A few years ago, buying secondhand was something you kept quiet about. Today, it's one of the fastest-growing segments in the entire fashion industry. The numbers speak for themselves: the global resale market is currently worth over $200 billion and is growing three times faster than traditional fashion retail.
So what changed — and why is now the moment to get on board as a consumer?
The Numbers That Woke Up the Industry
According to research by ThredUp — one of the world's largest secondhand platforms — the resale market will surpass the fast fashion industry by 2028. That's not the distant future. That's two years from now.
Closer to home, the picture is just as clear. In the Netherlands and Belgium, the number of active pre-loved fashion buyers is growing year on year. Searches for "secondhand designer clothing," "pre-loved brands," and "buy vintage fashion" have doubled over the past two years.
The question is no longer whether pre-loved will go mainstream. It already has.
Why Is Everyone Suddenly Buying Secondhand?
Three forces are at play simultaneously:
1. Awareness of fast fashion's impact
The documentaries, the reports, the social media content — it has hit home. Consumers now know that the fashion industry is one of the most polluting in the world. That is changing buying behaviour, especially among the generation currently holding the largest fashion budgets: women between 25 and 45.
2. Quality for less money
Inflation has had an unexpected side effect: people have become smarter shoppers. Pre-loved fashion offers access to brands and quality that fall outside most budgets in the primary market. An A.P.C. bag, a Totême coat, Ganni shoes — at a fraction of the original price, without compromising on style.
3. The rise of curated platforms
The stigma of secondhand — dusty charity shops, unreliable quality — has faded, thanks to platforms that curate, verify, and deliver a shopping experience that rivals any regular online store. What once meant searching, now means shopping.
What the Big Brands Are Telling Us
Here's an telling signal: more and more major fashion houses are launching their own resale programmes. Zalando, IKEA, Patagonia — all have taken steps toward secondhand in recent years. Not out of idealism, but because they see the demand.
When established players start adapting their business models, that's no longer a trend report. That's a tipping point.
The EU Is Pushing the Industry to Follow
Beyond market pressure, there's regulation. The European Union is introducing stricter textile standards under the Green Deal: producers will be required to make clothing more sustainable, longer-lasting, and easier to recycle. From 2025, extended producer responsibility for textiles applies in the Netherlands — meaning brands become financially responsible for what happens to their clothing after use.
Pre-loved fashion fits perfectly within this new framework. It extends the lifespan of clothing without requiring new production — exactly what the legislation is designed to encourage.
Buying Pre-Loved Is a Statement — and Simply Smart
What makes today's secondhand market so appealing is that you don't have to choose between good for the planet and good for yourself. Buying pre-loved is:
- Financially smart — higher quality for less money
- Stylish — unique pieces you won't see on every street corner
- Conscious — no new raw materials, no new production
- Future-proof — aligned with where the market and regulation are heading
Getting in early on a movement that's already winning feels good. But it feels even better when what you wear reflects that.
The Label Loop: Curated, Reliable, Stylish
At The Label Loop, we select only pre-loved pieces that have stood the test of time — from brands that take quality seriously. No endless scrolling through unreliable listings. No surprises when your order arrives. Only fashion worth keeping — and passing on.
The movement has already started. Join it.
👉 Explore our curated pre-loved collection →