eBay has announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Certilogo, an Italy-based provider of digital IDs and authentication for apparel and fashion products. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter, subject to regulatory approval. The acquisition is expected to strengthen eBay’s ability to authenticate clothing items in the growing secondhand fashion category, eBay said.
Certilogo’s AI platform uses its technology to give brands and designers insights into the lifecycle of their garments by assigning them a kind of digital passport while also providing customers with information about the items, such as the materials used, the manufacturer and place of manufacture, and the product’s CO₂ footprint. The aim is to keep clothing in the product cycle for longer.
Certilogo was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Milan. U.S. e-commerce giant eBay reported first-quarter revenue of $2.5 billion, up 1 percent on a reported basis and 3 percent when excluding the impact of foreign exchange.
Update July 11: Ebay reported it completed the acquisition of Certilogo.
