From Depop to Vinted: How Old Clothes Pave a Sustainable Future
- Soumya Sriram
- Mar 31
- 2 min read
When our closets start to overflow or we simply want a wardrobe refresh, most people consider donating their clothes and heading to the mall. However, for fashion connoisseurs and more mindful consumers, secondhand clothing apps like Depop, Poshmark, ThreadUP, and Vinted are where they turn when they want to revitalize their closet. These apps, which all share the same premise: taking one’s clothes and reselling them. This has become a staple for fashion-conscious individuals. Not only do the apps allow shoppers to find vintage and unique pieces, but they also drastically help the environment.
The fashion industry’s enormous environmental impact is not a secret. Each year, 85% of all textiles end up in landfills, 500,000 tons of microfibers are released into the ocean from washing clothes (equivalent to 50 billion plastic bottles), and about 20% of global wastewater pollution originates from the fashion industry. Despite their large effect, fashion companies have been moving slowly to respond to the climate crisis.
Apps like Depop, Poshmark, ThreadUP, and Vinted, which have all been around since the 2010s, have been the trailblazers for sustainability within the fashion industry. These apps help fashion be circular, meaning products are kept in circulation for as long as possible to maximize the value and keep the waste at a minimum, enabling the community to extend the life of their clothes.
Based on ThreadUP’s Resale Report in 2023, pictured below, buying secondhand clothing makes a serious difference. To solidify that, Vinted reported that each secondhand purchase made on their site saves 1.25kg of CO2 emissions.
Resale fashion platforms allow consumers to make sustainable choices without compromising cost, style, or quality, which has made them a popular choice for shopping amongst Gen Z. For the future, the global secondhand clothing market is projected to reach $367 billion by 2029, which reflects society’s increased concern about preserving our environment and their shifting preferences towards sustainability. Truly, resale apps have set the foundation for a sustainable future in fashion. With the rise in AI, I predict these apps will integrate it to make the shopping experience more personalized and highlight the specific net impact of each clothing item, incentivizing consumers to choose secondhand clothing.
Next time you have a specific piece you want to add to your wardrobe, consider using one of these platforms to help you find it while saving money and making a real difference!
Edited by Jasmine Phou
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