Colorado company powers secondhand sales for Lululemon, The North Face and Patagonia

Key Points

Tersus aids prominent fashion brands in expanding their resale and repair initiatives by delivering inventive, eco-friendly cleaning and logistics services.
Their liquid CO2 cleaning method minimizes waste, maintains product quality, and extends the lifespan of clothing.
By investing in circular infrastructure, brands can tap into new revenue opportunities, meet consumer demands, and comply with emerging regulations.

Tersus Solutions manages the sorting, cleaning, and shipping of apparel and footwear for the resale outlets of around 30 companies, including The North Face, Patagonia, Dr. Martens, and Eileen Fisher. The company’s distribution center in Englewood, Colorado, is now bustling with items from their latest partner, Lululemon.
Utilizing carbon dioxide in their high-pressure washing machines, Tersus recycles the gas for future cleaning cycles. This sustainable approach has positioned Tersus as a pivotal player in the evolving circular economy for outdoor and contemporary fashion brands.
CEO Peter Whitcomb emphasized the value of maximizing a product’s utility, stating, “You already made a product, now get more use out of it. It’s an annuity.”
Online resale saw a 23 percent growth last year and could potentially reach $40 billion in the U.S. by 2029, as per the ThredUp 2025 Resale Report. Notably, the number of brands with resale storefronts has surged from just a few in 2019 to over 160 presently.
Tersus is well-positioned to capitalize on this growth trajectory, especially if shifts in tariffs prompt more consumers to opt for secondhand purchases. Additionally, the company anticipates a rapid increase in the 25,000 repairs it handles annually, partly driven by California’s forthcoming extended producer responsibility legislation.
Nancy Rhodes, the co-founder and CEO of New York startup Alternew, lauded Tersus for its role in promoting circularity in diverse ways, such as through partnerships with tailors across the U.S.

Furthermore, operating three distinct businesses, Tersus focuses on secondhand cleaning, repairs, and shipping for brands, decontaminating firefighting gear, and recycling down materials. The company ensures that over 90 percent of the processed items each month avoid landfills, with unsalvageable items either donated or recycled.
Prior to joining Tersus, Whitcomb, a former REI executive, collaborated with Steve Madsen, the founder of Tersus Solutions, to revamp the brand’s rental program. Madsen had already fostered ties with outdoor brands like Patagonia through initiatives such as the Worn Wear resale program.
Tersus’ meticulous processes involve thorough inspection, grading, and tracking of products before they are shipped out of their fulfillment center. The company leverages liquid CO2 cleaning technology, which eliminates the use of traditional dry cleaning chemicals.

In conclusion, Tersus Solutions’ sustainable practices and innovative approach are reshaping the landscape of fashion resale and repair, catering to the growing demand for eco-friendly and circular solutions within the industry.