eBay released its 2026 Spring/Summer Trend Report (Watchlist) on October 31, 2026, analyzing fashion category performance in Q1 2019 based on data from over 136 million active buyers and about 2.5 billion listings worldwide. The report notes that recommerce (secondary trading) is becoming the fastest "trend barometer" reflecting consumer preferences and fashion directions, with search volume, transaction value and listing counts together outlining next season's trends.

Key points

  • eBay released its 2026 Spring/Summer Trend Report based on data from over 136 million active buyers and about 2.5 billion listings, positioning the resale market as a fashion "trend barometer."
  • The top five best-selling brands in Q1 2026 were Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry, Chanel and Prada, unchanged from the previous quarter; the Gucci Padlock bag saw the largest average price increase.
  • Korean sellers sold a Hermès Birkin 30 for US$24,261 and a Rolex Cellini Moonphase for US$21,389 in Q1; womenswear & accessories and menswear & accessories ranked 5th and 6th in category revenue for Korean sellers.

Five spring/summer keywords: transparency, asymmetry, hybrid style, color blocking and "quiet luxury"

The report distills five fashion trends representing Spring/Summer 2026. Leading the list are designs using transparent, lightweight materials that emphasize movement; deliberately unbalanced asymmetric cuts and garments with elaborate embellishments and textured elements are also listed as key directions. Transaction volumes for hybrid styles and sculptural sneakers also grew notably. Meanwhile, bold color-blocking outfits and "Quiet Luxury"—understated, refined elegance that eschews ostentation—were also selected as trends worth watching this year.

Traditional luxury brands remain strong; scarcity drives up resale value

Actual transaction data confirms the enduring popularity of traditional luxury brands. Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry, Chanel and Prada maintained their performance from last year's fourth quarter and stayed in the top five best-selling brands in Q1 2026. Among individual items, the Gucci Padlock bag saw the largest increase in average selling price, while the resale value of the Gucci Ziglio bag and Saint Laurent Y Tote also rose significantly. In watches, classics such as the Patek Philippe Nautilus and Cartier Tank Américaine performed strongly. Analysts believe that limited supply and scarce allocations continue to amplify premiums, and that secondhand luxury goods are transforming from mere consumer products into value-preserving assets.

Korean sellers meet global demand with secondhand fashion

Korean sellers' sales data also reflects global demand for secondhand fashion. In Q1 2026, secondhand luxury items sold by Korean sellers included a Hermès Birkin 30 at US$24,261 (about KRW 35.1 million) and a Rolex Cellini Moonphase at US$21,389 (about KRW 31 million). In category revenue rankings, womenswear & accessories ranked 5th and menswear & accessories 6th for Korean sellers, making them major sales segments.

Ryu Chang-mo, head of eBay CBT's Korea business division, said that as the recommerce market grows, secondhand fashion is becoming a new global sales opportunity for Korean sellers; under recent US tariff policy, some secondhand clothing has been included in the Section 301 additional tariff exemption scope, drawing attention to the category as a potential direction, and the company will strengthen support for competitive Korean sellers. For used-clothing exporters and cross-border secondhand fashion sellers, this policy change means the cost of entering the US market is expected to fall, and the category value of secondhand apparel is being repriced jointly by platform data and tariff rules.

Source: "What's trending these days?"…Secondhand trading becomes a barometer for reading fashion trends [Trendy Consumption] · Originally published 2026-10-12