Secondhand resale has moved from a fringe choice to a key path for reducing waste in the fashion industry. In 2023, global secondhand apparel sales grew 15 times faster than overall apparel retail, now accounting for roughly 10% of global clothing consumption, and the industry is projected to reach a market size of $350 billion by 2028; online resale is the fastest-growing segment, expanding 23% on its own in 2023 and expected to account for half of all secondhand spending by 2025.

Key Points

  • ThredUp's 2024 Resale Report: in 2023, secondhand resale grew 15 times faster than overall apparel retail, and the global secondhand clothing market is projected to reach $350 billion by 2028.
  • Online resale grew 23% in 2023 and is expected to account for half of secondhand consumer spending by 2025.
  • European Parliament: the world generates 92 million tonnes of textile waste each year, with the EU alone discarding 5.8 million tonnes; the European Environment Agency says only 12% of Europe's textile waste is recycled and reused.

From the perspective of extending garment life, every piece of clothing bought secondhand means more wears, and the water, pesticides, synthetic fiber feedstocks, and dyeing and finishing energy used in manufacturing are spread across a longer service life and more users. A coat from five years ago can continue to be worn for more than a decade through resale channels.

The substitution effect on new clothing production then becomes apparent. When consumers buy secondhand instead of new, they directly reduce demand for newly manufactured capacity and virgin raw materials—one less new garment means less water for growing cotton and fewer inputs of fossil-based synthetic fibers and chemical dyes. The activity level of buyers and sellers also sends supply-side signals back to the design stage: durable, classic items (such as well-made jeans and leather bags) can fetch good prices on the secondhand market, while brands with poor durability struggle to circulate. This economic feedback pushes brands to place greater emphasis on longevity and quality in design and material selection, and also makes the entire industry bear clearer responsibility for product durability.

At the level of consumer attitudes, the younger generation no longer sees buying secondhand as a "fallback" but as a smart and environmentally conscious choice. In secondhand clothing communities, people share vintage finds and styling tips, and also discuss the environmental benefits of their purchasing behavior. This atmosphere reduces the psychological pressure to chase fast-fashion new releases, making it easier to keep old clothes and buy secondhand without hesitation.

The significance of moving from linear to circular is most visible at the waste end. The traditional model is raw material—garment—single sale—disposal, whereas resale allows the same garment to circulate among multiple owners, greatly extending the time it remains in use and thereby shrinking the volume of textiles entering landfills and incinerators. The more efficient the resale infrastructure and the more effectively buyers are matched with items for sale, the more likely clothes are to find a second or third owner rather than being left idle or thrown away.

Still, the scale of the problem remains enormous: of the 92 million tonnes of textile waste generated globally each year, only 12% in Europe is intercepted for reuse and recycling, while the vast majority still goes to landfill or incineration, and a garment is worn only 7 to 8 times on average before being discarded. Resale proves that sustainable fashion does not have to come at the expense of choice, style, or price; it ties environmental responsibility to saving money and practicality. As platforms expand and infrastructure matures, resale is pushing a highly resource-intensive industry toward "wear more, make less, throw away less."

Source: How Resale Helps Create a More Sustainable Fashion Industry · Originally published 2026-10-05