The resale apparel business in the US is booming. Secondhand is starting to capture the attention of mainstream shoppers. Once people start buying secondhand, they buy more of it over time. When the consumer has the experience of buying a brand dress for 20 dollars versus 300 dollars, they can’t imagine going back there and paying full prices.

Resale in the US has grown 21 times faster than the retail apparel market over the past three years. In an environment where traditional retailers continue to struggle to adapt to changing consumer tastes, companies like Rent The Runway, The RealReal and Poshmark are capitalizing on the idea that consumers are constantly looking for affordability and variety.

According to ThredUP, an online resale shopping platform, 56 million women purchased secondhand products in 2018, up from 44 million women in 2017. Resale platforms, also called consignment sellers, are seeing a high level of consumer engagement. In addition brands have started to realize that consignment players are helping extend the discovery, reach, and appeal of their brands. An item with a strong resale value is seen as strengthening the brand as a whole. The apparel industry is the second largest industrial polluter. The resale market is an excellent way to create a circular economy and reduce the environmental impact.