Away is now selling its own returned and unsold luggage at a discount through a new resale platform called Away Reclaimed, a move that gives the brand a fresh revenue stream while keeping usable inventory out of landfills. The site offers aluminum carry-ons for $436 instead of $625 and medium navy suitcases for $293 instead of $345, with the caveat that some bags may show minor scuffs or dents.
The inventory comes from customer returns, which Away accepts within 100 days of purchase, as well as from the last remaining units of limited-edition colors or collaborations that did not sell out. The platform also carries Away backpacks, totes, and duffles. Later this month, the company plans to add an Employee Archive featuring luggage that staff members have gently tested along with one-of-a-kind production samples.
Before Reclaimed, much of Away's returned merchandise had no clear destination. That reflects a broader retail problem: returns are among the largest sources of waste in the industry. U.S. retailers expected 15.8% of their annual sales to be returned in 2025, amounting to $849.9 billion worth of merchandise, according to a study by the National Retail Federation and the return platform Happy Returns. Many returned products never return to shelves. Some are liquidated to off-price retailers such as T.J. Maxx, others are donated, and a significant share ends up in landfills. The reverse logistics company Optoro estimates that 9.6 billion pounds of returns are landfilled annually.
Away's CEO, Jessica Schinazi, said Reclaimed could introduce the brand to new consumers who want slightly more affordable products, potentially turning them into loyal customers. Shoppers have grown more comfortable buying items that are not brand-new. According to ThredUp's most recent report, 59% of consumers shopped secondhand apparel in 2025, up 7% over three years. Schinazi said Away customers had been asking for a resale option for years, but resale is complicated because it requires a reverse logistics system to collect, inspect, and list products online.
To build Reclaimed, Away partnered with Trove, which powers resale programs for brands including Carhartt, Cotopaxi, and Eileen Fisher. Away opened a dedicated reverse logistics warehouse where every product is inspected, cleaned, refurbished, and graded on a three-point scale from excellent, meaning essentially new, to good, meaning noticeable wear. Away replaces wheels, trolley handles, linings, or anything else that affects a suitcase's functionality. Schinazi said items that do not perform as they should are not sold through Reclaimed at all, citing sticky zippers as an example of a defect the company will not pass on to customers.
Demand has been strong. Away soft-launched Reclaimed in August with no marketing and sold 80% of its initial inventory within the first two weeks. The company says return rates on Reclaimed purchases have been low, and some customers have already returned to buy a second piece. Schinazi described the response as a testament to how important such programs are for American consumers today, pointing to both interest in sustainability and shoppers watching their budgets.
For now, supply is the biggest constraint. Because inventory largely comes from returns, Away cannot control how many pieces arrive. Schinazi said the company is learning as it goes in these early months and is exploring a buyback program that would take back suitcases customers have owned for years. This month, Away is running a test through its Trade In, Trade Up event. Customers can bring a wheeled suitcase from any brand in any condition to a participating Away store October 16 through 18 and October 23 through 25 by appointment, receiving $100 toward a new suitcase from Away's newly redesigned Series 3 line. The company will use the event to learn how trade-in programs might eventually feed into Reclaimed.
Selling discounted versions of its own products could in theory cannibalize Away's full-price sales, but Schinazi is not especially worried. She believes Reclaimed will serve as an entry point, particularly for younger shoppers unwilling to spend full price on a carry-on. «We know that Away Reclaimed might be their first purchase,» she said. «But we're going to be able to have them experience our bags.» As those customers travel more, she hopes they will buy new pieces for themselves, their families, or as gifts.