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 huge waste generator.
In just one year (2013), 13 MILLION tonnes of textile has ended in the landfills.
Instead of buying new clothes or other products, and contributing to the waste stream by the fashion industry, you can start buying secondhand clothes!
There are a bunch of reasons WHY to do it and also there are plenty of cool online secondhand stores that you can look into.
Let’s take a look at:
1. What is fast-fashion?
2. Why you should buy secondhand clothes and items online?
3. 10 environmental and personal BENEFITS of buying secondhand clothes online
4. 14 places to buy secondhand clothes online
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.
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 even 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 it needs 715 gallons to produce one cotton t-shirt. This equals in 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.
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. 14 places to buy secondhand clothes online
1. eBay
eBay is a cool place to purchase some great stuff at amazing prices. It is a marketplace for used clothes and accessories.
It is a great way to select important aspects that you are looking for (from the search bar) such as:
– Condition
– Best offer
– Free shipping
Pros
• Pocket-friendly
• Discounts
• Convenient
• Wide range of the products
Important notes
– Always check the seller’s profile, before making a purchase
– Always check the shipping rate
Trifted Dress, Brand: H&M
2. Tradesy
Tradesy is an online secondhand fashion platform.
Furthermore, 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
– 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 top & jeans
3. Thredup
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 Jeans & t-shirt
4. Grailed
Grailed is a community-driven marketplace for men’s fashion. It 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
5. Material world
Material world contains 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.
Furthermore, 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.
Second-hand jeans & top
6. Re-SEE
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 at affordable prices.
You can easily buy and resell your vintage pieces on the platform.
Pros
• Affordable ‘Premium’ expensive brands
• 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
Trifted shirt & top & jeans
7. Rebag
They offer 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.
Rebag also purchases high-end designer handbags for cash
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
8. Vinted
A platform where 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 just 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
• 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
9. Asos Marketplace
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 & vintage 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. LePrix
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
11. Refashioner
A perfect alternative to update your wardrobe at the very affordable prices.
Refashioner provides personally collected vintage items, which are not mass-produced and in great condition.
You can find trendy vintage and designer items at great prices.
Pros
• Everything is authentic
• They offer personal shopping, sourcing, styling and incorporating vintage into your look
• Affordable
Important notes
– You can request to return an item WITHIN THREE DAYS of receipt
12. Vestiaire Collective
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
13. Swap
Swap offers you the best feminine and kids’ deals like Vestiaire collective. 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
14. Depop
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 from all of the above, 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
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.
Which one is your favorite online second-hand store? Why?
Share below in the comment section!
