When I first started buying secondhand clothes it was considered begrudging necessity; charity shops were charity shops and thrift store or vintage boutique hadn’t entered the retail lexicon yet. Even when I started teaching and secondhand shopping became essential to staying clothed on a teachers salary with three kids (bonus points if I wanted to wear clothes not covered in patches in front of students) I realised I preferred shopping this way. Not only did I never walk out without finding what I need exactly when I need it, secondhand clothes are already broken in, usually nicer than what I can afford new and doesn’t contribute to the mountains of clothing waste created by fast fashion retailers.
Clothing waste statistics are overwhelming. Second hand fashion sales increased by 18% in 2023 totalling $197 billion (The Guardian), while resale platforms are expected to grow into a $350 billion global secondhand apparel market by 2028 (Fashionista). Consumer demand driving that growth is motivated by both saving money and being eco-friendly, but it’s also expanded the ways to buy secondhand beyond the charity shops I started with. Now there’s traditional charity shops,-profit businesses selling vintage or thrifted clothing, online resale platforms big and small and local Facebook buy and sell groups, and knowing what you’re looking for and how the systems work means the difference between a successful shopping trip or a wasted afternoon scrolling.
If you want to stop feeding into the never-ending cycle of buying new but aren’t sure where to begin with modern secondhand shopping, I’ll break down how it works in 2024, which apps and shops are most useful and how you can learn the skills to shop successfully yourself.
Why buying secondhand clothes makes sense.
Fast fashion has created a massive problem, made so much worse by companies using their stitched together cotton T-shirts to greenwash us into continuing to buy into their problems. Buying secondhand may feel like a drop in the bucket, but clothes still clothes no matter how many times they change hands. When you buy secondhand you’re:
Saving money
Putting worn clothes back into use instead of landfill
Buying clothes that were already made (production creates more environmental damage)
Buying better clothes at lower prices
Prospecting where to buy
***Environmental Benefits. *** The fashion industry produces about 92 million tonnes of textile waste every year. Large quantities of that waste end up burned or, in places like the Kantamanto open-air clothes market in Ghana, exported secondhand clothing. Kantamanto receives over 1,100 tonnes of used clothing shipments weekly (Unearthed by Greenpeace). When you buy secondhand you are keeping clothing out of that waste stream for longer. It also avoid the emissions and environmental impacts that go into producing those clothes. It takes about 2,700 litres of water to produce one cotton T-shirt. Buying that shirt secondhand prevents all of the environmental damage from producing it.
***Quality and Craftsmanship. *** Last season’s clothing was made at an entirely different quality standard to what you’ll find buying new today. For instance, a wool jumper from the 1990s was likely made from better wool and construction than you can find today at triple the price. That’s not rose tinted nostalgia, that’s objectively better when you measure fabric weights, stitching and how the clothes stand up to years of wear. A lot of charity shop inventory are pricey items that were worn once or twice then cluttered an owners closet because it never quite fit right.
***Cost. *** Need I say more? £200 coat will cost you £15. Shop enough secondhand and the savings add up to hundreds of pounds that you can spend on more important things or just stick in your pocket. That’s not hyperbole either, when you compare buying basic wardrobe items secondhand versus buying them new you’ll spend £300 vs £50.
***Accessibility. *** In 2024 nearly 40% of clothing, shoes and accessories sold on eBay was classed as pre-loved (FashionUnited). Searches on eBay increased 77% year on year for the term vintage which is searched more than 1,200 times PER MINUTE on eBay globally (FashionUnited). Between platforms and physical shops there’s a ton of selection which means you’ll find exactly what you need your size and desired condition.
Photos by Jamila Hazel on Unsplash.
Learn the best places to shop secondhand
How you approach the online secondhand market should depend on what you’re looking for. The biggest platforms suit different types of shopping, recognising that will help you find what you need faster.
***Vinted: Social Selling***
Vinted hit 100 million registered users globally in 2023 (Business of Apps) with UK users making up about 18 million of those registrations (Business of Apps). It’s a P2P clothes selling platform with elements of social media making it less transactional to browse. If you’re looking for day-to-day clothes Vinted is likely to have them. Popular brands from the last decade will be available in decent condition at fair prices.
Having the measurements for each article of clothing you want to buy saved in your phone is essential for shopping Vinted. The search function allows filtering by size, brand, condition and price but is otherwise pretty limited. I’ve found searching by measurements rather than stated size gives better results, something I suspect is due to sizing changing over time. For frequent browsers keeping tabs on favourite sellers is helpful feature, but if you’re only shopping occasio.
***Finding Secondhand Clothes Locally***
Most of will find most of our secondhand clothes shopping online, but there’s nothing wrong with local sources. Here’s where to look locally for secondhand clothes.
Charity Shops
Thrift Stores
Tips from an experienced buyer
***Don’t have unrealistic expectations. *** Some items like jeans and dresses come in standard sizes, but many things are made smaller or bigger than modern equivalents. Vintage sizes run smaller too, a size 12 from the 90s is closer to a size 10 today. Trust me, I googled every size before I started shopping.
***Check return policies. *** Especially on online platforms, check the sellers return policy before buying. Some allow no returns, others require you to pay return postage. Not all platforms offer buyer protection so you could get stuck out of pocket on a bad purchase.
***Build a Consignment Shop Routine. *** Some charity shops are better than others, finding the good ones near you is half the battle. Secondly, build a relationship with employees, some will start holding things they think you’ll like once they know what you’re looking for.
Next up you should learn more about how and where to buy secondhand clothes physically. If shopping online seems overwhelming before you give it a try, check out the next section for local shopping tips.
How to get the most out of physical secondhand shops
Locally based resources for clothing are few and far between where I live, most of my secondhand shopping is online. That said, there are plenty of strategies for extracting the best value from physical shops and market stalls.
Charity Shops
Everyone knows about charity shops, they may not be your first stop for clothes but they’re a great place to start learning what you like and don’t want to buy secondhand. Expect lots of variation between different charity shops and regions. Shops located in richer areas will have better inventory but also be more expensive. University areas are great for young adult sizes and modern brands.
Timing is everything for charity shops. Going Monday or Tuesday will load your best bet at items donated over the weekend. January and July are the big clear out months so stock will be great and prices will be at their lowest.
Consulting with employees can lead to great rewards. Yes some workers will try and sell you junk, but if you chat to employees you can find ones that will go offer things in your size or preferred brand. I’ve found smaller charity shops in rural towns are more willing to help than the big city stores.
Vintage/Thrift Stores
If you’re looking for something specific from an era or have a high-end piece in mind, hitting up specialised thrift shops may be your best bet. These shops are curated so you won’t have issues with poor quality clothing being marked at high prices. Do remember those stores make their money by sourcing and identifying great thrift finds. Your sweater that costs £40 at a thrift store could cost you £8 at your local charity shop.
Market stalls and Car boot sales
Thrift stores are fantastic if you have patience. I’ve found markets to be hit or miss, but when you find a good seller you really nail down what you’re looking for. Not everything will have measurements so you’ll need to guess more at markets. Compensation is in pricing, expect to pay far less than you would at thrift stores or charity shops. Haggle when you can too!
Sales take place at odd hours over the weekend so you’ll either be up with the birds or staying out late shopping. Bonus points for hitting sales right when they open, most punters don’t bother till midway through.
Getting what you want means building relationships with sellers, many will hold items for their best customers.
Buyer mistakes to avoid
Mistake #1: Heading into secondhand shopping without knowing your size .
Not all sizes are created equally. For real, going into a thrift store asking for large dresses without knowing your measurement is a disaster waiting to happen. Plus sizing changed across decades, and clothes from Europe run smaller than ours here in the UK. Keep a tape measure in your pocket and you’ll thank me later.
Mistake #2: Getting caught up in brand names.
Fancy label doesn’t mean quality item. That faded stretched Burberry shirt is still faded and stretched. Learn to look past brand names at clothing conditions and what you actually want to wear. Something that fits great and works with your wardrobe is always better than what you think you should wear.
Mistake #3: Purchasing something that needs alterations.
Yeah you could get that shirt altered to fit you, but do you know how much tailor costs? Honestly it’s more than you think. If an item needs significant alterations like shortening sleeves or taking in the waist do yourself a favour and leave it.
Minor issues like missing buttons are fine, but don’t underestimate how much money you save only to throw away on the stuff that needs altered.
Mistake #4 Thinking buying something because its cheap means you won’t waste money.
This applies to all shopping isn’t limited to secondhand. I’ve wasted money on full price items I never wear just as much as I’ve spent £3 on a dress I loved only to forget about it at the bottom of my closet. If you wouldn’t buy it at full price wait until you see something you actually love, every item doesn’t have to be a bargain to avoid wasting money.
Mistake #5: Thinking all platforms will accept returns if there’s an issue.
Return policies vary wildly between selling platforms and individual sellers. Some don’t offer returns at all. Some will only refund your money if you pay to return the item. Others will cover return costs only if you can prove the item was misdescribed. Do your research before making a purchase, especially if it’s an expensive item or you’re shopping between sizes.
How to get started buying secondhand clothes
Buying secondhand clothing isn’t going to magically fix fast fashion. The environmental benefits and savings are important, but there’s a learning curve when it comes to building your wardrobe through thrift shopping. Here’s how to get started and shop smarter once you do.
Step 1: Take inventory & take your measurements.
What don’t you wear because you genuinely can’t find? Jeans, Jackets, Blazers? Make note of the missing items in your wardrobe. Once you know what you need you’ll want to take measurements. You should know your bust, waist, hip and inside leg measurements at the very least. Arm length is helpful too. Record these measurements in both centimetres and inches. Sales descriptions will often list european sizes in cm only.
Keep photos of these notes on your phone. It makes shopping much easier when you’re looking for something specific.
Step 2: Choose your platforms and get setup.
Don’t feel pressure to shop everywhere. I recommend trying one or two platforms until you know what you’re looking for. Once you’ve picked your platforms make the accounts tailored to you. Use the platform’s filters to only show you things in your size and preferred style. Both eBay and Etsy allow you to save searches. Do it for items you need, not everything in your closet. Both platforms also let you follow favourite sellers. Save the ones you trust size-wise and whose style aligns with yours.
Step 3: Make your test purchases.
Buy a few things to practice sizing and building your quality standards. Pick cheap things you won’t mind if they’re not exactly what you wanted. Take notes on who has accurate descriptions and photos. Just like in regular retail, you’ll get better at shopping the more you do it.
Step 4: Establish a routine
Find your groove with when you’ll browse eBay, Etsy and Vinted. Do you have consistent time each day or will you check while drinking your morning coffee? The more you put routine to when you’ll shop online, the better you’ll shop. Make note of when auctions end on eBay (midweek business hours are when less people are online) and when new items are likely to be listed on each platform. I like to browse Etsy and Vinted first thing, save eBay for bedtime auctions.
Step 5: Rinse and repeat
Once you’ve got online shopping down pat start exploring local secondhand shops. Physical stores take more patience and time, but many of the same rules apply. Honestly the biggest tip I have for in person shopping is to develop relationships with sales floor staff. Once you’ve established trust you can ask employees to start holding things that you’re interested in buying.
Photos by Vladislav Nosikov on Unsplash
Research citations
- The Guardian – Secondhand fashion sales globally
- FashionUnited – Secondhand shopping stats from eBay
- Business of Apps – Vinted statistics
- Depop Newsroom – Depop statistics
- Unearthed by Greenpeace – Clothing waste statistics
Dig deeper
What about…?
…living in rural areas with limited secondhand shopping options?
Online platforms will still serve you well, just remember to factor postage costs into the price when comparing. eBay auction style listings are often cheaper than fixed price listings which help rural customers who can’t easily browse secondhand shops.
…being a plus size shopper?
Facebook contains plus-size specific selling groups that are great for finding bargains. Plus sized sellers are everywhere on eBay, just make sure you Save Your Searches so you can be alerted when something your size is listed.
…only needing clothes for work?
High street charity shops in busy business districts often have great collections of professional clothes. Check local LinkedIn groups too, I’ve found plenty of hidden gems through careers-focused Facebook marketplace groups. When buying professional clothing stick to tried and true classics rather than trendy pieces.
…having kids to buy clothes for?
Most online platforms will serve you well here. Childrenswear is standardised sizing which helps, and wear patterns are pretty predictable. Check local parent groups for clothes swapping, you’ll score some great items for very low prices since parents are always handing down outgrown kids clothes.
…having mobility issues?
Online is your friend. Browsing racks of clothes is significantly easier than scrolling through pictures. Many delivery services offer returns pickup when you spend a certain amount. Some charity shops are starting to offer online browsing of higher stock too.
Sources
https://www.businessofapps.com/data/vinted-statistics/
https://news.depop.com/who-we-are/facts-and-figures/
https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/2025/06/18/uk-brands-fashion-dumps-african-protected-wetlands/
