Buying luxury vintage is a massive business these days. Whether the estimated $35 billion plus resale market is based on customers wanting to be sustainable or just wanting the flex of sporting a hard-to-find and no longer in production Chanel bag is debatable, but it’s a market that is being taken seriously everywhere. Second-hand shops were, in the past, relegated to dusty basements and side streets, but are now emerging as shiny concessions in top-level department stores and airports, as well as a slew of slick websites that offer label authentication and door-to-door deliveries, albeit at a price that still retains the designer status. Not surprising then that online giant Zalando has stepped into the scene by announcing a collaboration with Vestaire Collective, the OG of vintage designer reselling.
Now, eager customers can easily find verified second-hand pieces – from bags to shoes and ready-to-wear – and still keep the privilege of trying at home and returning within thirty days rather than schlepping round numerous stores in the hope of uncovering something special. Zalando’s huge market, especially in Germany and the Nordics and comprising of relatively young, middle-income customers, will undoubtedly love this, and anything that promotes circularity in the fashion world has to be applauded. But part of the joy of bragging about your ten-year-old Comme jacket is sharing the story of the chase and the excitement of finding the perfect piece in your size. Dropping it in your cart may be more democratic, but will it tarnish the ‘sport’ a little?
At the moment, Vestaire Collective x Zalando seems to be only womenswear, though the site offers a wide range of second-hand menswear, albeit more around the Tommy Hilfiger level rather than Balenciaga. But men’s vintage is a booming market too, so hopefully this will be added soon, even if it does make us that little bit more lazy.
