As you’ve already sussed out, us lot at Notorious are right keen on sustainability. And what’s more sustainable and savvy than bagging resale and luxury vintage? Luxury consignment sites for pre-loved clobber are the bee’s knees for snagging one-of-a-kind designer gear or simply decluttering your wardrobe. Fashion buffs and stylists are already on this eco-friendly bandwagon. The secondhand apparel market is valued at a whopping £71 million and is expected to more than double by 2032. Wondering what’s spurring this 15% annual growth? From recognising the importance of circular fashion to wanting a wardrobe with a bit of French-girl panache.
Keep your peepers peeled on this article, as we’re about to spill the beans on the top spots to buy and sell your designer bits. We’ve scoped out shops across Europe, including Blighty and Scandinavia. After all, we want the whole kit and caboodle, don’t we?
Got a Designer Piece But Fancy a Swap?
Even though we strive to purchase wisely, with timeless and strategic items that forge a lasting wardrobe, we’ve all got pieces gathering dust. And here’s the £1 million question: Where’s the best platform to flog your designer item?
1- Flog with Vestiaire Collective
Vestiaire Collective (VC) is the creme de la creme of second-hand luxury resale sites. Selling through them is a doddle.
. Use VC Consignment Service, and they’ll handle everything, from collection at your convenience to snapping your items, writing descriptions, valuing them, and shipping them within 48 hours.
Here’s the drill with VC Concierge Service:
- Arrange a pick-up for your sale items
- Get top-notch photos that’ll catch buyers’ eyes
- Craft bang-on descriptions with all the nitty-gritty details buyers crave
- Price your items just right, using their expertise
- They’ll store your item until it’s sold
- Ship sold items to your buyer
- Vestiaire Collective nabs a fee of 35 to 20%, depending on the item’s price.
- Fancy staying anonymous? They’ve got you covered.
Things to remember:
- Items should be in tip-top shape, dry cleaned, and worth at least 150€ (or equivalent).
- To use the Consignment service, you need to be in Europe or the UK.
- You’ll need at least 5 items to sell.
If VC Consignment Service isn’t your cup of tea, here’s the alternative:
- Listing your items is on the house. VC’s fee of 10%* comes off the final sale price.
- Set up an account on their platform.
- Upload a bunch of top-notch photos of your items – they’re key to a quick sale.
- Describe your items in great detail – think colour, fit, condition, fabric, texture.
- Ship pronto, like a seasoned pro.
- Keep an eagle eye on your account, and maybe even drop prices if needed.
2- Flog with Net-a-Porter, Mr Porter, and The Outnet
Net-a-Porter, a darling among fashion aficionados, offers a resale service where you can swap your old designer gear for new. They’ve teamed up with Reflaunt to collect, authenticate, photograph, and list your items for resale. Likewise, The Outnet and Mr Porter offer similar services.
3- Top Resale Sites
Right, it’s a smashing time for a year-end clear-out to make room for new treasures. Before you dive into our top picks for luxury resale sites, consider decluttering your flat.
Here’s a roundup of fab sites to swap or buy designer pieces:
- Resee – The go-to online spot for exclusive vintage fashion and posh handbags. Price: €€€
- 1stDids – A luxury vintage haven with everything from furniture to fashion. Price: €€€
- Vestiaire Collective – The leading platform for pre-loved fashion, birthed in Paris. Price: €€
- The Real Real – A big player in pre-loved, but watch out for import duties in Europe/UK. Price: €€
- Hardly Ever Worn It – A brilliant British second-hand shop, though import taxes apply in Europe. Price: €-€€
- Vite Envogue – German efficiency at its best, offering luxury and local brands. Price: €
- Rites – Initially a rental platform, now sells pre-loved and pre-rented designer items. Mind the fees outside the UK. Price: €-€€
- Lampoo – Milan-based with a broad range of Italian luxury brands. Price: €-€€
- Retold Vintage – For those who adore UK-based minimalist vintage. Price: €-€€
- Reluxe Fashion – Curated designer pieces, but beware of Brexit-related taxes. Price: €€
- Rebelle – German online secondhand shop. Price: €€
- The Vintage Bar – Copenhagen-based with a vast inventory of luxury brands. Price: €-€€
- Etsy – A treasure trove for vintage finds, with standout stores like Souvenir Vintage Store. Price: €-€€
- E-bay – Long favoured by fashion editors, now with an authenticity guarantee. Price: €-€€
- Depop – Gen Z’s favourite, brimming with Y2K gems. Price: €-€€
- Vinted – The spot for cult brands at lower prices. Price: €
In Conclusion
As a vintage hunter since the ’90s, I’ve noticed that prices can vary wildly by country. With this list, you can compare and spot deals. You might find the same Chanel bag for €3,500 or €6,000, depending on the platform. Circular fashion isn’t just sustainable; it’s a style statement too. Happy hunting!
Check here for Second-hand shops in Vienna and Paris
Photo courtesy: Vestiaire Collective and The Vintage Bar