The Rise of Secondhand Fashion

The secondhand fashion industry is growing faster than ever, and I’m here to find out why. . .

The world is obsessed with secondhand fashion at the moment, from online retailers like Vinted and Depop, so called ‘re-commerce’ sites, to in store retailers promoting pre-loved and marketplace departments to capitalise on this growing demand for the secondhand. According to an article by McKinsey & Company, ‘the secondhand fashion and luxury market is forecast to grow two to three times faster than the firsthand market through 2027.’ So why are we so enamoured by second hand fashion at the moment? I think a lot of it naturally has to do with or growing concern for the environment, especially for Gen Z who are essentially working to turn back the clock on the damage done to the environment by previous generations. For the eco-conscious, preloved and vintage fashion is a means not only to enable us to infuse some individuality into our wardrobes, sourcing unique pieces that stand out from the crowd, but shop sustainably as well, a growing concern for many.

Moreover, buying secondhand has become trendy and even, to an extent, performative. For instance, E-Bay sponsering Love Island, one of the biggest reality TV shows on our screens currently, demonstrates the media’s push to make secondhand fashion more popular than ever, and it’s working. According to research agency Stylus, in 2022, 31% of UK consumers used secondhand clothing websites to buy or sell items, up from 20% in 2019. Moreover, there is a growing number of secondhand hauls and thrift with me videos popping up on social media as the trendiness of vintage shopping increases.

As Gen-Z embraces the retro, perhaps a trend itself influenced by our desire to escape the world we live in and return to the romanticised past, the secondhand market thrives. Inded, why resort to a fast fashion rip off of something from the 70s or 80s when you can buy authentic pieces secondhand?

So if we look at the reasons for this surge in growth in the secondhand fashion industry, I think we can break them down into three key motives: affordability, sustainability, and style. . .

AFFORDABILITY

Natacha Blanchard, consumer lead at second-hand platform Vinted, suggests that the current cost of living crisis is a key factor boosting the popularity of pre-loved fashion. She reports that “In the UK, we do find that financial motivation is one of the key factors in driving interest in second-hand generally […] and as the cost of living continues its squeeze on household finances, this is likely to continue being an important driver in encouraging the uptake of second-hand.”

The UK job market is in dire straits at the moment, placing increasing financial pressure particularly on younger generations who are finding it harder than ever to enter the workplace and afford the basics like rent, food and clothing. Hence why the secondhand market is emerging as one of the leading sectors in fashion; not only is buying vintage ‘trendy’, it’s becoming increasingly essential.

SUSTAINABILITY

Sick of ‘greenwashing’ and the lack of transparency many fast fashion brands have towards their ethical practices, consumers are opting for secondhand fashion as a means through which to mitigate these environmental and ethical concerns. Research done by Depop, a leading ‘re-commerce’ retailer found in 2020 that around 75% of the app’s users buy second-hand in order to reduce consumption, followed by 65% who are looking for lower prices and better value.

With the ongoing discourse surrounding global warming and it’s looming threat to the earth, it’s unsurprising that many of us are choosing to shop more sustainably to try and at least slow down this damage. Buying second hand allows shoppers to feel good about themselves for helping ‘save the planet’; even if it’s just a cardigan from Oxfam, every little helps — this is the mindset helping to skyrocket the secondhand fashion market in recent years.

STYLE

“High street fatigue” is a term being used a lot recently by industry professionals to describe the disillusionment many of us feel towards standard high street shopping, compared to the ease of digital secondhand shopping at sites such as Vinted and Depop. Shopping secondhand, whether it be in store or online, allows consumers to discover unique pieces that stand out from the crowd. The cheaper prices of preloved items, moreover, enable people to afford luxury items that they otherwise might not, indirectly aiding the luxury market by expanding it’s audience and increasing demand.

To conclude then, the rise of the secondhand fashion industry is driven be economic, stylistic and environmental concerns. The growth these driving factors are causing is significant; global sales of pre-owned clothes surged by 18% in 2024 to $197bn (£156bn) and are forecast to reach $350bn in 2028, according to a report by GlobalData for resale specialist ThredUp. Charity shops have been around for over half a century, with the first Oxfam opening in 1947, so secondhand fashion is nothing new. What is new, however, is the ease of online shopping and reselling, made simple by platforms like Vinted, Depop and ThredUp. By engaging with these sites, people can make money by selling their old clothes, giving them more money to spend on new ones, and in turn giving the secondhand market this cyclical model that keeps customers coming back for more.

REFERENCES / READ MORE

https://www.businessoffashion.com/news/sustainability/uk-second-hand-shopping-to-top-6-billion-this-year/ - UK Second-Hand Shopping to Top $6 Billion This Year - Katie Linsell - 21 Jul 2025

https://www.fashionretailacademy.ac.uk/news/how-retailers-are-embracing-second-hand-clothing - How Retailers Are Embracing Second Hand Clothing - 4 Jul 2023

https://www.forbes.com/sites/pamdanziger/2025/09/15/secondhand-goes-mainstream-as-more-shoppers-turn-to-thrift-and-online-resale/ - Secondhand Goes Mainstream As More Shoppers Turn To Thrift Stores And Online Resale - Pamela N. Danziger - 15 Sep 2025

https://www.statista.com/topics/4593/second-hand-retail-in-the-united-kingdom-uk/ srsltid=AfmBOoqJUf7f65vzjM5XRDdeo2ks3v54ercfmA2vrJxLZa8r3R18fsWI - Secondhand retail in the UK - Statistics & Facts - Kasia Davies - 28 Jan 2025

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/mar/27/secondhand-clothing-on-track-to-take-10-of-global-fashion-sales - Secondhand clothing on track to take 10% of global fashion sales - Sarah Butler - 27 Mar 2024

https://www.drapersonline.com/insight/analysis/whats-driving-the-rise-in-pre-loved-fashion - What’s driving the rise of pre-loved fashion? - Zoe Hu - 19 Jan 2023