Why Shopping Secondhand Designer Is the Move This Holiday Season

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(Image credit: Szymon Brzóska/The Style Stalker)

The holiday season brings with it a bevy of delightful things: newly marked-down sale items, the ability to wear winter staples, and holiday shopping. Of course, shopping around the holidays has its own struggles—like balancing my desire to find perfect affordable gifts with wanting to buy everyone on my list something luxurious. Luckily, there’s a solution to this conundrum: secondhand shopping. Before you question my logic on this, just look at Thredup's most recent report, which reveals that 66% of consumers are open to receiving a secondhand gift. And if that’s not enough to sell you, three industry experts were kind enough to talk to us about why secondhand shopping this year is actually better all around. Ahead, you’ll hear from them what it will take to dismantle taboos around gifting, holiday shopping’s impact on the environment, and their tips for finding the best holiday gifts secondhand.

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Sophie Hersan)

WHO: Sophie Hersan, Co-Founder and Fashion Director, Vestiaire Collective

How did you get into the luxury resale industry? And what do you love about working at Vestiaire Collective?

Working in fashion and luxury for 15 years, I became aware of the overconsumption in the industry. I co-founded Vestiaire Collective to combat the growing habits of buying more and wearing less. Our vision was to propose a sustainable solution as an alternative to avoid fashion waste, and now this is an all-time necessity.

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(Image credit: Szymon Brzóska/The Style Stalker)

We've made strides within the industry and the larger world around dismantling misconceptions about secondhand clothing, but what do you think still needs to be done to shift the way we consume around the holiday season? 

During the holiday season (especially starting with Black Friday), buying secondhand should be favored. We’re proud to have our community lead the change toward buying secondhand; it’s better for the planet, and that’s the best gift money can buy. We always have and will continue to advocate buying better, being conscious, and providing sustainable solutions for the year known for abundant shopping. 

What would you say are some of the benefits of shopping secondhand this holiday season?

Although some might argue price, we believe the most significant benefit and unique attribute of shopping secondhand is the choice. Vestiaire Collective has a richness of a worldwide fashion closet, so much variety, and something for every budget. It’s also wonderful to give a unique find with a special backstory. Some rare pieces may no longer exist, or you may not be able to find them in firsthand shopping.

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Michelle Li)

WHO: Michelle Li, Senior Style Editor, Tradesy

How did you get into the luxury resale industry? And what do you love about working at Tradesy? 

I've always loved shopping resale and vintage because it's driven my personal style so much more than trends. Working at Tradesy is so rewarding because I am able to use my editorial expertise to inform decision-making on the brand side. I find it's easier to craft storytelling now that I work with a larger scope of items and special vintage pieces instead of being beholden to current runway collections.

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(Image credit: Szymon Brzóska/The Style Stalker)

We've made strides within the industry and the larger world around dismantling misconceptions about secondhand clothing, but what do you think still needs to be done to shift the way we consume around the holiday season? 

I think we still need to dismantle the myth that secondhand clothing is "less than" brand-new items, especially during the holiday season when shopping and consumption are at a peak. I think it makes more sense to shift the focus from shiny, new gifts to thoughtful, meaningful pieces—which means they may have been pre-loved but are still, if not more, special.

What would you say are some of the benefits of shopping secondhand this holiday season? 

There's the sustainability conversation: Shopping secondhand has a smaller footprint on the environment, helps create a circular fashion economy, and supports small businesses (a substantial number of sellers on Tradesy are individuals and rely on the sales for supplemental income). There is also the fact that the resale market is booming, with options for everyone. It goes back to debunking the myth that secondhand is "less than." Just because someone no longer wants it does not mean that it's less desirable. It also circumvents the supply chain issue. Much brand-new merchandise in stores and online is not available for delivery until after the holiday season. Shopping resale eliminates the concern of a gift not arriving on time. 

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Noelle Sciacca)

WHO: Noelle Sciacca, Women’s Editorial Lead, The RealReal

How did you get into the luxury resale industry? And what do you love about working at The RealReal?

I spent a decade in fashion editorial, working at magazines across the Hearst and Condé Nast publishing houses. I loved my various roles at these companies but struggled with the over-emphasis on what's new and next. I'd preview collections a season ahead. By the time they were available for purchase, everyone would already be on to a future season, the current season already feeling stale and old. What attracted me to The RealReal was the opportunity to slow down and revisit collections and items from the past that barely had time to be celebrated the first time around.

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(Image credit: Szymon Brzóska/The Style Stalker)

We've made strides within the industry and the larger world around dismantling misconceptions about secondhand clothing, but what do you think still needs to be done to shift the way we consume around the holiday season?

We need to be more mindful of overconsumption. Gift things people will genuinely use, not things that will gather dust. From gifting to decorating to buying party outfits, shop secondhand. And if you’re given something you won’t use, find a way to put it back into circulation—depending on the item, return it, resell it, or donate it.

What would you say are some of the benefits of shopping secondhand this holiday season?

It’s a more sustainable way to shop and gift because you’re helping keep things that already exist in circulation. With supply chain challenges creating a lack of availability on the primary market, shopping secondhand is also a great way to find sold-out styles that you can’t get anywhere else.

Shop more secondhand designer gift ideas:

Next: The 16 Gifts in My Cart Right Now Are Setting the Bar High This Holiday Season

Jasmine Fox-Suliaman
Editor

Jasmine Fox-Suliaman is a fashion editor living in New York City. What began as a hobby (blogging on Tumblr) transformed into a career dedicated to storytelling through various forms of digital media. She started her career at the print publication 303 Magazine, where she wrote stories, helped produce photo shoots, and planned Denver Fashion Week. After moving to Los Angeles, she worked as MyDomaine's social media editor until she was promoted to work across all of Clique's publications (MyDomaine, Byrdie, and Who What Wear) as the community manager. Over the past few years, Jasmine has worked on Who What Wear's editorial team, using her extensive background to champion rising BIPOC designers, weigh in on viral trends, and profile stars such as Janet Mock and Victoria Monét. She is especially interested in exploring how art, fashion, and pop culture intersect online and IRL.