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The global secondhand apparel market grew 13% in 2025 and is projected to reach $393 billion by 2030, growing about twice as fast as the apparel market overall, according to ThredUp’s 2026 Resale Report. About half of luxury shoppers now check the secondhand market before buying new, Bain & Company reports. McKinsey’s research shows resale working as an entry point to aspirational brands.
The resale value of a luxury garment depends on its condition, its construction and how recognisable its design is. ThredUp’s 2026 Resale Report projects the global secondhand apparel market to reach $393 billion by 2030, growing twice as fast as apparel overall. For buyers of luxury women’s wear, resale value has become part of the purchase decision, alongside fit and fabric.
How big is the secondhand fashion market in 2026?
The secondhand fashion market is a mainstream channel in 2026, accounting for roughly 10% of global apparel spending. ThredUp’s 2026 Resale Report, prepared with GlobalData, found that the global secondhand apparel market grew 13% in 2025.
The report projects growth of about 9% a year to 2030, when the market should reach $393 billion. Its consumer survey of 3,268 US adults, conducted in January and February 2026, found that 59% of US consumers bought secondhand apparel in 2025. Resale now sits inside the mainstream purchase journey.
How many luxury shoppers check resale before buying new?
About half of luxury shoppers now check the secondhand market before buying anything new, according to the spring 2026 update of the Bain-Altagamma Luxury Goods Worldwide Market Study. The same study reports that online searches for vintage bags more than doubled year on year.
Younger buyers think about resale at the moment of purchase. ThredUp’s 2026 report found that 67% of Gen Z shoppers consider an item’s resale value before buying it. A garment bought with its second life in mind is usually chosen more carefully in its first.
Does resale help or hurt the brands that make the clothes?
Resale mostly helps brands, according to The State of Fashion 2026 by The Business of Fashion and McKinsey & Company. Consumers in the UK, the US and China use resale to explore aspirational brands they may buy new later.
The report forecasts the secondhand fashion and luxury market to grow two to three times faster than the firsthand market through 2027. McKinsey’s data shows resale working as an entry point to aspirational brands, which answers one of the industry’s most common fears about cannibalisation.
James Reinhart, co-founder and CEO, ThredUp: “Resale is proving its durability.”
For a well-made piece, a strong resale market is a form of insurance. The garment keeps a value after its first owner has finished with it.
Which women’s pieces keep their value?
Pieces with clean construction, recognisable design and full documentation keep their value best. The table lists the main factors that support resale value and what to check at the moment of purchase.
| Factor | Effect on resale value | What to check when buying |
|---|---|---|
| Condition of fabric and seams | The single biggest driver of resale price | Pilling resistance, seam finishing, colour fastness |
| Construction | Lined, structured pieces hold their shape and value | Lining, interfacing, reinforced stress points |
| Recognisable design | Distinctive silhouettes are easier to identify and price | A clear design signature in the cut |
| Classic cut | Timeless shapes sell across seasons | Proportions that avoid short-lived trends |
| Complete set | Tags, garment bag and spare buttons raise buyer confidence | Keep everything that came with the piece |
| Proof of origin | Authenticity checks go faster | Receipt or purchase directly from the brand |
Buying with these factors in mind protects the value of a purchase from the first day. Construction appears in almost every row of the table, which is why well-made pieces tend to sell well.
How should you care for a piece to protect its resale value?
Careful storage and documented purchase protect resale value more than any other habit. Keep the composition label, the receipt, the spare buttons and the garment bag.
Follow the care label exactly, use shaped hangers for tailored pieces and fold knitwear to protect its shoulders. Store pieces away from direct sunlight to preserve colour. Care of this kind also extends the first life of a garment, which lowers its cost per wear long before any resale.
FAQ
Which luxury clothing categories resell best?
Outerwear, tailored jackets and pieces with a distinctive design signature resell well, because buyers can judge their construction and identify their origin. Bags and jewellery remain the strongest resale categories overall. Condition and completeness, including tags and receipts, influence the final price in every category.
Should I keep the tags and packaging?
Keep them. Composition labels, receipts, garment bags and spare buttons help a resale platform authenticate a piece and help a buyer trust it. A complete set usually sells faster and closer to its asking price. Store the documents together in one folder.
Is buying secondhand luxury a good way to try a brand?
Secondhand is an effective way to try a brand’s fit and fabric at a lower price. McKinsey’s research in The State of Fashion 2026 shows that shoppers in the UK, the US and China use resale to explore aspirational brands before buying new pieces from them.
How do resale platforms set prices?
Resale platforms set prices from the original retail price, the brand’s demand on the platform, the condition of the piece and the season. Many now use automated pricing tools. Pieces in excellent condition, with full documentation and a classic cut, reach the highest percentage of their original price.
Does buying from the brand directly help at resale?
Buying directly from the brand gives the clearest proof of origin: a receipt, original labels and packaging. That documentation speeds up authentication on resale platforms and reassures buyers. A purchase from the maker starts the garment’s history with a verified first chapter.
Bought to be kept
The most valuable pieces in a wardrobe are the ones bought to be kept, worn often and passed on in good condition. SAGIO designs its womenswear around that idea, with structured construction and cuts built for years of wear, and presents its collections at https://thesagio.com/. A garment made with precision carries its value from the first owner to the next.
Sources
- ThredUp and GlobalData, 2026 Resale Report, April 2026
- Bain & Company and Altagamma, Luxury Goods Worldwide Market Study, spring update, June 2026
- The Business of Fashion and McKinsey & Company, The State of Fashion 2026, November 2025
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