Value, not sustainability, is driving the second-hand fashion boom

Economic pressures and value-driven consumption are core to the second-hand surge, writes sustainability strategist Pat Kane

What was once exclusive to charity shops is now big business.

The global fashion landscape is changing. What was once exclusive to charity shops is now big business: resale platforms like eBay, Vinted, and Depop captured 88% of total resale spending in 2024, signalling not just growth, but dominance in how consumers engage with fashion.

While environmental narratives commonly frame the rise of second-hand fashion, the reality is that sustainability is often not the primary motivator. Instead, the market is propelled by value, access to unique items, technology, and cultural shifts in how people think about personal style.