Vestiaire Collective’s unveiling of a dedicated men’s section builds on data, trends, and consumer behavior, driving a new wave of male engagement in secondhand fashion.
Luxury secondhand platform Vestiaire Collective has just amplified its commitment to the men’s market with the launch of a dedicated men’s shopping experience. Though men’s styles have long existed within its platform, the new interface offers curated edits, tailored recommendations, and a choice between Menswear and Womenswear right from the homepage. As part of this evolution, it also released its first Men’s Resale Report — which it positions as offering “exclusive insights into trends, demand, and the future of pre-loved menswear.”
According to Vestiaire Collective, its men’s inventory has expanded 88 percent over the past three years — a signal that menswear has become one of its fastest-growing segments. It also reports that 70 percent of men now say they purchase garments “with resale potential in mind,” suggesting a deliberate and strategic shift in how men shop.
The rising tide of secondhand fashion
The broader secondhand apparel market is surging. According to secondhand platform ThredUp, the U.S. secondhand apparel market grew 14 percent in the most recent reporting period — five times faster than the broader retail clothing sector. Global forecasts reinforce this momentum: the global secondhand apparel market is projected to grow from about $230.6 billion in 2025 to $438.1 billion by 2032.
This growth is underpinned by structural shifts in consumer mindset, technology, and necessity. Secondhand clothing sales jumped fifteen percent in 2024, reaching approximately nine percent of global fashion sales. AI-powered search tools, rising tariffs, and fiscal pressures are all cited as accelerants.
While much of the resale narrative to date has centered on women, men are now emerging as active participants. Vestiaire Collective observes that one in five of its purchases is made by men. Moreover, 59 percent of its male customers are Millennials or Gen Zers, compared to 50 percent of female customers, marking men as a younger and increasingly influential cohort in circular fashion.
Male engagement in resale is not monolithic. But the data suggest strong patterns. Men between ages 18 and 34 show especially strong interest. In a CivicScience poll, 40 percent of men in this bracket said they are more likely to buy secondhand luxury goods now than they were a year ago, versus 33 percent of women in the same age group. About 45 percent of respondents who said they follow trends “very closely” also reported they were “much more likely” to purchase secondhand luxury today than last year.
Social media influence plays an outsized role: 75 percent of respondents who said they are influenced “a lot” by fashion seen online also said they are more likely to buy secondhand now than the prior year, compared to just nine percent of those who say they are “not at all” influenced.
The push to digital channels is clear. CivicScience data reveal that 37 percent of consumers say they have purchased secondhand luxury goods online. Among resale platforms, eBay leads: 57 percent of secondhand luxury buyers used eBay in the past year, followed by 31 percent who used Poshmark. A new OfferUp report released today shows 93 percent of Americans say they’ve purchased secondhand in the last year at least once.
Still, risk shadows opportunity. Thirty-nine percent of respondents who prefer new luxury goods over secondhand cite fear of fraud or fakes as a “very” serious concern, with an additional 29 percent saying they are “somewhat” concerned. Some of this hesitation stems from unfamiliarity: 21 percent of people who prefer secondhand over new said they do not know what authentication checks even mean. Yet, roughly 40 percent express some confidence in existing checks.
Men on Vestiaire tend to lean more toward clothing than accessories; in fact, the platform reports that searches for sneakers account for just ten percent of men’s listings. The men’s assortment has grown in breadth, with more designers and category depth, yet demand clusters around staple categories.
Vestiaire Collective describes three primary motives driving men’s interest: exclusivity, accessibility at more favorable price points, and resale potential (that is, buying with the idea of future resale).
Why now?
As new clothing prices climb amid inflation or tariff pressures, the value proposition for resale becomes sharper. According to a report from The Guardian, surging costs of garments and shifts in trade policy are nudging more consumers toward secondhand.
Sophisticated search tools and image matching — powered by AI — help users locate items, suggest matches, and replicate looks from photos. These advances reduce friction and make resale shopping more accessible.
Resale is also shedding its stigma. Influencers, stylists, and fashion media increasingly celebrate secondhand as creative, sustainable, and individual. The secondhand aesthetic has become part of aspirational wardrobes — not just bargain bin hunting.
External events can also stir resale demand. For example, following the death of Giorgio Armani, searches for vintage Armani clothing tripled on Vinted, and The RealReal saw a 212 percent surge in Armani searches. Listings of 1990s silk blazers and early 2000s rabbit-fur jackets appeared on Vestiaire in response.
But even as resale accelerates, obstacles persist. Authentication and trust remain central concerns for many potential buyers. Even with growing familiarity, 21 percent of secondhand advocates say they are not familiar with authentication processes. Profitability has eluded many players as well, especially ones that invest heavily in logistics, quality control, and curation.
There is also fragmentation: consumers often shop across platforms (eBay, Poshmark, Vestiaire, The RealReal, others), which creates friction in loyalty and discovery. Moreover, traditional high-end fashion houses have been slower to embrace resale or re-commerce models, meaning the supply pipelines for high-luxury menswear are still maturing.
Vestiaire Collective’s men’s rollout arrives at a pivotal moment. It signals that menswear resale is no longer peripheral but foundational to the platform’s growth. As men increasingly embrace secondhand not just for bargains but as a considered consumption strategy, the fashion industry is compelled to follow.
Maximilian Bittner, Vestiaire Collective CEO says menswear is now one of the platform’s fastest-growing segments, reflecting a “fundamental shift.” Men now intentionally participate in luxury resale, he says, “valuing exclusivity, accessibility at better prices, and investment potential.”
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