The Rise in the Second Hand Trend

The phenomenon of shopping second hand is a growing trend in the UK and other parts of the world.

According to research conducted by GlobalData, the resale market in the USA has grown 21 times faster than the new apparel market in the last 3 years. In the UK, the last 20 years have seen charity shop sales boom; rising from £133 million to £732 million.

These statistics point to a positive shift in the global mindset towards fashion, as consumers seek cheaper, more ethically-sources bargains. Buying pre-used has several positive environmental differences over buying new; it lowers CO2 emissions and the use of pesticides, reduces the waste of billions of litres of water and limits the amount of clothing to end up in landfill.

Millennials and Gen Z have played a huge part in effecting this shift to second hand consumption. A study by Mintel revealed that more than half of 25 to 34-year-olds buy second hand clothing. Aside from these generations being particularly environmentally-conscious, studies also show that young people are prone to want to frequently change their wardrobes, and buying pre-used bargains is a cheap way to do so. Just as these generations made Tik Tok cool, they have encouraged a change in perspective towards second hand shopping which is now seen as a trendy and hip alternative to buying new.

What does all this mean for the fast fashion industry? GlobalData predicts that by 2028, the used-fashion industry will rise in value to $64 billion in the USA, compared to just $44 billion for fast fashion. Fashion retailers will definitely need to take advantage of this trend if they wish to stay afloat, as brands such as ASOS have already done by selling pre-used items on their sites.

The hope is that the rise in second hand shopping will encourage an end to fast fashion, and therefore the exploitation of the planet and garment workers. At the end of the day – and whilst it may seem otherwise - consumers hold the power. The more we demand sustainable alternatives to fast fashion, and turn towards second hand shopping to do so, the more fashion brands will suffer. This will force brands to provide more environmentally-conscious clothing as they seek to keep up with the trend. The pre-used clothing market is not the ultimate solution to ending fast fashion, but it is definitely along the right track to doing so.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to browse the charity shops on Gloucester Road.