Vantage | How second-hand fashion is going mainstream

Growing up in a big family can be amazing, but it comes with perils, like racing for the last slice of pizza, struggling to grab the TV remote, or a barrage of hand-me-downs—where worn clothes are passed down—from older to younger siblings. Personal taste goes for a toss. Maybe that is why second-hand clothes have a bad name. Thankfully, second-hand fashion has come a long way since then. It has moved from the fringes of society to the mainstream and has picked up quirky names along the way, like thrifted, upcycled, or pre-loved clothing. Call them what you want, but preloved clothes are having their moment. The global clothing resale market is worth 193 billion dollars. It is expected to hit 350 billion dollars by 2027. There are two main reasons behind this boom. One is the cost of living crisis. Buying used clothes, shoes, or bags is a frugal choice and, many times, a smart one. That brings us to the second reason, which is ‘sustainability’. 80 billion pieces of new clothing are purchased every year all over the world. But three in five of these items end up in landfills within years. So pre-loved clothes can save money and reduce carbon footprints. In doing so, they grab the attention of the usually attention-deficit Gen-Z. The young are largely driving this shift. They form 31 per cent of the consumer base for resold fashion. Also, they account for 90 per cent of the user base for some online fashion reselling stores. The hashtag “Vintage” has about 30 billion views on TikTok, the young generation’s favourite app. This doesn’t mean older generations aren’t interested. Just look at children’s clothing. It is the fastest-growing apparel resale category. Meaning parents are interested too.

So, upcycled fashion has become big business. But buying the pre-loved is only one part of the story. Selling it is the flip side of it. Consumers now declutter their wardrobes. They sell items they no longer wear and make a quick buck. This is especially true for Gen-Z, who make 44 per cent of those reselling apparel. The process has become easier with time. There are online portals to resell items. In the UK, eBay saw a 20 per cent annual rise in 2023 for secondhand fashion listings. There are thrift stores on Instagram, too. They have become a big deal in India. People source items, clean them, and style them for a photo shoot. Market, package, and then sell is the mantra. However, that’s not all; a circular economy is in process, so mainstream retailers want a slice. Selfridges is an upscale British department store that has a vintage channel. The high-end fashion market is being redefined as well. Luxury handbags, shoes, or watches have become an asset. Their price usually increases with time. So people simply resell these products after use. And get more than their money’s worth. As much as 62 per cent of resellers reportedly get more than they spend. And now, major brands want a share in it as well. Balenciaga has a resale programme across America, Europe, and Singapore. Owners can sell their pre-owned products to the brand and get paid for them. Luxury bag maker Coach has a resale programme too. The watch brand Rolex offers pre-loved watches in Europe. Meanwhile, Kering, the parent company of Gucci, invested 193 million dollars in a pre-loved e-tailer brand in 2022. Its transaction volume grew by over 100 per cent by 2023. So upcycled pieces are not only cheaper but also more sustainable. They are changing the game of fashion. You see, to some, thrifting is a fad. To others, it is a passion. And for many, it is an affordable choice. But no matter the reason, the world seems to be in love with the preloved. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_’s views._ Read all the  Latest News ,  Trending News ,  Cricket News ,  Bollywood News , India News  and  Entertainment News  here. Follow us on  Facebook,  Twitter and  Instagram.