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Resale Report

Table of Contents

Past Reports

2022

Resale Report

Foreword

At thredUP, we’ve spent the past decade studying resale. While the last 10 years were dominated by marketplaces, brands and retailers are driving the next wave of secondhand. In fact, brands with their own resale shops increased 275%, from 8 in 2020 to 30 in 2021. We are still in the very beginning of this trend, but the acceleration of resale adoption is a positive signal with enormous benefits for the planet. We’re proud to share this year’s Resale Report, proving that with the collective power of conscious consumers, resale marketplaces, and forward-thinking brands and retailers, we can pioneer a more sustainable future for the fashion industry. There is still much work to do. We hope you join us on this mission.

– James Reinhart, thredUP Co-Founder & CEO

01

Size & Impact of Resale

Secondhand Is Becoming a Global Phenomenon, Expected To Grow 127% by 2026

The global secondhand apparel market will grow 3X faster than the global apparel market overall.

GlobalData 2022 Market Sizing and Growth Estimates

North America Leads Global Secondhand Apparel Market Growth

GlobalData 2022 Market Sizing and Growth Estimates

U.S. Secondhand Market Is Expected To More Than Double by 2026, Reaching $82 Billion

Secondhand saw record growth in 2021 at 32%.

GlobalData 2022 Market Sizing and Growth Estimates

Technology and Online Marketplaces Are Driving the Growth of the U.S. Secondhand Market

Online resale is the fastest-growing sector of
secondhand and is expected to grow nearly 4X by 2026.

GlobalData 2022 Market Sizing and Growth Estimates
%
of consumers say it’s easier to shop secondhand than it was 5 years ago, thanks to the emergence of technology and online marketplaces.2
Online shopping

U.S. Secondhand Market Sees More Sellers Than Ever

The Clean Out trend accelerated during the pandemic and has real staying power.

Cleanout Kit
%
of consumers resold apparel in 2021.2
Nearly
%
of consumers have resold apparel, up 14 pts from 2020.2
%
of consumers who have not resold apparel are open to trying it.2

U.S. Consumers Are Embracing Secondhand in Droves

In 2021, 244 million consumers say they have or
are open to shopping secondhand products.

Bag
Percentage of consumers over 18 who have bought or are open to buying secondhand products in the future2
Note: Data for secondhand apparel not available before 2020.
Blue background image
%
of consumers have shopped or are open to shopping secondhand apparel.2
%
of consumers have purchased secondhand apparel in the last 12 months, up 22 pts from 2020.2
Background

Resale Is a Powerful Solution to the Fashion Industry’s Wastefulness

Secondhand displaced nearly
1 Billion
new clothing purchases in 2021 that normally would have been bought new.2
Shirt Up Cycle
Happy Planet
Nearly
2 in 3
consumers believe their individual consumption habits have a significant impact on the planet.2

Demand-side management and better resource efficiency are critical if we are to meet our 2050 carbon targets (IPPC). Not only can more circular business practices cut emissions, reduce primary resource use, minimise waste, and create a more accessible economy for all, but

The growth of circular systems shows many recognise this can be a winning business formula, too.

Susan Harris, Technical Director, Anthesis Group

02

secondhand is transforming closets

Secondhand Is Stealing More Share of Closet Than All Other Growth Channels Combined

Secondhand is expected to grow by 9 points, more than any other sector.

GlobalData 2022 Market Sizing and Growth Estimates

Secondhand Is Holding On to More Shoppers Than Any Other Category

81% of first-time thrifters plan to spend the same amount or more on secondhand in the next 5 years.2

Wallet

Where shoppers plan to spend more or less money in the next 5 years2

Consumers Are Thinking Secondhand First

Phone
%
of consumers say when they shop for apparel, secondhand is the first place they look.2
A woman sitting
%
of Gen Z and Millennials say they look for an item secondhand before purchasing it new.2
Phone
%
of Gen Z and Millennials consider the resale value of an apparel item before purchasing.2

Secondhand Fashion Is Seen As More Accessible and Inclusive Than Sustainable Fashion

4X as many consumers say they shop secondhand fashion than they do sustainable fashion.2

Secondhand Fashion