Fashion resale isn’t just about good prices. Whether the consumer is conscious of the benefits or not, the industry is helping shape behaviour towards a more sustainable future. Every year, 92 million tonnes of textile waste is produced globally and 11% of the world’s plastic waste comes from clothing and textiles.
The impact of these figures isn’t just scary, it’s unsustainable. The industry’s giants aren’t oblivious to this, with many introducing excellent recycling and net-zero pledges in recent years, as well as the industry’s biggest players signing The Fashion Pact. This, coupled with the emergence of preloved fashion as the fastest growing apparel market globally, we are perhaps heading into a positive future.
In fact, buying preloved has become cool. Take a walk through London, Florence, or any city in Japan for that matter. You’ll be overwhelmed with vintage/second-hand clothing stores, all of which are stocked to the brim with fantastic finds. The best part? These stores are always full and the excitement will only continue to grow. Around 40% of Gen Z and 28% of Millennials have bought second hand apparel, the leading drivers being:
Younger generations are living in uncertain times. The cost of living is terrifying. House ownership remains a dream for many. So, buying used at a fraction of the price, whilst recouping some funds from selling unwanted items is a win-win.
Younger people are a lot more climate literate - environmental impact is a genuine concern and playing a small part is seen as important.
Acceptance. Everyone is doing it, friends and family alike. No one cares that your bag or your jacket is vintage, in fact, it’s actually really cool and often strikes great conversations.
Therefore, although your personal connection to an item might be over, it might actually be the start of a new journey for someone else. You no longer throw away an item or let it sit in your wardrobe to die a slow death and be unearthed in 30 years time awash with memories of how you “used to be so cool”. You can now sell it online, take it to a professional reseller, use it as store credit, the list goes on.
Longevity of course depends on the quality of the items. Luxury brands are luxury for a reason - they produce quality items that represent not only material quality, but the entire creative thought process of renowned designers, creators and crafts people. These items aren’t built for a moment in time, they are to be enjoyed over many years. Long gone are the days of preloved being assigned a place among the world’s garage sales, it’s now a genuine avenue through which consumers can buy holy grails at a fraction of the cost. In doing so, we are consciously helping protect the environment, but also recognising the incredible craftsmanship and creative power behind the items we love.
At The After Edit, we source preloved pieces with love - we’re constantly on the lookout for the latest trends and we uphold a high standard of quality assurance. If you’re new to the preloved market feel free to reach out, we’d love to chat through our process, our guarantees and answer any questions you may have.
Take a look through our stock for the latest edits and who knows, you might find your next fling!
The After Edit
5th June 2026
