Stumbling into Sustainability: Why Secondhand Is the First New Choice
- Liz Bristow
- Aug 20
- 5 min read
Way back in the late ’90s/early aughts, if you wanted a deal online, you probably ended up on Amazon or eBay. Amazon wasn’t yet the “supplier of all the things” it is now. It was mostly where you scored used books (the kind with someone else’s highlighter notes in the margins, bonus notes for college!), CDs you hoped weren’t scratched, and DVDs that came in bulky plastic cases (who else bought the entire Miami Vice series???). Meanwhile, eBay was the digital treasure hunt where you could bid on everything from Beanie Babies to “gently used” items you were always going to TRY and fix.
What started with books and knick-knacks eventually cracked open the door to something much bigger: the resale of fashion. Enter the new generation of closet cleaning, bargain loving, style-savvy platforms.
From Closets to Clicks: The New Wave of Resale
As online resale grew in popularity, a whole new lineup of platforms popped up to cater to different kinds of shoppers. Today, you’re not limited to just one site. There’s practically a resale app for every style, budget, and lifestyle. Some are geared toward everyday fashion staples, while others focus on curated vintage or high-end luxury. Whether you want to casually sell a few pieces from your closet, overhaul your wardrobe in one go, or splurge on a designer bag without paying designer prices, there’s a platform built for you. Here’s a closer look at some of the most popular players reshaping the resale game.
Poshmark feels like a giant online yard sale, but with better lighting and no awkward haggling in someone’s driveway. Sellers snap pics of their clothes, add a description, and wait for the likes to roll in. Buyers scroll through the app like they’re on Instagram, hearting their favorites, commenting on listings, even bundling items from one seller’s closet to score a better deal. Poshmark thrives on community: it’s part marketplace, part social media. Whether you’re looking for a $15 sundress or last season’s Anthropologie cardigan, it’s a scroll-happy goldmine.
ThredUp is basically the Marie Kondo of resale sites (does it bring you joy?) you dump a bag of clothes in the mail, and they take care of the rest. ThredUp will photograph, price, and list your items for you, and you earn a payout when something sells. It’s like having a virtual consignment shop that requires almost no effort on your part. For buyers, ThredUp is like walking into a massive, well-organized thrift store without leaving your couch. You can filter by brand, size, condition, and even style type. It’s especially great for everyday essentials, kids’ clothing, and workwear. In other words, the types of items people often buy new, but can save a fortune snagging secondhand. (Spoiler: it does spark joy when you get that payout email, even if it’s a small amount.) ThredUp even has a 2023 impact report on their site if consumers want to review what the company is hoping to achieve and what they have achieved, see here.
*What treasures did you unearth?
Depop is where Gen Z goes to hang out with their closets. Think of it as Instagram meets Etsy for fashion, with a heavy dose of nostalgia. It’s the go-to spot for vintage Levi’s, funky sneakers, handmade jewelry, and that “retro” Juicy Couture hoodie you donated in 2008 but now regret not having. Sellers build curated shops with an aesthetic (Y2K, cottagecore, streetwear, you name it), and buyers shop not just for clothes but for culture. Depop has become so influential that many trends bubble up here before they hit mainstream retailers. In short, it’s thrift shopping with a vibe.
The RealReal is the place for those who want a designer handbag but don’t want to live on ramen noodles for six months. This luxury consignment site specializes in authenticated goods from brands like Gucci, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton. Everything is verified by in-house experts, so you can trust that your “gently used” Prada bag is the real deal. It’s not bargain bin cheap, but when you’re scoring a $2,000 handbag for $600, it feels like a win. For sellers, it’s a way to cash in on high-end items that might otherwise gather dust in the back of a closet. For buyers, it’s a chance to dip into luxury fashion without blowing the budget. Think of it as guilt-free indulgence.
Why Buying Secondhand Is Basically Saving the World (and Your Wallet)
The fashion industry is notorious for being one of the most wasteful on the planet.The average US consumer throws away 81.5lbs of clothes every year. In America alone, an estimated 11.3 million tons of textile waste – equivalent to 85% of all textiles – end up in landfills on a yearly basis. That’s equivalent to approximately 81.5 pounds (37 kilograms) per person per year and around 2,150 pieces per second countrywide (earth.org). Fast fashion churns out clothes so quickly that what’s “in” today is practically landfill by next Tuesday. Resale flips the script. Instead of tossing last season’s sweater, it gets a second chance at life in someone else’s closet.
This isn’t just thrifty; it’s sustainable. The fast fashion industry is notorious for poor working conditions and a huge environmental footprint. In 2019, the volume of tainted water produced by apparel factories approached 80 billion gallons per year, according to J.B. MacKinnon, author of “The Day the World Stops Shopping,” in a blog for the Sierra Club. Shopping secondhand reduces demand for new production, cuts down on textile waste, and the chemical load from manufacturing (dyes, petrochemicals), and helps the planet breathe a little easier. Honestly, it’s like recycling but way more fun than collecting cans.
And let’s not ignore the budget-friendly side of things. Why pay $120 for jeans when you can snag them for $35 and brag about it later? That’s not just shopping; that’s strategy.
Closet Clean-Out = Side Hustle
Another perk? Resale isn’t just for buyers, it's a moneymaker for sellers, too. Clean out your closet, list a few pieces, and suddenly your old blazer is helping cover your coffee budget for the month. I LOVE vintage-inspired clothing, swing dresses, circle skirts, spectator shoes…but they’re not cheap and I lose interest easily. It turns out, a lot of my previously purchased clothes can be resold to another avid fan of these clothing styles, and I can use that money to buy a different used item to love. With inflation doing its thing, turning clothes into cash feels less like a side hustle and more like a survival tactic.
The Future Is Fashionable (and Secondhand)
Gone are the days when shopping secondhand carried a stigma. Today, it’s smart, stylish, and even a little brag-worthy. People proudly announce, “Thanks, I got it on Poshmark!” like it’s a badge of honor. Resale sites aren’t just changing how we shop; they’re changing how we perceive fashion retail.
So the next time you’re tempted to buy fast fashion, remember: the perfect outfit might already be waiting for you on a resale app, pre-loved, gently worn, and way more affordable. After all, why buy new when you can win?
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