Browsing online has become the norm for how many people shop for clothes today, and a wave of tech-driven new platforms is reshaping the path of fashion consumption. Resale has gone mainstream, while livestream shopping and members-only communities are also rising fast. At the same time, physical retail is far from dead—brands are turning stores into spaces focused on social and cultural experiences. Here are a few representative platforms shaping the future of shopping.

Vinted: The Mainstreaming of Secondhand Fashion

Lithuanian company Vinted entered the UK market in 2014 and surged during the pandemic amid a wave of wardrobe clear-outs. According to industry outlet Retail Week, the platform is now the UK's third-largest fashion retailer, with an estimated 17.4 million customers. Platform research shows that in 2025 Vinted users spent an average of 72% less on secondhand items than the original retail price, saving around £18.6 billion in total; 88% of users said they check the app before buying new. Its VP of Corporate Affairs, Jessie de la Merced, said most sellers on the platform are also buyers, forming a circular market—people sell what they no longer need and use the proceeds to fund their next purchase. "Affordability is certainly one reason, but what we're seeing is people shopping more consciously. Vinted is about self-expression as much as it is about value."

Mile: Members-Only Private Discounts

Mile has been described as the Raya of retail, where community members can buy designer pieces at steep discounts. Luxury brands such as Jacquemus and Burberry appear in invitation-only sales with discounts of up to 90% off retail. Brand Director and co-founder Jordan Grant explained that the model requires a referral from an existing member, has a waitlist, doesn't allow screenshots in the app, and doesn't allow re-entry after leaving. "The privacy is deliberate—it protects the brands and makes shopping exciting again." The model stands in stark contrast to traditional discount outlets: members still love luxury brands but want to feel they're getting value for money, while brands want to discreetly clear inventory while protecting their image.

Closet Sales: Buying Straight From Celebrity Wardrobes

Celebrity closet sales have grown increasingly popular in recent years, with the likes of Chloë Sevigny, Jemima Kirke and Paloma Elsesser all hosting them. Fashion insiders have also formed a growing community, selling pieces they no longer need directly from their own closets. Creative consultant Tora Northman, who has hosted such events, said that at a time when everyone looks the same on social media, shopping from someone else's closet is more fun than buying what an ad pushes at you. She believes buying secondhand is also about conscious consumption—more choice, usually reasonable prices, and browsing secondhand pieces on Vestiaire and Vinted has become the alternative for those who don't buy fast fashion. "A closet sale is basically the offline, curated version of that browsing—you know roughly what might be there because you know the person or have seen their aesthetic." For anyone wanting to host their own sale, her advice is: you need a lot of pieces, you have to be willing to drop prices, and you have to learn to let go of emotionally valuable clothes, trusting they'll be loved by someone else.

VIP Experiences: The Experiential Shift in Physical Retail

Although many well-known shops have disappeared from the high street, physical stores are far from dead. Retailers are succeeding by creating vibrant spaces for their most loyal customers. This year, Selfridges launched 40 Duke, a fully immersive space for its top clients featuring multiple private shopping suites, a rooftop restaurant and a lounge bar. The department store's Creative Director, Will Wyness, called it an extremely intimate and social space, designed to build relationships rather than hard-sell, giving customers a reason to visit. Louis Vuitton has a luxury apartment above its London flagship where invited clients can shop privately surrounded by original works by Jeff Koons and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Hermès opened a new maison at 166 Bond Street this year, where invited guests can enter a private lounge through a hidden door, view the Emile Hermès historical collection, and access a secret rooftop garden. Harrods offers an invitation-only top-floor suite where after-hours shopping, bespoke dining and private stylists can be arranged.

TikTok Shop: Livestream Shopping Reshapes Discovery

Social media has fundamentally changed how people browse, discover and click to buy. TikTok's e-commerce division (relaunched in the UK in 2023) offers fast checkout for trending products. For brands and retailers selling through TikTok Shop, livestream shopping is especially important—hosts introduce products one by one, often modelling them personally, and it's been described as QVC for Gen Z. According to Bianca Sing, the platform's Head of Global Strategic Partnerships, there are more than 6,000 livestreams a day in the UK. "It's interactive and expert-led—consumers can see product demos, ask questions in real time, and get far more information while shopping than from a static product page. Shopping feels human again." The format is currently performing strongly in beauty, with apparel seen as the next frontier. "For fashion, it opens up style discovery beyond the usual gatekeepers, giving independent or emerging brands the same opportunity as established high-street names. What really wins is what resonates with the community, not the size of the business."

Source: ShopMy, Mile, TikTok: The 6 New Platforms To Find Your Next Fashion Buy In 2026 · Originally published 2026-09-27