There’s something special about thrift shopping. It’s the feeling of finding a hidden gem in a sea of used goods. It’s the satisfaction of knowing you got a great deal on something someone else was getting rid of. And it’s the knowledge that you’re being more sustainable by buying secondhand.
Here are some data to understand the secondhand market today. According to a ThredUp study:
- Secondhand displaced nearly 1 billion new clothing purchases in 2021 that normally would have been bought new.
- 57% of consumers resold apparel in 2021.
- 62% of Gen Z and Millennials say they look for an item secondhand before purchasing it new
The secondhand market is a thriving industry, it’s expected to double by 2026 in the US reaching $82 billion. Not only is it much cheaper than buying new clothes but it’s also a more sustainable way of shopping as it reduces textile waste, CO2 emissions, and pollution.
If you are looking to be more sustainable in your life, you can check our article on how to reduce your carbon footprint.
So where can you find those second-hand items? We have found for you the best online thrift stores of the moment.
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Table of Contents
ThredUP
Available: in the US and Canada
Product range: Adult & children’s apparel, designer brands, shoes, accessories, bags, maternity, plus size
Concept: Consignment shop, send your unworn clothes and receive money when they are sold
Shop Thredup
Founded in 2009, ThredUp is one of the largest online consignment stores in the US with over 35,000 brands available. Its mission is to “inspire a new generation of shoppers to think secondhand first.”
Are you looking to get rid of clothes you no longer wear but you don’t have the time to sell them online? Thredup can help you out.
Create an account and request a clean-out kit. Once you have received the clean-out kit, fill it up with clothes you are not wearing anymore. You will need to follow some guidelines regarding the clothes you can send such as trendiness, state of the item, and brands. Send the kit by mail.
Your clothes are then evaluated and given a price. Once your articles are sold, you receive payment minus the Thredup commission. If your clothes cannot be sold on ThredUP they are given to third parties or recycled. You also have the option to donate your items to charity.
There are several advantages to using ThredUP over other methods of selling secondhand clothing. ThredUP provides a hassle-free way to sell clothes; it is very easy to use and does not require users to take pictures, fill in descriptions, negotiate with buyers, or deal with logistics. You don’t have to worry about pricing or logistics; ThredUP will take care of those details for you. However, there are a few drawbacks to using ThredUP; most notably, the process can be long (up to three weeks to receive the clean-out kit), and you have no control over pricing.
Depop
Available: Worldwide
Product range: Men’s and women’s apparel, jewelry, beauty, and more
Concept: The Gen Z’s favorite circular fashion marketplace
Shop Depop
Used by 90% of people under the age of 26, Depop is the Gen Z marketplace for fashion with over 30 million registered users in 150 countries. The company was founded in 2011 in London, England, and acquired in June 2021 by Etsy for $1.6 billion.
The Depop platform is simple to use and makes buying and selling items easy. It looks a lot like social media. You can follow your favorite shops, and be notified when new items are listed for sale. You can browse through items that are listed for sale, or search for specific items you are interested in. When you find the piece for you, you can then purchase it directly from the seller. You will find clothing but also accessories and beauty products on Depop.
Some people are using it as a side hustle. You can sell your clothes but Depop encourages you to get other clothes from vintage shops, shift shops, outdoor markets, etc. You can also sell handmade articles and promote them with photos or videos.
The listing is free and the commission when you sell an article is 10%. You’ll need to create a Paypal account to use it.
With over 32 million items available for sale, you’re sure to find something for your taste! Depop is one of the best online thrift stores at the moment.
The RealReal
Available: Worldwide (60+ countries) but accept consign only from within the US
Product range: Clothing, bags, shoes, watches, home, and art
Concept: Consignment shop for authenticated luxury items
Shop The RealReal
Founded in 2011, The RealReal has become the world’s largest online luxury consignment destination for authenticated designer fashion and home goods, with over 27 million shoppers and 24 million items sold. The RealReal’s mission is to extend the life of luxury items and give them new value. “It’s the biggest compliment for your product to have an afterlife- to me, that’s luxury” declared Vogue.
If you have a luxury item that you would like to sell, simply send it to the company and they will take care of authenticating it before listing it on their online marketplace. The RealReal employs “hundreds of experts and brand authenticators, including gemologists and horologists, who inspect thousands of items each day.”
The RealReal offers paid membership plans that give access to exclusive sales and discounts. The First Look plan costs $12 per month, and the Platinum plan costs $49.95 per month. Both plans include a daily email with new luxury sales, 24-hour advance access to sales, and a first look only at promotions.
The brand commissions depend on the category of the article and its price, 30% to 55% for home and art and between 15% and 35% for watches, handbags, and jewelry.
The process to sell your item is easy. However, keep in mind that consignment services may charge high commissions and you have no control over prices and discounts given to buyers.
The RealReal is probably the best consignment platform for luxury items in the US.
Poshmark
Available: U.S., Canada, Australia, and India
Product range: Adult & children’s apparel, pets, home, and beauty
Concept: Social marketplace for new and second-hand items
Shop Poshmark
With over 50 million registered users and over 200 million items for sale, Poshmark is the biggest online marketplace for secondhand clothing in the US. The brand founded in 2011 is a platform for selling and buying fashion. It is similar to other e-commerce sites, such as eBay and Amazon, but focuses exclusively on clothing, shoes, and accessories. Users can buy and sell new or gently used items. In 2021, Poshmark acquired the company Suede One, they virtually authenticated sneakers.
To list an item on Poshmark, take a photo and add a price and description. It’s that easy.
If the item sells, Poshmark will provide a prepaid and pre-addressed label that you can use to ship the item. The process is safe and secured, as Poshmark will hold onto the buyer’s payment until the item is received. You can also communicate with the vendor publicly on the platform, and create bundles of items.
Poshmark is one of the most popular online marketplaces in the US.
Etsy
Available: Worldwide
Product range: clothing, jewelry, home, wedding, toys, arts, and craft
Concept: Marketplace and community focused on vintage and handmade unique items
Shop Etsy
Etsy is for the creative ones. The American brand founded in 2005 focused on unique pieces. They describe themselves as “home to a universe of special, extraordinary items, from unique handcrafted pieces to vintage treasures.” The marketplace counts 31.7 million active buyers, and 1.9 million active sellers and lists 45 million items.
You can sell and buy unique handmade or vintage goods, as well as art and craft supplies. It’s the perfect place to discover the work of small confidential artisans and makers.
Etsy is a great platform for small businesses and entrepreneurs who want to sell their products. The brand has a large customer base and offers a wide range of promotional tools to help market your products. Etsy also has a great reputation as a trusted marketplace which can help build customer confidence in your products. The company charges a 6.5% transaction fee.
Etsy is the perfect platform to find vintage clothes and items.
Vinted
Available: Europe, U.S., Canada
Product range: Adult & children’s apparel, shoes, bags, jewelry, pets, books, home
Concept: Marketplace and community for new and second-hand items
Shop Vinted
Vinted is very similar to Poshmark. It is a social marketplace for second-hand fashion where people can buy, sell, and trade clothes and accessories. However, Vinted is not intended to be used by people who regularly purchase items and resell them for a profit. The company was founded in 2008 in Vilnius, Lithuania, and is today present in 15 countries with 50 million members globally.
To list an item on Vinted, take a photo and add a price and description. It’s that easy.
If the item sells, Vinted will provide a prepaid and pre-addressed label that you can use to ship the item. The process is safe and secured, as Vinted will hold onto the buyer’s payment until the item is received. You can also communicate with the vendor privately on the platform, and create bundles of items.
Vinted is the most popular online marketplace for second-hand items in Europe.
Vestiaire Collective
Available: Worldwide (50+ countries)
Product range: Clothing, bag, shoes, jewelry, watch
Concept: Marketplace for pre-owned luxurious fashion
Shop Vestiaire Collective
Founded in 2009 in Paris, Vestiaire Collective is a marketplace where members can buy and sell pre-owned designer fashion items. The site offers a wide range of designer labels, including Chanel, Hermes, and Louis Vuitton among others. Vestiaire Collective is a B-certified organization that rewards social and sustainable practices.
To sell an item, submit it for sale on the platform, once it is sold you can send it for free to the authentication control. Vestiaire Collective provides users with an authentication service to ensure the quality of all items offered on the site. Once your item has passed the authentication and quality control, you’ll receive your payment. This way there are no issues with counterfeit and damaged items.
Vestiaire Collective also offers a consignment service, where you can just hand out your unwanted clothes and the rest is taken care of by a team of experts.
In March 2022, Vestiaire Collective acquired Tradesy, their combined communities exceeding 23 million members.
Tradesy
Product range: Clothing, bag, shoes, jewelry, watch
Available: US
Concept: Marketplace for pre-owned luxurious fashion
Shop Tradesy
Tradesy is a peer-to-peer marketplace where people can buy and sell new or used clothing and accessories. The company offers a wide variety of women’s fashion items, including dresses, shoes, handbags, and jewelry. It is very similar to Vestiaire Collective.
The company was founded in 2009 by Tracy DiNunzio. In 2022, the brand was acquired by Vestiaire Collective.
Asos Marketplace
Available: Worldwide
Product range: Women’s & men’s apparel
Concept: Marketplace for vintage clothing brands
Shop Asos Marketplace
Launched in 2010 with only 20 sellers, Asos Marketplace displays the best of independent and vintage boutiques from vintage 90s sportswear to new designs from international boutiques and artisanal hand-made jewelry.
Sister of the British ASOS, the brand is now 900 businesses strong and provides a unique opportunity for smaller businesses to reach a wider audience.
You can easily open your unique thrift boutique on Asos Marketplace and start to sell vintage clothes or unique creations. The only condition is to “be selling either your designs or a true vintage collection.”
Oxfam Shop
Available: UK
Product range: Clothing, books, entertainment, home, collectible
Concept: Shop items donated to charity and help fight poverty
Shop Oxfam
Oxfam is an international and nongovernmental organization focused on finding solutions to poverty and injustice around the world. Founded in 1942, Oxfam is present in more than 90 countries to achieve social justice. The name Oxfam was given to the charity after the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief.
The organization includes an online thrift shop with over 100 000 donated items available. All the profits resulting from the sales of the articles go to supporting their actions around the world.
When you shop at Oxfam you help preserve the planet by purchasing second-hand items and at the same time, you support a reputable organization with a long history of servicing vulnerable people around the world. You know your money will be used for a good cause.
In addition to supporting a worthy cause, shopping at Oxfam is an affordable and sustainable option for buying new goods. You can find a wide variety of goods at Oxfam, from clothes to furniture to books and more.
Goodwill
Available: in the US and Canada
Product range: Art, antiques, collectibles, apparel, jewelry, electronics, and more.
Concept: Auction website with benefits helping unemployed people find a job
Shop Goodwill
Goodwill is a nonprofit organization that provides job training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities or other barriers to employment.
Goodwill accepts donations of gently used clothing and other items, which are then sold in Goodwill stores. The revenue from these sales helps to support Goodwill’s programs and services.
Patagonia Worn Wear
Available: US
Product range: Used Patagonia clothing
Concept: Patagonia second-hand shop
Shop Patagonia Worn Wear
Patagonia is an outdoor clothing company that is known for its high-quality, durable products. The company also has a program called “Worn Wear” which allows customers to extend the life of their old Patagonia products. This program is beneficial to both the customer and the environment, as it allows for the product to be used for a longer period and keeps it out of landfill sites.
Some products on the website also come from their distribution center where they are not used.
Patagonia’s “Worn Wear” program is a great example of how companies can be more sustainable and reduce their impact on the environment. By recycling old products, Patagonia can prolong the life of its products and keep them out of landfills. This is a win-win for both the customer and the environment.
Urban Renewal
Available: Worldwide
Product range: Women and Men Apparel
Concept: Shop repurposed second-hand clothes by Urban Outfitter
Shop Urban Renewal
Urban Renewal is part of Urban Outfitters. The brand is committed to sustainable and ethical fashion. They collect old, unwanted clothing items and create unique stylish pieces with special paint techniques. The pieces are then refreshed and renewed.
Their mission is “Repurposing and reinventing sustainably-sourced vintage pieces, Urban Renewal is UO’s way of making old new again.”
It’s another great way to give a second life to vintage clothes.
Rebag
Available: US
Product range: Bags, watches, jewelry
Concept: Marketplace for luxury handbags and more
Shop Rebag
Founded in 2014, Rebag is a marketplace specializing in luxurious bags, jewelry, and watches. The brand displays over 50 different designers and a huge collection of luxury items. Rebag is the “ultimate destination for refreshing your closet or unloading once-loved items from your collection“.
You can find their physical stores in CA, NY and Florida.
Thrifted
Available: Worldwide
Product range: Vintage clothing
Concept: Vintage clothing retailer
Shop Thrifted
Thrifted is an online vintage clothing platform. You can find men’s and women’s vintage apparel as well as designers and accessories items.
They believe “that by shopping secondhand, we can extend the life of clothes and reduce the environmental impact of the fashion industry.”
The brand doesn’t buy clothes from individuals. They ship worldwide.
Amazon Handmade
Available: Worldwide
Product range: Jewelry, home, art, wedding, accessories
Concept: Marketplace and community focused on vintage and handmade unique items
Shop Amazon Handmade
Amazon Handmade is the main competitor of Etsy. You can sell and buy unique handmade or vintage goods, as well as art and craft supplies. It’s the perfect place to discover the work of small confidential artisans and makers.
Image Credit: all product photos belong to Pexels and Unsplash
