Episode Details

The secondhand fashion boom is reshaping how people buy clothes—and why. Once framed mainly as a virtuous choice, resale has surged into a $100 billion global market driven above all by affordability, as shoppers hunt for designer labels at steep discounts. In this episode, we explore how platforms like Vestiaire Collective and Vinted are using pop culture, artificial intelligence, and digital authentication to scale trust and convenience, even as profitability remains elusive. As major brands enter the resale space and billions of unworn luxury items sit idle in closets, the story asks whether secondhand fashion is becoming a permanent pillar of retail—or a fiercely competitive gold rush still searching for a sustainable business model.

https://www.economist.com/business/2025/02/27/the-business-of-second-hand-clothing-is-booming