Using social media for positive changes in the environment.
Lola Karimi ’25
EE Co-Managing Editor
Purchasing pre-used designer apparel has grown more prevalent and even glamorous in the last ten years, thanks to the involvement of celebrities who swap and sell their previously owned items. Consumers are shelling out hundreds of dollars to TikTok stylists for “bundles” of used apparel, and eBay has replaced a fast-fashion company as the wardrobe sponsor of the hit British reality series Love Island.
Buying from charity stores is like playing the lotto. You could walk away empty-handed or strike it rich with a whole new appearance. A new chapter in the history of fashion experimentation may be about to begin with the deal of the century. Occasionally, after you arrive home, you’ll discover holes or stains that you overlooked while changing. That is the process.
Looking through racks of factory-fresh merchandise at ordinary stores is far less exciting than rummaging through used clothing for all of the above reasons. And it’s usually less expensive. additionally more environmentally friendly. Despite how great the opportunity is, there is a significant issue. It’s challenging to locate pre-owned clothes companies that truly make a profit, from tiny neighborhood thrift stores to massive internet second-hand enterprises.
The market for used clothing may grow faster than that of fast fashion as more people become aware of the financial, social, and environmental advantages of thrift shopping. In a recent analysis, thredUP, an online consignment and thrift retailer, predicted that the global market for used garments will increase by 127% by 2026, three times faster than the apparel sector as a whole.
By 2025, eMarketer and Insider Intelligence predict that sales of used clothing in the US will account for $30.6 billion, or 10% of total apparel sales. When taken as a whole, these predictions suggest a change in the fashion business and maybe a slowing down of rapid fashion. Fast fashion creates items quickly, usually at the expense of quality, and its customers frequently buy new clothes after only ten wears, throwing away their old ones. Clothes that endure longer and can be resold several times can be reused thanks to the secondhand clothing market. It’s an illustration of a circular economy, which reduces waste and is becoming more and more popular among companies that want to be environmentally conscious.
“Gen Z is a digitally native generation. Their communication, entertainment and shopping habits are all mobile-first so it makes sense that this generation is leading the growth of the market,” according to Thredup president Anthony Marino. The analysis projects that by 2027, internet resale would have grown to $38 billion, two times faster than the whole secondhand market. As per the survey, Patagonia, Lululemon, Vuori, Reformation, and The North Face are among the most well-liked brands in the resale market.
This week, Thredup announced the debut of a Fashion Footprint calculator aimed at Gen Z consumers. According to Thredup, the calculator’s objective is to disprove greenwashing assertions and assist customers in choosing sustainable clothing. “We know fighting fashion waste requires all hands on deck, from government to retailers, but we also see an opportunity to better educate and empower consumers,” says Marino.
In the meantime, Etsy, another business looking to tap into this lucrative market, has paid $1.6 billion to acquire the resale software Depop. Considering that 90% of Depop’s users are under 26, Etsy is poised to attract a new market while maintaining Depop’s distinct demographic from the considerably older Etsy user base. Depop’s highly social and carefully selected style appeals to younger users, who are urged to utilize Depop in conjunction with other social media platforms to “build their brand” and extend the lifecycle of apparel.
I sincerely hope you can understand, or begin to see, the advantages of why it’s so vital to buy used goods. Wide-ranging transformation won’t occur quickly. It requires careful labor, patience, and time. However, I have faith that we can all take the necessary actions to contribute to making Earth alive, thriving, and teeming with new life. Encourage yourself to help, and you’ll discover a new lease on life in the process.