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A huge part of living (almost) zero waste is the secondhand stores. Why may wonder why?
The truth is that the fashion industry transformed into a vast waste generator.
In just one year (2013), 13 MILLION tonnes of textile has ended in the landfills.
Instead of buying new clothes, and contributing to the waste stream by the fashion industry, you can start purchasing from online thrift stores some unique second hand clothes!
There are a bunch of benefits of buying second hand.
In this article, we will observe 16 of the best online thrift stores for second-hand clothing!
We will also take a look at:
1. What is fast-fashion?
2. Why should you buy secondhand clothes and items online?
3. 10 environmental and personal BENEFITS of buying second hand clothes online
4. The 16 best online thrift stores for second hand clothing
1. What is fast-fashion?
Fast fashion is the term that describes the inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends.
Literally every day, new companies are coming up to satisfy the current materialistic demands we live in.
I don’t want to bore you with a bunch of data, I just want to highlight a few important facts:
- Did you know that global clothing production doubles, just in the past 15 years?
- On average, the clothes are being used much less plus they are thrown away quicker than ever before.
- Furthermore, are you aware that almost 60% of all clothing produced is disposed of within a year of production and it ends in the landfill?
The truth is quite unpleasant, but the good news is that you can do something about it!
2. Why you should buy secondhand clothes and items online?
What is more, it is estimated to grow from a $24 billion market today to $51 billion by 2023!
But that’s not all.
Shopping second hand can make a difference! First, you won’t support the new trendy fast-fashion items.
Think about it this way: when you buy a second-hand product, the item has already been produced and is in circulation.
Second-hand gives clothing second life!
3. 10 environmental and personal BENEFITS of buying secondhand clothes online
Environmental benefits:
1) It saves resources
Water:
Did you know that for a single pair of jeans, it is needed 1,800 gallons of water? Or that to produce a single cotton t-shirt is needed 715 gallons? This equals almost 3 three years worth of drinking water!
Energy:
Going further, producing synthetic fibers like polyester requires lots of energy. It also demands crude oil like petroleum.
By simply changing our shopping patterns, we will be able to also save some energy.
2) Waste reduction
Clothes are having a long lifespan. When people from all over the world throw away things, it creates an exponential amount of waste.
However, if the items are reused to the fullest by others, or even repurposed, it also reduces the waste that we create.
Shopping second hand provides the clothing with new life no matter who created the items originally.
3) Sustainable
Fast fashion creates damage to the environment and it pollutes natural resources.
So, the more we boycott it, the more we will reduce the damage.
Plus, if we buy second hand, that means that we will save resources and we will prevent things from going to the landfills.
4) Extends the lifecycle of pieces
… and reduces their carbon footprint!
Another point is that second-hand shopping can reduce more pollution, that comes from the chemicals applied to dye, clean and treat clothing.
Trifted Jeans, Brand: Monki
Personal benefits
1) Affordable
If you want to buy more ethical fashion brands, this can be quite pricey.
Since they are created with high-quality materials and sometimes from recycled items, the price can be quite high.
That’s where second-hand stores come in handy. They are affordable and much cheaper than an ethical fashion brand.
Related post: 15 Affordable Ethical Clothing Brands Under $100
An interesting statistic showed that:
35 percent of women and 25 percent of men buy more used products than new.
Do you wonder why? Simply because second-hand items are much cheaper!
2) Quality
Oftentimes, the clothes in the second-hand stores are donated because:
– the person that bought it, doesn’t like it anymore
– the person doesn’t fit in the clothing
That means the items are often in perfect condition!
One of my favorite second-hand jeans
3) You never know what can you find
… and you often end up with some epic discoveries!
Sometimes you can even find some of the newest trends at exceptionally low prices.
Plus, if it’s a brand that you don’t have around, you won’t see anyone nearby wearing the same clothing.
4) Reinventing clothing combinations
Reusing, re-wearing and recycling clothes can be extremely fun!
Shopping second hand can be enjoyable since you get to be more creative in order to find and combine cool stuff.
It also will allow you to create your personal style, without the need to follow the latest trends.
Second-hand jeans & top
5) Your favorite brands on a low price
Oftentimes, you can find some of your favorite brand such as Calvin Klein, Levi’s, Nike, Ralph Lauren, etc.
The best part?
They will be much cheaper than if you buy them new. You can enjoy wearing your preferred brands, with no cost for the environment!
6) Convenient & Fast
You can always check your local second-hand stores first.
However, a great advantage of online thrift shopping is the convenience factor.
It’s easier to find things when shopping online second-hand stores.
Most of the websites are having filters, which can help you to sort, and narrow down clothing.
4. The 16 best online thrift stores for second-hand clothing
- Vinted
- Swap
- Beyond retro
- Material World
- Shop Good Will
- ThredUP
- Poshmark
- Depop
- Asos Marketplace
- Tradesy
- Grailed
- Re-SEE
- Rebag
- LePrix
- Refashioner
- Vestiare Collective
For this article, I’ll use the following pricing scale:
$ = affordable
$ $ = in between
$ $ $ = more on the pricey side
I’ll start from cheaper & more affordable to more expensive & luxurious.
1. Vinted
Based in: Europe | International delivery available
Product Range: Clothing for women, men, and kids. Including beauty products, shoes, bags, accessories, and toys for kids.
Price Range: $
This online thrift store offers a vast range of pre-owned items, from clothing to beauty products.
At Vinted, you can choose to pay a buyer-protection fee, which is 3-8% of the item price. This helps safeguards your money, adding an extra layer of protection to your purchases.
Furthermore, you will get a refund if the item was damaged in transit, or is significantly not as described.
At Vinted, you can sell, buy, and swap second-hand wardrobe items.
If you sell:
Vinted provides a prepaid shipping label.
You have to pack the item before sending it on its way. Once it arrives, you will get the money for your sale.
If you buy:
Once you find the item you want, you have to order it.
You will be able to track the journey the entire way. Once the seller has shipped the clothing, you’ll be notified.
Pros
• Very affordable
• Good discounts and offers
• Wide range of products
• You can use the “Search” bar to look for specific items
• They will issue a refund if your item is never shipped, is damaged or not as described
Important notes
– Buyers pay a special buyer protection fee of 5% of the item’s cost, plus a $0.70 fixed fee
– There are zero selling fees, in case you want to sell. You’ll be paid as soon as the buyer confirms everything’s good with the item.
– In case something is wrong with the item, you should contact the customer service for a refund, WITHIN 2 days of delivery.
Trifted top & jeans
2. Swap
Based in: the US | Europe
Product Range: Clothing for women, men and kids. Including shoes & accessories
Price Range: $
Swap offers you amazing deals on a great price. You can get rid of items that you no longer need, and you can find fresh deals in return.
Plus, they will inspect every item to ensure they’re in ideal condition, ready for secondhand use.
Pros
• Fast delivery
• You can find up to 90% off retail pricing on your favorite brands
Important notes
– Free shipping over $60
– They pay for return shipping within 30 days and offer full refunds
3. Beyond Retro
Based in: the UK | International delivery available
Product Range: Clothing for women, men & kids. Including accessories and bags
Price Range: $ – $ $
Beyond Retro has a goal to reduce, reuse, and reclaim as many items as possible. They create their Beyond Retro LABEL by crafting, trimming, and reusing secondhand fabrics. Beyond Retro offers a variety of vintage clothing from every era of the 20th century.
Pros
• eco-friendly packaging
• unique pieces
• great prices & deals
Important note
– Free UK delivery for orders over £50
Second-hand jeans & top
4. Material world
Based in: the US | International delivery available
Product Range: Women’s fashion subscription box
Price Range: $
Material world offers a ”Material Box”. It is a personal styling service which delivers pre-owned designer items at 90% off retail.
They have a lot of designer handbags, purses, dresses, shoes, etc.
Basically, it works like that:
You have to fill out your style profile, so you can match best with a personal stylist. Then you will receive straight to your door cool Material Box.
Furthermore, you can keep what you like and send back items that you don’t like.
Pros
• Personal, affordable, luxurious
• Reasonably priced
• 5 pre-owned items for $29
• Free shipping both ways
• Fair return policy
Important notes
– Your Box will include 5 pre-owned designer items ranging from clothing, shoes, handbags + accessories
– Once you receive your Box, you have 4 days to decide. Keep what you love and send back what you don’t.
– You have the freedom to change when to receive it and you can easily pause it through your account.
5. Shop Good Will
Based in: the US
Product Range: Women’s, men’s, children’s clothing
Price Range: $ – $ $
Instead of buying items directly on the site, you bid on them. ShopGoodwill is a nice auction site and an awesome place for collectors and people looking for unique pieces.
This system allows you to enter the maximum amount you are willing to pay for an item with your initial bid.
Pros
• You can end up with pretty good “last moment” deals
• You can use the search tool, to find specific items
• Wide range of items
Important notes
– Doesn’t ship internationally; It is just for people who live in the US, Canada, or Puerto Rico
6. ThredUP
Based in: the US
Product Range: Women’s and children’s apparel, shoes, accessories
Price Range: $ – $ $
Next is ThredUP, which is focused on women’s and kids’ clothing. However, you can also find men’s clothing and shoes.
The majority of its clothes are presented on a mannequin, so you can see how they would fit.
You can also sell on Thredup. All you need to do is to ship your stuff to the company and they will take from there.
On this online thrift shop, you can find the latest items from different brands; from cheaper names like H&M, Express, Forever 21, Gap, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, to more ‘Premium’ and expensive brands.
Pros
• User-friendly interface
• You can get a good idea of how the clothes would look like on you
• Personal shopper option
• Save up to 90% off the original retail price
• Free shipping over $79, with free returns
• Easy returns
Important notes
– They offer only 14-day return window
– You must enter your email to shop the site
Trifted Dress, Brand: H&M
7. Poshmark
Based in: the US
Product Range: Women’s, men’s, and children’s clothing. Accessories & bags
Price Range: $ $
POSHMARK is well organized, and you can easily find the items you want. There is a wide range of affordable brands, to more pricey & designer items.
You can also sell your clothing, moreover, you can use a desktop computer or the Poshmark app.
Pros
• Pocket-friendly
• Discounts
• Wide range of products
Important notes
– POSHMARK provides a flat rate of $6.79 for expedited shipping for all orders
8. Depop
Available in: Worldwide shipping
Product Range: Clothing for women & men
Price Range: $ $
Depop it’s an app that has a very similar look to Instagram, with the difference that you can actually sell & buy clothes there!
Honestly, Depop is one of my favorite second-hand online stores, since the items are usually displayed in a cool way and you can discover amazing items.
Pros
• The app interface is user-friendly
• Affordable
• Awesome items
Important notes
– Shipping prices are based on the size and weight of the item and how far it has to travel
– Private sellers aren’t required by law to offer refunds, so before buying an item it’s important to check the Seller’s return policy
9. Asos Marketplace
Based in: the UK | Worldwide shipping
Product Range: Women & Men apparel, Shoes, Accessories
Price Range: $ – $ $
ASOS Marketplace is a place for everyone who loves fashion and anyone who wants to sell clothes, too.
They have a great range of designer vintage clothing & independent brands from around the world.
ASOS Marketplace has a zero tolerance policy towards the buying and selling of counterfeit goods.
Pros
• Wide variety of cool vintage items
• Supporting independent brands
• Affordable prices
Important notes
– The shipping time will vary based on the delivery method that the seller has provided or that you have chosen, as well as where the item is being delivered from or to
10. Tradesy
Based in: the US | International delivery available
Product Range: Women clothing, Bags, Shoes, Accessories. Weddings items. Including luxury items.
Price Range: $ $ – $ $ $
Tradesy is an online secondhand fashion platform. If you are interested in reselling your older stuff, you can simply make a profile and make some money!
Here, you can also use to filter your search by:
– Color, size & brand
– Condition
– Tags from luxury to “cheap & chic”
– Discount percentage
Pros
• Free shipping & returns
• Secure Paypal payments
• Free shipping insurance
Important notes
– Some items might be a bit too pricey
– You can find a lot of luxury products
– Sometimes, they are a bit slower with answering back emails, so if you have a problem: be persistent. If you don’t get a response after a few days, write to them again
Trifted Jeans & t-shirt
11. Grailed
Based in: the US | International delivery available
Product Range: Men’s fashion
Price Range: $ $ $
Grailed is a community-driven marketplace for men’s fashion. However, they have a women fashion, too. When you click on “womenswear”, you will be transferred in a different website, called heroine.
Grailed makes great clothing affordable and available to everyone. It is a buy-and-sell platform for streetwear and luxury designer labels, such as:
– Supreme, Bape, Gucci, Raf Simons, Acne Studios, Burberry, etc.
Pros
• Detailed listings
• Great shipping rates
• If you are determined, you can find great deals
• It has an app too
Important notes
– If you confront fake sellers and don’t receive your purchase, or, you get fake goods, you need to request a refund via PayPal
12. Re-SEE
Based in: France | Worldwide shipping
Product Range: Clothing for women & bags, accessories
Price Range: $ $ $
Re-SEE is a vintage & authentic second-hand online store.
It is based in Paris and all pieces are carefully inspected before being offered.
They are selling a lot of ‘Premium’ and expensive brands. You can easily buy and resell your vintage pieces on the platform.
Pros
• Quality items are guaranteed because of the strict policy for resellers
• Unique retro collections
Important notes
– Re-SEE offers flat shipping rates
– They accept returns on most clothing and shoe items
– You can find a lot of ‘Premium’ expensive brands
Trifted shirt & top & jeans
13. Rebag
Based in: the US | International shipping available
Product Range: Premium bags
Price Range: $ $ $
Rebag offers luxury pre-loved and authentic handbags. This is not something for everybody, but some might be interested.
Their range of brands is huge and it includes Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Gucci, and more.
All of our handbags are white-glove inspected for the highest of quality and authenticity, with new arrivals added every week. You can also sell your high-end designer handbags.
Pros
• The website is user-friendly
• Good discounts and offers
• Free pickup for resellers
Important notes
– It is quite expensive even though it is second hand
14. LePrix
Based in: the US | International shipping available
Product Range: Clothing for women and men, handbags, shoes, jewerly & accessories
Price Range: $ $ $
LePrix is a hand-selected boutique, where each piece of inventory is carefully reviewed for authenticity.
You can find fancy brands such as:
– Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Hermes, Prada, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Burberry, Moncler, Valentino, etc.
Pros
• Easy returns
• Free shipping
• You can make offers
• Great deals
• Buyer’s protection
Important notes
– International shipping is available to Canada for a flat rate of $35 USD and most other international countries with a flat rate of $65 USD
– Pricey products due to the fact that they sell only luxury brands
Second-hand sweater
15. Refashioner
Product Range: Vintage women clothing, shoes and bags
Price Range: $ $ $
“We sell the best designer pieces and exceptional vintage from private collections. They’re organized by owner and come complete with stories.”
Unusual alternative to update your wardrobe a few interesting pieces. Refashioner provides personally collected vintage items, which are not mass-produced and in great condition.
Pros
• Everything is authentic
• They offer personal shopping, sourcing, styling and incorporating vintage into your look
Important notes
– You can request to return an item (except bags) WITHIN THREE DAYS of receipt
16. Vestiaire Collective
Based in: the US | Worldwide shipping
Product Range: Pre-owned luxury & vintage apparel, bags, watches and jewelry for women and men
Price Range: $ $ $
One more great alternative for buying pre-owned fashion items. It is one of the leading online marketplaces to buy and sell authenticated pieces.
The site offers a lot of second-hand clothes and accessories. You can discover their selection of premium items at up to 70% off retail price.
For selling:
Download the app, use the easy listing form, describe your item and upload your images in less than a minute.
Once the item is sold, you have to send it to for a quality test.
For buying:
Once you order an item, it will be first reviewed by the company, whereafter it will be shipped to you.
Pros
• Carefully curated products
• You can pay for your items in monthly installments if you are short of cash
Important notes
– Items ordered from a private seller are non-refundable and non-exchangeable
– You can return items bought from a professional seller within 14 days after you received your order
Final thoughts
Overall, online second-hand shopping doesn’t have to be hard. As you saw already, there are plenty of different websites, options, items and brands to choose from.
It is beneficial for your pocket as well as for the environment, as you will save a lot of items.
Did I miss a cool second-hand store? And which one is your favorite online thrift store? Why?
Share below in the comment section!
