What the $393 billion resale boom reveals about how and what we should be buying.
We're used to thinking of shopping as a series of one-off transactions. You see something you love, you buy it, you wear it, and eventually it gets pushed to the back of your wardrobe.
But what if we thought about our clothes differently?
Not every purchase needs to be a financial investment. But every purchase can be considered an investment in your wardrobe - in how often you'll wear it, how many outfits it creates and importantly, whether it holds its value when you no longer want it.
What makes something worth owning
The question to ask is what makes something worth owning in the first place? You can think about quality of materials and construction of the garment. Whether it's a timeless piece or follows a trend. Is it versatile? Is the brand in high demand? And most importantly whether you can imagine yourself wearing it repeatedly rather than simply loving it today.
Then there is cost-per-wear. A $500 jacket worn 50 times costs $10 per wear. A $150 dress worn twice costs $75 per wear. The cheaper purchase isn't necessarily better value.
And finally, think beyond the first owner. Could someone else want this piece in two years? Is it easy to care for? How well does it wear? And will it still be relevant?
The last question about resale is changing the way we think about our wardrobes.
Resale is becoming part of the purchase decision
The global secondhand apparel market is projected to reach $393 billion by 2030, growing twice as fast as the overall apparel market. Consumers are equally becoming more conscious of what their purchases might be worth later: 47% of shoppers now consider resale value before buying new, according to The RealReal's 2025 Resale Report. Resale is no longer simply where unwanted clothes go. It is becoming part of the original purchasing decision.
"Today, shoppers are not only defining their style through resale, they're also considering resale value at the point of purchase." — Rati Levesque, CEO & President, The RealReal
So, can shopping actually be an investment?
Certain fashion pieces have demonstrated the ability to retain and occasionally increase their value. In 2025, The RealReal reported resale value increases of 15% for the Hermès Birkin 30, 18% for the Goyard Saint Louis tote, 13% for the Louis Vuitton Speedy and 20% for Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra jewellery.
But you don't need to buy a Birkin for your wardrobe to become more valuable. The same principles of quality, versatility and enduring design apply at every price point. The numbers above just show how far they can scale.
So how can you turn your wardrobe into an investment? Before your next purchase, consider these three questions:
Will I wear it often? Think of cost-per-wear, not the price tag.
Will it last? What is it made of, how is it constructed and does it wear well.
Could someone else want it after me?
ThredUp's research backs up why that third question increasingly matters. 41% of younger shoppers are less likely to buy an item if it doesn't have good resale value and 68% say the ability to resell online has made it easier to move unwanted clothing on responsibly.
Your wardrobe, then, isn't just a collection of things you've bought. It's a collection of assets you use, enjoy, style, rotate and eventually resell.
The goal isn't to predict which dress will become the next Birkin. It's to make fewer purchases that work harder in the long run - pieces you love now, wear often and can still see value in later.