Nina Jobst
Research expert covering South Korea
U.S. apparel and footwear resale market - statistics & facts
In a world of fast fashion and outsourced clothing manufacture, one way to peacefully combat the environmental impact and labor controversies that go hand-in-hand with the modern apparel industry is to opt for second-hand clothing and footwear. Not only is secondhand less expensive than brand new clothing and shoes, but it is also a great way to prevent waste. Clothing styles have a tendency to come back in vogue after many years, and vintage clothing often has more character than brand new clothing. For people who want to set themselves apart from current fashion trends, secondhand clothing provides the means to do so. The global secondhand apparel market was estimated to be worth 227 billion U.S. dollars in 2024. By 2027, this was forecast to rise to nearly 370 billion dollars. As home to the largest clothing market in the world, the United States is also the leading exporter of used clothing.
As consumer consciousness and curiosity grows, an increasing number of U.S. shoppers have begun showing a preference for purchasing clothing from secondhand stores. This reflects a growing commitment among consumers to make more sustainable choices when it comes to fashion. By embracing the resale market, shoppers gain access to affordable, unique, and eco-friendly options, helping reduce waste and extend the lifecycle of garments.
U.S. resale market
In 2024, it was estimated that secondhand apparel had a share of approximately 14.4 percent of the total apparel market in the United States. This was an increase of around seven percent from five years previously. In the following five years the market share of secondhand apparel was forecast to increase, making up one fifth of the market in 2029. The results of a survey in 2024 showed that there were more male consumers in the secondhand market in the U.S. than female, by a hair. The age demographic which bought the most secondhand apparel was 25 to 34 year-olds.Consumers’ favorite marketplaces
Many of the most popular marketplaces to purchase secondhand apparel are online. The best known is eBay, which is one of the largest secondhand marketplaces in general. Among second-hand apparel online shop users, eBay had a brand awareness of 94 percent. There are also specialized fashion resale platforms, which generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. The RealReal generated a revenue of nearly 550 million dollars in the financial year 2023.As consumer consciousness and curiosity grows, an increasing number of U.S. shoppers have begun showing a preference for purchasing clothing from secondhand stores. This reflects a growing commitment among consumers to make more sustainable choices when it comes to fashion. By embracing the resale market, shoppers gain access to affordable, unique, and eco-friendly options, helping reduce waste and extend the lifecycle of garments.
