Websites and Online Stores That Sell Used Clothing
Why second hand clothing?
Is buying and selling second hand clothing worth it?
Let’s look at consumer behaviour, people on average, buy more clothes than they actually need and some of these have been barely used, if at all. Fast fashion plays a huge part in this shift in attitude. We live in a consumerist society, for better or worse, and many people often stop wearing clothes when it’s gone out of season, even when there is nothing wrong with them. Adding to this is the very short-lived, impermanence of children’s clothing, when clothing and shoes get outgrown by children rather quickly.
When there’s still value in clothing, it’s still worth trying to sell it. Some say selling used clothes is like selling a used car. The value of a car diminishes significantly as soon as it has left the car dealership, so they say. Same can be said of used clothing even when worn just once.
Selling used designer clothing and goods is potentially more lucrative as people are willing to spend more for a known designer label. I particularly am not a fan of designer brands as I refuse to buy into the false sense of status many assume they’re getting themselves into. I could talk endlessly on somehow this panders to issues of self-worth but that’s a topic for another day. And designer doesn’t mean they’re better either.
If you’re not wholly convinced on second hand clothing, I invite you to read this very wise article on things you should be buying second hand. You don't need a lot of capital to start a used clothing business. Start at home and gradually expand when there’s an increase in demand.
Whether you are inspired by spring cleaning or by Marie Kondo's (does it spark joy?), you can start making money by getting rid of clothes in your wardrobe.
Second-hand clothing markets make selling clothes easier than ever. There are even specialty online stores, many of which take care of logistics, that specialise in certain niches (children’s clothing, vintage, designer, etc.) and other items that can help you sell used clothing online.
List of websites and online stores that sell used clothing
OK, so you have a lot of clothes that you will probably never wear (or intend to wear) again. You are looking for websites that sell or buy used clothes. Some are more specialty clothing, some are everyday wear, few others are more designer labels. Some have a vetting process, while others are self-managed.
Whatever or however you wish to sell your used clothes, there are plenty of websites that can help. Here are some of the best online consignment stores and ecommerce sites for the buying and selling of second hand clothing.
ThredUp
While other consignment stores focus exclusively on luxury brands, ThredUp is for everyday wear with affordable clothing. Sellers may request a cleaning kit to send in for clothes, shoes, bags and jewelry.
The RealReal
For luxury goods, The RealReal is one of the best consignment online stores. Burberry, Chanel and Hermès are just some of the brands sold on the site. As with ThredUp, sellers can request a prepaid delivery package for mailing their clothes.
Poshmark
The Poshmark is not a traditional consignment store because sellers must manage their own lists. Sellers take photos, upload descriptions and determine the price themselves.
Vestiaire Collective
Focusing exclusively on high-end brands, Vestiaire Collective makes a name for itself as a used luxury goods site. The site serves a global audience and operates on a hybrid system that combines elements of a traditional consignment store with peer-to-peer sales.
Worthy
For jewelry and high-end watches, try selling at Worthy. Items sold on Worthy must be priced at least $1,000. Potential sellers start by submitting descriptions and specifications of their jewelry to see if they match the site’s criteria.
Kidizen
Kidizen is a good place to sell children's clothing. A top marketplace to buy and sell kids' fashion. Shop thousands of your favourite brands at up to 70% off retail.
Micolet
Is your closet full of high street brands like Zara, Mango, Bershka, Springfield, and Desigual? Micolet is a women’s second-hand clothing and accessories store online that offers a wide range of trendy and almost new clothes. It boasts thousands of new second-hand clothes and accessories with discounts up to 90%.
Wish
Wish is an American online e-commerce platform that facilitates transactions between sellers and buyers. It’s the super popular, ultra-cheap shopping app for clothing, accessories, shoes, and wallets at a very low price. Do note that they sell brand new clothing as they do second hand clothing. But since the sellers on Wish are located all over the world (but mostly in China), shipping takes longer, and product quality is lower.
Mercari
Mercari offers a fast and easy way to sell or buy almost anything. List your item in minutes. Got something you don't use, never used or just outgrew? Sell it. Used clothing is one of their best-selling products. All you have to do is take a good photo with your phone, add a description, and set a price. After selling your garment, Mercari will email you a trackable shipping label.
Vinted
From Lithuania comes Vinted, an online marketplace and community that allows its users to sell, buy, and swap secondhand clothing items and accessories. You have to create a profile, upload photographs of the clothes you no longer want, and no longer wear, set a price, and let someone else choose if they want the item in question.
eBay
And of course, there’s eBay, who needs no introduction. It’s a massively popular website where you can find pretty much any second-hand product. The largest buying and selling center on the internet brings together buyers and sellers in one place to trade all kinds of items. eBay is the most used and probably the most well known website on this list.
Sources:
https://www.teenvogue.com/story/sell-clothes-online
