for store credit according to specific rates. From today, October 26th, this offer is available in A.P.C. stores in France, Belgium, UK, Germany and US as well on all items from the A.P.C. ready-to-wear clothing and shoe collections. #APC #APCRecycling #Europe #StepbyStep

A post shared by A.P.C. (@apc_paris) on Oct 26, 2019 at 2:15am PDT

Credit amount awarded will vary by type of item: customers can expect to receive $40 for returned jackets and outerwear, while T-shirts will be valued at humble $7 apiece. T is now available at all A.P.C. stores in Europe and across the U.S.