Apparel Resale Market Report 2026

The apparel resale market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $202.39 billion in 2025 to $225.71 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth of thrift and donation channels, rising apparel consumption volumes, expansion of online marketplaces, increasing price sensitivity among consumers, availability of surplus apparel inventory.

The apparel resale market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $346.34 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.3%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing demand for sustainable fashion alternatives, rising investments in digital resale platforms, expansion of branded resale partnerships, increasing adoption of circular economy models, growing use of AI-based product authentication. Major trends in the forecast period include rising popularity of online resale platforms, growing consumer preference for second-hand apparel, expansion of peer-to-peer resale models, increasing focus on apparel circularity, enhanced authentication and quality verification.

The expansion of e-commerce platforms is anticipated to drive growth in the apparel resale market. E-commerce platforms are online systems that facilitate the buying and selling of goods and services over the Internet, offering tools for transaction management, inventory control, and customer engagement. The rise of e-commerce platforms is attributed to increased online shopping adoption, advancements in digital technology, and broader Internet accessibility. These platforms provide global reach, allowing sellers to access a larger audience beyond their local areas. This enhanced visibility enables resale items to reach buyers who may not have access to physical resale stores. For instance, in May 2024, the United States Census Bureau, a US-based government organization, reported that U.S. retail e-commerce sales for the first quarter of 2024 amounted to $289.2 billion, marking a 2.1% (±0.7%) increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. Consequently, the growth of e-commerce platforms is fueling the expansion of the apparel resale market.

Major companies in the apparel resale space are increasingly emphasizing technological innovations, such as AI-driven shopping and discovery solutions, to meet the growing demand for seamless, personalized access to second-hand fashion, driven by sustainability awareness, cost-consciousness, and evolving consumer preferences for circular consumption. These AI-powered tools combine machine-learning algorithms, natural-language processing, and computer-vision technologies to significantly enhance how buyers search, explore, and style second-hand clothing compared with traditional platforms that rely on manual tagging, keyword searches, and rigid filtering. For instance, in August 2024, US-based ThredUp launched AI-driven features including natural-language and image-based search, along with a Style Chat AI assistant that creates complete outfits from prompts like outfit for a fall wedding. This technology allows users to search with descriptive phrases, discover visually similar items, and receive automated outfit recommendations, making second-hand shopping more efficient, engaging, and accessible. The launch illustrates the industry’s shift from manual, time-consuming browsing to intelligent, frictionless, and highly personalized discovery experiences, reinforcing the move toward circular fashion and sustainable retail.

In August 2024, Trove Inc., a US-based technology company, acquired Recurate Inc. for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition allows Trove Inc. to strengthen its leadership in the branded resale market by broadening its service offerings, expanding its market share, attracting new brand partners, and promoting sustainable and profitable business practices. Recurate Inc., a US-based software company, provides brands with a platform to seamlessly integrate secondhand sales into their websites, enabling them to capitalize on the apparel resale market.

Major companies operating in the apparel resale market are eBay Inc., Poshmark, ThredUp Inc., The RealReal, Vinted Inc., Mercari, StockX LLC, Depop, Grailed, Buffalo Exchange, Crossroads Trading, Vestiaire Collective, Tradesy, Rebag, Sellpy, Remix Global AD, Micolet, Thrift+, Swap.com, Refashioner.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the apparel resale market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the apparel resale market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the apparel resale market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The apparel resale market includes revenues earned by entities by providing services such as consignment services, online resale platforms, thrift stores, repair and upcycling services and related retro clothing, high-end clothing and winter wear. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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