Second-hand e-commerce is becoming one of the fastest-growing segments in retail as shoppers around the world turn to resale platforms for better prices, more variety and a more sustainable way to shop. Fashion and apparel sit at the heart of this shift, but categories like books, music, and games are also seeing strong demand in the pre-loved economy.
Second-hand fashion heads toward 350 billion dollars
Globally, the second-hand apparel market alone is expected to reach over 350 billion U.S. dollars by 2028. This reflects how quickly resale has moved from niche behavior to a mainstream way of buying clothes, shoes, and accessories.
Fashion and apparel account for a large portion of what is being resold worldwide, driven by shoppers who want trend-led or vintage pieces at a fraction of full price. With inflation and cost-of-living pressures in many countries, pre-loved fashion offers a way to refresh wardrobes without paying premium retail.
E-commerce in the United States tops 275 billion dollars
In the United States, online commerce across all categories is projected to reach over $ 275 billion in resale volume by 2028. This includes apparel, electronics, home goods, media, and more, sold through platforms that specialize in pre-owned items.
Up to 33 percent of U.S. consumers used online resale websites in 2023, indicating the growing prevalence of buying and selling second-hand goods through digital channels. As more consumers get used to reselling items instead of discarding them, recommerce volumes are expected to keep climbing.
Why shoppers go second-hand
Saving money is the top reason consumers globally say they buy more second-hand items. Many shoppers are using resale to stretch their budgets, especially in categories like apparel, where they want frequent newness. Variety and uniqueness are also major drivers, as second-hand platforms offer access to past-season pieces, rare items, and styles not available in regular retail.
For a growing group of consumers, sustainability is another key motivator. Buying pre-loved helps extend the life of products and reduce waste, which aligns with increasing awareness around the environmental impact of fast fashion and overconsumption.
Top categories and platforms
Beyond fashion, books, movies, music, and games make up the second-most popular second-hand category among shoppers in China and France. These entertainment-focused items are easy to ship, relatively durable, and often cheaper to buy used, making them a natural fit for resale platforms.
A range of channels facilitates online second-hand shopping, with marketplaces playing the biggest role. In Western markets, eBay stands out as a major player, serving a global audience of over 130 million active buyers. In China, consumers most frequently use Xianyu (also known as Taobao’s resale platform) for their second-hand purchases. Mobile-first apps like Vinted and Depop have also built strong communities for buying and selling pre-loved fashion, recording millions of downloads worldwide each year.
A market set to keep growing
With more platforms, more categories, and more consumers willing to buy used instead of new, the second-hand e-commerce market is positioned for continued growth. The combination of affordability, variety, and perceived sustainability benefits creates a powerful value proposition that traditional retail alone struggles to match.
As resale volumes expand and new players enter the space, brands and retailers will need to decide whether to partner with existing platforms, launch their own recommerce channels or risk losing share of spend to the pre-loved economy. Given current forecasts and adoption rates, the second-hand market looks set not just to complement primary retail, but to become a core part of how people shop in the years ahead.
