Key Points

  • 37% of second-hand platform sellers consider an item's future resale value when first buying clothing, and 23% are more inclined to buy for resale than five years ago.
  • 36% have bought items for specific occasions with plans to resell them afterwards, with wedding outfits (50%), fancy dress costumes (25%), and seasonal clothing (12%) topping the list.
  • 54% cite saving money as their primary motivation for buying second-hand clothing, 40% believe buying and selling second-hand is more environmentally friendly than constantly buying new, and 29% buy second-hand to reduce waste.

A UK survey of 2,000 sellers on second-hand resale platforms reveals that "buying to resell" is becoming a new trend in clothing consumption. The study found that one in three respondents buy clothes, shoes, and accessories intending to wear them only a few times before selling them on; 37% already calculate how much an item might fetch later when they first purchase it, in order to recoup part of the cost; and 23% say they are more likely to buy clothing for resale purposes now than they were five years ago.

Resale value is no longer just an afterthought—it is becoming part of the purchasing decision itself. One in five respondents say they would be willing to spend more on higher-quality pieces if they believe the item will hold its value. Conversely, 21% have abandoned a purchase entirely because they felt an item had little resale potential.

The research also found that 36% buy items for specific occasions with the explicit plan to sell them afterwards, with wedding outfits accounting for 50%, fancy dress costumes 25%, and seasonal clothing 12%. Respondents estimate that their wardrobes contain an average of 15 items they rarely wear but believe could be resold. The survey was conducted by OnePoll, commissioned by the Post Office, and involved stylist Bay Garnett, who collaborated on a tool to help people price their wardrobe items.

When it comes to motivations for buying second-hand clothing, saving money remains the top reason at 54%. Environmental factors also carry significant weight: 40% of respondents believe buying and selling second-hand clothes is better for the environment than constantly buying new, while 29% hope to reduce waste by buying second-hand.

Bay Garnett said the research demonstrates a huge shift in attitudes toward second-hand fashion, with resale becoming an increasingly natural part of how people view their wardrobes; selling items you have enjoyed and knowing they will have a new life with someone else is a particularly wonderful thing. Candice Ohandjanian, Director of Mails and Parcels at the Post Office, noted that fashion is increasingly moving away from a "buy, wear, throw away" mentality, with more people clearing out their wardrobes by reselling unused items, and making that process simple matters—the survey shows that being able to drop off parcels for multiple carriers in one location makes selling clothes, shoes, and accessories online easier, and the Post Office works with multiple carriers precisely so people can send items via different delivery services in a single trip.

The details of this survey reflect a structural shift in the second-hand resale market: sellers are no longer passively disposing of unwanted items but are entering the purchasing process with an investment-return perspective. For second-hand platforms and logistics providers, this means that valuation tools, shipping convenience, and buyer trust will increasingly influence supply-side activity.

Source: More shoppers buying clothes with plans to resell, study finds · Originally published 2026-10-06