As shoppers, many of us are making a real effort to consume fashion in a more eco-conscious way. And, whether that involves buying from sustainably-minded labels, opting for rental fashion instead of buying new, or selling old pieces and buying secondhand, there are so many great options to consider when it comes to having a greener approach to fashion. In fact, it has never been easier.
One of our favourite ways to be sustainable shoppers is to embrace the circular fashion model. There are now so many great luxury resale sites and stores to choose from, where you can sell your unwanted designer wares, and invest in new (well, secondhand, but new to you) pieces for your wardrobe.
Streamlining your wardrobe is not only good for the soul but good for the environment, too. When having a rethink about what you own, you may ask yourself if you are really making the most of the clothing and accessories you already have. Are you guilty of holding on to something that you’ll probably never wear again, for the wrong reasons? A decluttered closet is the first step to making your existing clothing selection work as hard as possible; after all, you’re unlikely to wear something if you’ve forgotten it’s even there.
Here, we round up the best designer resale websites to help you give your unwanted pieces a new home, all of which are reputable, easy to use, and well-edited. Whether you’re looking to sell a designer handbag, a pair of shoes, or perhaps a piece of clothing that no longer “sparks joy” for you, but might for somebody else, then visit one of these sites below.
Of course, if you’re in the market for something special then these sites are also havens for vintage treasures. Just try not to buy twice as much as you sell…
Vestiaire Collective
Vestiaire Collective has one of the largest selections of pre-owned goods, posting thousands of new listings each week – and is a favourite with the Bazaar fashion team. Boasting an online fashion community of more than 23 million shoppers, items you buy on Vestiaire Collective are also guaranteed to be authentic due to the verification processes. A useful feature is the ability to set email alerts, letting you know when a particular item you are hunting for is listed. The site also hosts regular flash sales, which means your money can go even further.
By Rotation
Not only is By Rotation one of our go-to destinations for rental fashion, but you can now purchase pre-loved pieces, too. The app introduced its resale function last year to encourage a much wider audience to shop more sustainably. Shoppers have bought Dior shoes, Stella McCartney bags and Bottega Veneta accessories through By Rotation, as well as more affordable pieces from brands like Rixo, De La Vali, Reformation and Ganni. “Our Rotators have become very strategic and mindful when it comes to adding new pieces to their wardrobe thanks to our incredibly insightful analytics, and this will continue to aid in those decisions,” explains founder Eshita Kabra-Davies.
HURR
HURR recognises how easy it is to fall in love with a dress or bag you’ve rented and then want to keep it forever, so the company has introduced a special re-sale function. Customers can now send a seller an offer to buy an item, who will then have 48 hours to accept or decline it.
The platform was founded in 2018 and has since then changed the way we rent our wardrobes, with a permanent space in Selfridges allowing customers to try before they rent. HURR is also the first rental platform to achieve certified B Corp status, meaning it has successfully met high standards as an ethical business.
Rotaro
Rental service Rotaro has also launched a resale arm, giving consumers the opportunity to buy some special secondhand pieces, while they can also continue to rent via the site. It serves the whole of the UK and stocks cool-girl brands such as The Attico, Rotate and Stine Goya, to name a few.
The RealReal
The RealReal is the world’s largest online marketplace for authenticated luxury resale, hosting more than 25 million members. Known for its rigorous authentication process, which is overseen by experts, the site provides a safe and reliable platform for consumers to buy and sell their luxury items, which span across a number of categories, including women’s and men’s fashion, fine jewellery and watches, art and homeware.
Lampoo
First launched in Milan and now available online in the UK, Lampoo is a second-hand designer site, which aims to help give new life to pre-loved luxury items. Filled with an excellent edit of womenswear and accessories from most major fashion designers, including Dolce & Gabbana, Alexander McQueen and Chanel, the company wants to help consumers make the most out of their wardrobes and be able to tap into trends in a more earth-friendly way. The brand has also opened a store on King’s Road, which is well worth a visit.
Rites
Rites is a luxury rental platform as well as a resale platform, that aims to make the fashion industry a greener place. The company knows how sharing our wardrobes helps to save the environment, without compromising on looking and feeling good. Rites stocks much-loved fashion brands like Prada, Reformation, Rixo, Stella McCartney, and Ganni, which are all available to either rent or shop pre-loved. Shoppers can sell or rent items effortlessly via its easy and free wardrobe management service. Rites also offer special charity sales, where customers can donate a portion of their sales to support a cause important to them.
Sign of the Times
A Chelsea institution, Sign of the Times has been selling vintage designer pieces in West London for over 45 years. Originally founded as a shop selling clothes which once belonged to celebrities, Sign of the Times quickly grew to become a vintage store with an excellent reputation and a very stylish selection of pieces. The shop now has a second outpost in Berkshire (called Timpanys) and also sells online, while it boasts plenty of A-list fans.
The Luxury Closet
Another excellent addition to the UK’s designer resale market is The Luxury Closet, which just launched here this summer. Originally founded in Dubai, the brand quickly became the largest luxury resale marketplace in the Middle East – and its dominance is spreading across the world. The platform is known for its exceptional white-glove concierge service, great customer experience and rigorous authentication process. And, with a global community of over 15 million, the platform’s pre-owned inventory is something special.
1stDibs
1stDibs is a one-of-a-kind online marketplace that connects shoppers to extraordinary pieces, from furniture and fine art to jewellery and fashion. It only features items from trusted sellers, who have each been vetted by in-house experts. Shoppers can bid or negotiate a price on items at auction, as they are connected straight to the seller. It’s worth keeping a watchful eye on its site and sale, as thousands of new items are added every week.
Cocoon Refresh
Luxury handbag rental site Cocoon launched its resale edit to help its customers to sell their pre-loved luxury bags and receive payment in the form of cash or credit towards membership with the site. The site works as a subscription service that allows you to rent different designer bags every month, meaning you can refresh your wardrobe as much as you like; great news if you love that new bag feeling, but find yourself getting bored quickly. “It’s the perfect solution for the bag lover who wants to enjoy fashion in a smarter, more sustainable way,” says founder Ceanne Fernandes-Wong.
Sellier
Located in the heart of Knightsbridge, Sellier promises you the finest luxury ready-to-wear, handbags, shoes and accessories. “Whether you are buying or selling, we are passionate about creating the best possible experience for our customers and consignors,” explains its website. Sellier Knightsbridge also has a collection of authentic Hermès bags available for resale in London.
The company partners with Entrupy to use AI (artificial intelligence) technology to authenticate its pieces, to make sure they’re the real deal for its customers. The innovative technology examines microscopic areas of the item in comparison to the original, to verify its legitimacy.
HEWI London
HEWI (Hardly Ever Worn It) is like eBay, but exclusively for new or barely worn pre-owned designer goods. Shoppers can watch items, follow sellers and choose to either “buy it now” or make offers on future purchases. Sellers can list items themselves without fees, or alternatively opt for the VIP service, whereby HEWI London will handle everything on your behalf – from collecting items to handling all buyer inquiries. This allows you to sell anonymously; all you need to do is choose how you want to be paid.
Bagista
Bagista offers pre-loved designer bags a second home; customers can buy, sell or swap their luxury items. The company is great at keeping its followers in the loop, regularly posting to Instagram Stories about new arrivals, so you can keep on top of the latest product drops. Before a bag makes it onto the site, it’s been checked by experts to ensure authenticity, whether it’s a one-off piece or everyone’s favourite must-have.
Cudoni
Cudoni is easily one of the most convenient resale services. Arrange your at-home collection over the phone or online, then company experts will value your luxury items and take care of the entire process for you. Cudoni will send updates as to how your sales are progressing and inform you once your pieces have sold. Efficient, hassle-free and simple to use, this is an ideal service for those short on time.
Depop
Although Depop is not all strictly luxury (and does tend to cater towards a younger crowd), it is not to be overlooked when it comes to finding bargains from high-end designer labels. After collaborating with brands such as Ralph Lauren and Richard Quinn in the past, Depop is fast cementing its status as a well-respected source of luxury finds. The app is a global marketplace for fashion— a social space where you can see what others are liking, buying, and selling.
Finds
Finds is a secondhand video fashion marketplace. It aims to give users a better experience of secondhand shopping online by using video and livestreams, meaning consumers can see the pieces much better than through pictures alone. While much of the edit is definitely catered to a Gen Z audience (Y2K fashion reigns here), there are some great designer finds to discover in the app.
Designer Exchange
Established in 2013, Designer Exchange was the first company to offer instant cash payment and exchange on designer items. It’s the right place to head if you are thinking about swapping your Chanel for an upgrade. Every one of the items is checked in-house by a team of experts to make sure everything is authentic and top quality. As well as being available online, Designer Exchange also has stores in Knightsbridge, Kensington, Manchester, Birmingham and Madrid.
Vide Dressing
French company Vide Dressing launched in 2009, making it an early pioneer in the resale market. It aims to offer a second life to the fashion items lying deep within people’s wardrobes worldwide, thus enabling buyers to indulge and sellers to earn. It sells a mix of high-street and designer items, ideal for anyone who wants to monetise both ends of the fashion spectrum, whether you’re clearing out H&M or Hermès.
The real selling point of Vide Dressing is that its users can quickly list items in just minutes: you take photos, describe the piece and then set the price. Vide Dressing then puts your items into specific selections and newsletters designed to target the buyers who are most likely to purchase your pieces.
Mon Vintage
Selfridges has collaborated with Marie Blanchet on Noughties capsule Mon Vintage, providing a vintage-sourcing service inside the luxury department store’s London Oxford Street location. Blanchet knows everything when it comes to secondhand designer fashion, as she was previously in charge of Vestiaire Collective’s vintage division and was also CEO at William Vintage.
Resellfridges
As well as Mon Vintage at Selfridges, you can also shop from its permanent resale platform, which is part of its ambitious sustainability initiative, Project Earth. Here, you can either choose from a curated edit of pre-loved designer pieces, be it a chic Gabriela Hearst dress or a vintage ceramic vase from the Sixties, or you can sell your own unwanted accessories in exchange for credit to use online or in-store. Think of it as a way of updating your wardrobe or home, while also decluttering.
Rewind Vintage
Rewind Vintage specialises in unique luxury vintage fashion, stocking pre-loved items from top labels including Chanel, Saint Laurent, and Celine (or Céline, as the case may be), as well as rare vintage finds. Rewind has also launched its own project that customises classic designer bags and provides customers with a personalisation service. To sell with Rewind, contact an authorised representative via phone or email to arrange a consultation.
Rebelle
Online marketplace Rebelle has a concierge service that offers a 48-hour turnaround, including authentication and delivery. The site has a fast-growing customer base and sees accessory categories (bags, shoes and jewellery) bring in the highest resale value.
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