The global second-hand apparel market is entering a new phase of scale and competition, with projections showing it will be worth $393 billion by 2030 – growing twice as fast as the overall apparel sector and accounting for circa 10% of total spend.
According to ThredUp’s 14th annual Resale Report, conducted by GlobalData, the US market is leading the charge, growing nearly four times faster than the broader retail clothing market in 2025 and poised to unlock an additional $23.3 billion in incremental value in the years ahead.
James Reinhart, co-founder & CEO of ThredUp, an online resale platform for apparel, shoes and accessories, commented: “Resale is no longer just growing, it’s taking direct market share.
“The next phase of this market will be defined by who can best unlock supply and use AI to connect that inventory with the next generation of shoppers.”
The report points to a sector where competition is intensifying and consumer behaviour is shifting.
Neil Saunders, managing director & retail analyst at research group GlobalData, remarked: “The global second-hand market is entering a more competitive phase, structurally complex phase.
“We expect the US market alone to reach $78.8 billion by 2030. With Gen Z and millennials driving the vast majority of this value, the infrastructure for discovery must evolve into the social feeds where these consumers live.”
Green Retail World hosted a roundtable in 2025 on commercialising resale in retail, alongside Berlin-based tech company Brandback – read about the key talking points here.
Key findings from the 2026 Resale Report include
Second-hand outpaces new clothing 2-to-1: over the next five years, resale is projected to grow at double the rate of the wider fashion market, continuing to take share from traditional retail.
Shopping shifts to social discovery: nearly half of consumers now find second-hand items through social media, creators and influencer-led content, rather than traditional search.
Gen Z and millennials dominate growth: younger consumers will account for 71% of market expansion through 2030, cementing their role as the primary drivers of resale adoption.
AI streamlines the resale experience: artificial intelligence is accelerating the sector by improving pricing, authentication and product discovery – reducing friction and making second-hand shopping comparable to buying new.
Supply emerges as the critical constraint: as demand for second-hand accelerates, sourcing inventory is becoming the industry’s biggest challenge. Simplifying the selling experience will be key to unlocking the next $23.3 billion in US market potential.
The findings are based on market modelling, a survey of 3,268 US consumers and insights from 50 leading fashion brands.
[image credit: Green Retail World]
