Have you bought the latest designer bag in red and now regret not having opted for the more timeless gray? Destinations for Designer second hand Fashion solve such problems.
In times of a constantly changing landscape of the fashion, high-end second hand platforms combine an exclusive shopping experience with the new - continuously changing - needs of the growing group of conscious consumers.
Während luxury Long defined by exuberant consumption, the New Luxury is largely shaped by the idea of sustainability. Because fashion lovers resell their designer treasures and acquire new ones, the business model is based on the idea of circular economy fair:
Extended life cycles of high-quality products and minimized waste or zero waste. In addition, the resale of premium goods sets an example against the fast fashion movement and thus inhumane working conditions.
Secondhand shopping online meets the requirements of sustainability and ethics
The second-hand luxury market is growing faster than the primary luxury market. The 18th edition of the Bain & Company Luxury Study. In line with the new mentality of responsible consumers of premium goods, 80% of those surveyed attach importance to luxury brands acting sustainably and ethically. This is why this claim is cited by Millennials and the Gen Z, also realized privately. The motto: slow fashion instead of fast fashion and quality not quantity.
In high-end fashion, pre-owned means pre-loved!
The investment in luxury goods stands for the decision in quality and timelessness. Even if a piece does not extend your own wardrobe forever, high-end pieces can bring joy to different owners for many years due to their high quality.
Especially when the high-end parts are second-hand, they also tell a story, are unusual limited editions and connect fashion lovers with one another. Even globally on online platforms.
Related topics: Renting clothes instead of buying them - the guide to wardrobe make-over
These are our top 10 platforms for designer second hand fashion online:
- Vestiaire Collective
- Rebelle
- re-SEE
- Tradesy
- Retold vintage
- fashionphile
- Hewi London
- Luxury garage sale
- Collector Square
- The Resolution Store
1. Vestiaire Collective
Every day, the in-house experts on the Paris platform expand the catalog of authenticated designer objects by 3.000 pieces. Be it a signature piece like the Hermés Birkin Bag or trendy it-pieces from luxurious street fashion labels like Off-White - every design lover will find something here and discover new trends. This is ensured, among other things, by the regular publication of the editors' favorite pieces and of so-called opinion makers.
These opinion leaders are influential users - defined by the size of the follower base - of the platform and offer their goods. Since accounts can be subscribed to, customers can explicitly sift through the pieces that correspond to their personal style. The life cycle of high-end products is extended according to the motto timeless, trends and, above all, high-quality shopping and selling.
Image source: Vestiaire Collective
2. Rebelle
On the Hamburg resale platform Rebelle* Over 1 million users are dedicated to buying and selling used fashion from almost 600 designer brands. In-house experts verify the privately offered luxury goods in order to rule out the sale of plagiarism.
While hands-on types can organize the sale themselves, this feature makes Rebelle the new go-to website for all all-inclusive fans: the platform's concierge service takes care of the entire sale - including professional photos and product descriptions. Customers just have to submit a list of asking prices for their pre-loved designer pieces.
Image source & copyright by Rebelle
3. Re-SEE
Re-SEE is committed to circulating iconic vintage and second-hand pieces in the spirit of the circular economy in order to promote sustainability. The two founders are highly qualified fashion connoisseurs who work for VOGUE and Self Service Magazine. With a focus on unforgettable pieces that have revolutionized the fashion world and have become timeless classics, everything from Chanel tweed jackets to Helmut Lang 90s pieces can be found here.
Based in Paris, all pieces are authenticated, revised if necessary, and shipped globally. Those who take out a membership enjoy small advantages such as curated recommendations. An additional cool feature: experts and celebrities give fashion tips and show their favorite Re-SEE pieces.
Image source & copyright by RE-SEE
4. Tradesy
Tradesy is an online designer paradise by women for women. The founder has set herself the goal of offering women from all over the world a safe and stylish marketplace. So the sale of verified goods takes place globally. Iconic luxury goods can not only be passed on from generation to generation, but also from fashion lovers to fashion lovers.
With the Closet Concierge, Tradsey offers its customers an all-inclusive experience: Platform experts make home visits and organize the wardrobes. They are not only responsible for professional styling tips, but also for making suggestions as to which pieces are available for sale. Incidentally, this creates space for new designer treasures. Even though this service is currently only available in America, global expansion plans are planned.
Image source: Tradesy
5. Retold vintage
Founder Clare Lewis has been selecting every part on the platform herself since 2018. And that under the premise of making it possible for conscious buyers to shop sustainably without having to forego modern aesthetics. The result: an exquisite selection of timeless vintage pieces by Yves Saint Laurent and other design greats made of high-quality and natural materials for every style.
In this way, the approach of the circular economy is pursued and promotes a positive development towards sustainability in the fashion industry. Remarkable: In the spirit of New Luxury, the founder enables radical transparency on her website and can be contacted directly by customers.
Source & Copyright by Retold Vintage
6. Fashionphile
Since 1999 Fashionphile has become one of the leading and most trustworthy second-hand online platforms for luxurious and rare handbags. As a trend-setting reseller in the industry, the selection of the platform combines timeless classics from Louis Vuitton as well as the very latest limited editions.
In 2006 the platform also began to offer accessories as well as jewelry and exclusive watches. The verification of the products is a matter of course. Fashionphile has been paving the way for luxurious second-hand consumption, which is continuously growing in size and significance, for the last two decades.
7. Hewi London
The British platform has maintained its place in the world for high-end second-hand online shops since 2012. First priority is the authentication of sellers, verification of goods and discretion - according to the company, international stars of the film and music industry are among the buyers and sellers. Makes sense, after all, they are rarely seen twice in the same outfit.
Under these conditions, HEWI offers over 71.000 coveted designer pieces for women, men and children. With the option of creating a profile, the reseller enables customers to receive personalized suggestions and quickly get hold of the most wanted pieces. Even easier: become a HEWI VIP. The in-house experts process the entire purchase for VIPS.
8. Luxury Garage Sale
Whether offline in Chicago and Dallas or online 24/7 - Luxury Garage Sale sells authentic, second-hand designer items. As the platform is aware of the risk of a large investment such as that in a high-end designer bag, it places particular emphasis on product verification. The materials, craftsmanship and serial codes are checked by hand to ensure the authenticity of the pieces.
In-house experts are also responsible for free style advice and make personalized recommendations to customers. The reseller ensures sustainable sales to conscious customers who care for and value your designer pieces by investing time in goods and customers.
Image source & Copyright by Luxury Garage Sale
9. Collector Sqaure
Collector Square is the European leader in the online second-hand market for handbags, jewelry and watches. Based on analysis reports like the LuxPrice index , a report on the demand for iconic pocket and watch models, in-house experts select all articles. This ensures the exclusivity and the sustainable value of each product. In the sense of the new mentality towards more transparency within the fashion industry, all experts and their background can be viewed online.
Image source & copyright by Collector Square
10. The Resolution Store
The British platform was created in response to statistics relating to the polluting garbage production of the fashion industry. In order to counteract the short lifespan of many items of clothing and the associated negative impact on the environment, the founders have committed themselves to minimizing waste, protecting natural resources and the circular economy.
To implement this slow fashion approach, they therefore combine curated reselling with the phenomenon of influencer marketing: bloggers open their wardrobes to consumers and offer exclusive, rarely worn items. The use of contemporary trends promotes sustainability in the fashion industry in this way.
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