Vestiaire Collective x BCG 2025 Report
We've released our latest report, in collaboration with BCG, diving into the changing ways our community is buying and selling pre-loved fashion.
A Bit of Context
Right now, the size of the resale market is estimated to be between $210 and $220 billion, with the expectation that it'll hit as much as $360 billion by 2030. In fact, the data proves it's growing three times faster than first-hand fashion, with high-value categories like bags and jewellery fuelling the growth.
When we surveyed shoppers, 28% of their wardrobes already consist of pre-loved items, and 55% of those items come from online resale platforms like Vestiaire Collective.
The Generational (and Regional) Divide
We're seeing consumer behaviour vary by age and location, with Gen Z in particular using pre-loved fashion for experimentation, self-expression and to discover new brands.
Looking at the data by location, US shoppers are utilising resale to find good deals and build their side hustles, with 87% citing affordability as a key reason to buy and sell preloved. In Europe, on the other hand, the focus is more on detoxing closets and curating personal style. And when it comes to sustainability, there's a difference there too, with 33% of European customers being motivated by a desire to be more sustainable, compared with 28% in the US.
What's Driving the Market?
Economic pressures and rising inflation are just a few of the factors behind the rise of resale in 2025.
Aspirational shoppers are the most sensitive to inflation, a fact that's clearly evident in the 48% who reported less impulsive buying in our report. Where we've seen them cut back on first-hand spending, they're using preloved as a new way to access premium brands. Meanwhile affluent shoppers are using resale platforms to source limited edition pieces and refine their style, although they're also not immune to pre-loved fashion's value for money...
On the seller side, the economic situation is driving people to clear out their closets as additional income, but barriers like busy schedules still limit adoption.
What's Next?
The introduction of Digital Product Passports (DPPs) which store product information digitally and enable one-click resale will be a game-changer, offering instant authentication and resale-ready data that complies with EU regulation, all while eliminating one of the biggest barriers in resale: mistrust.
This new technology will make it even easier for brands to collaborate with resale platforms, allowing them to scale, grow their reach, and future-proof their businesses via pre-owned sales and brand-owned trade-in initiatives.
What's clear is that resale is not an option for brands, it's inevitable. Want to be part of fashion and luxury's next chapter?