Luxury Resale Market Nears $40 Billion in 2025—and Keeps Growing

While primary luxury sales directly from high-end brands have softened in recent quarters, the resale sector is experiencing its own boom. In 2025, the global luxury resale market is estimated at $38.3 billion, up from $34.8 billion in 2024—a 10% jump in just one year. Expert forecasts suggest the sector could expand to nearly $56 billion by 2029.

In the U.S. alone, resale luxury is a fast-growing force. The market stood at $8.1 billion in 2024 and is expected to double to $16 billion by 2033, according to recent data. For an industry once viewed as niche, these numbers position resale as one of the most dynamic (and necessary) pillars of the fashion industry.

What’s Fueling the Boom

Several drivers stand out:

• Sustainability & Values: Shoppers, especially Gen Z, increasingly prioritize circular fashion and authenticity. Vintage handbags, from Chanel Classic Flaps to Fendi Baguettes to Gucci Jackies, are quintessential examples of this.

• Price Consciousness: With Chanel and Hermès continuing to raise retail prices, resale offers entry into luxury without boutique sticker shock. The same bags can often be found in the secondhand market for thousands less than what shoppers have to pay in-store today.

• Technology & Trust: AI-supported authentication and curated platforms reduce friction for first-time buyers, building confidence in the secondary market. And the ease of browsing and purchasing via luxury resale websites and apps is often much more efficient than shopping directly with a brand.

More Than “Second-Hand”

The perception of resale has shifted dramatically in the past decade. Once dismissed as second-hand shopping, it is now seen as a strategy for accessing heritage pieces, limited editions, and even strategic investment pieces. Certain handbags appreciate faster than traditional assets. The Row’s Margaux handbag, for example, has resold for up to 177% of its original retail price. 

The Luxury Road Ahead

The luxury resale market is expected to keep expanding, even as broader fashion cycles fluctuate. The combination of affordability, sustainability, and investment potential makes resale uniquely positioned to thrive in today’s climate.

Luxury’s future isn’t just in boutiques. Increasingly, it’s being written in the resale marketplace, where heritage and modern consumer values intersect.