The luxury resale market was projected to race towards a staggering $51 billion valuation by 2023, which makes it the perfect time to find the best brands that sell well. The second-hand fashion market will grow 11 times faster than traditional retail by 2025 and create exceptional opportunities for smart resellers. Given the current economic market, now is the time to start leaning even more into second hand purchasing, which is also a great sustainable way to purchase clothing.
Research shows that an average U.S. household has about $4,500 worth of items ready to resell. Platforms like The RealReal, Vestiaire Collective, and Fashionphile have revolutionized second-hand luxury shopping. These platforms reported that almost 50% of their consignments came from first-time sellers in 2021.
Let us share our expertise about the most profitable brands to flip, the best selling platforms, and ways to boost your returns in the thriving 2025 resale market.
Top Resale Categories and What Sells Best
The resale market has transformed over the last several years. Clothing leads the pack as the most popular second-hand category in the U.S. [1]. It is typically more easy to acquire for a fraction of the original price compared to luxury accessories like jewelry, purses, etc. Learning about profitable brands and items will help maximize your thrifting success.
Best clothing brands for resale in 2025
Designer names still rule the resale world. Chanel, Fendi, and Louis Vuitton hold their value and sometimes become more valuable because of their lasting quality and craftsmanship [2]. Your hunt for high-value pieces should target these luxury giants among Gucci, Christian Louboutin, and Hermès. These brands consistently bring premium prices in the secondhand market [3] but be ready to invest in your stock if that is your approach because it may not turn as quickly and be more costly.
Athleisure brands show amazing resale potential too. Experienced flippers say Lululemon items "sell like magic" [4]. The North Face, Patagonia, and Nike - especially their limited editions and collaborations - create steady demand and good profits [5].
Other brands you should look for:
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Vintage clothing (20+ years old) can bring profit margins of 50-100% [6]
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Contemporary favorites like Free People, Reformation, and Madewell [7]
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Denim classics like Levi's, especially vintage pieces [5]
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Target designer collaborations that sell out fast [8]
High-margin vs. high-volume resale items
Smart resellers balance between high-margin and high-volume strategies. High-margin items such as authentic designer handbags can sell for way more than their purchase price. Christian Louboutin, Chanel, and Fendi lead the pack with average selling prices well over $100 [3]. These pieces are harder to find at thrift stores and take longer to sell.
On the flip side, high-volume items from brands like Nike (with an average selling price of $23.69) [3] sell quickly but bring smaller profits per piece. The upside? You can find them easily and create steady cash flow.
Some categories mix decent margins with quick sales:
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Plus-sized apparel sells well because thrift stores rarely have them [2]
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Limited edition sneakers and sportswear collaborations [2]
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Mid-range brand pieces that sell for more than fast fashion [2]
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Children's items attract parents looking for second-hand bargains [9]
Item condition substantially affects resale value. New or like-new items, especially those with tags, bring premium prices [2]. Seasonal demand changes too, so timing your listings becomes key to success in this competitive market.
Brand Tiers: From Fast Flips to Luxury Investments
Your success in the resale market depends on knowing which brands sell quickly and which ones give you the highest returns. You can balance inventory turnover with profit margins by grouping brands into tiers.
Everyday brands with fast turnover
Brands that flip quickly usually sell within 30 days and create steady cash flow. Nike stands at the top of this category with an impressive 586 items sold at an average price of $23.69 [3]. Rachel P dresses, Lucy in the Sky, and Judy Blue denim also move quickly off the shelves [10]. Doc Martens and Skims have built strong momentum over the last several years, and they rarely stay in inventory long [10].
What to avoid: Stay away from fast fashion brands that "mass produce and sell clothing items for next to nothing" [5]. London Fog, St. Johns Bay, and Amazon Essentials give you minimal profits [4].
Mid-tier brands with consistent demand
Mid-tier brands hit the sweet spot between accessibility and profit potential. A joint report from ThredUp and GlobalData shows that brands like Madewell, Zara, Urban Outfitters, Free People, and Anthropologie now represent "the most popular brands with the best resale value" [11].
Outdoor and athletic wear holds strong resale value. Arcteryx's outerwear "can sell in the hundreds of dollars and will sell quickly" [10]. Patagonia, North Face, and Lululemon also perform well consistently for resellers [4]. Theory pieces sell fastest and command higher prices, especially those with "100% material content" [10].
Luxury brands with high resale value
Luxury brands give you the maximum ROI. Hermès handbags keep an amazing 103% of their retail value, while Louis Vuitton maintains 92% [12]. Chanel has boosted its retention value by 12 percentage points to 87% [12].
The unexpected champion in value retention? Telfar bags sell for over 145% of retail price, with some styles reaching 211% of their original cost [12]. The Hermès Birkin stands as the ultimate investment piece, with a 250% retention rate in 2024 [13].
Investment tip: Put your money on timeless designs instead of trendy pieces. One expert says, "Timeless designs are the life-blood of strong resale value" [14]. The condition of luxury items affects resale prices significantly—keep original packaging, dust bags, and receipts to get the best returns [15].
Where to Sell: Matching Brands to Platforms
Your resale business's profit margins and sales speed depend heavily on the platform you choose. Each marketplace brings its own mix of buyers and sellers, so picking the right platform is vital to get the best returns for specific brands.
Best clothing brands to sell on eBay
eBay stands strong with over 130 million active buyers worldwide [16]. Recent data from 212,000 sold items shows Nike leads the pack with 586 items sold at $23.69 on average [3]. Luxury brands bring in the big money - Gucci's items sell for $216.64 on average with 207,368 yearly sales [17].
Top-performing brands on eBay include:
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Designer Labels: Louis Vuitton ($339.46 average price), Chanel ($708.07), and Gucci see steady demand [17]
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Athleisure: Nike ($74.53), Adidas ($45.71), and Lululemon ($36.68) move fast with high sales [17]
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Mid-Tier Brands: Ralph Lauren ($37.67), J.Crew ($24.03), and Free People ($32.03) give balanced profit options [17]
Quality beats quantity on eBay. Cashmere sweaters and designer sunglasses are steady sellers, and Carolina Herrera's sunglasses stand out for their durability and luxury appeal [16].
When to use Poshmark, Depop, or The RealReal
Poshmark shines with contemporary and affordable fashion. Louis Vuitton leads Poshmark with over $550,000 in sales at $341 per item [18]. Brands like Lululemon and Nike sell in high numbers too [19].
Depop draws Gen Z buyers, who make up over 40% of secondhand shoppers worldwide [20]. The platform's 2025 focus is on "The New Fundamentals" - timeless, eco-friendly styles [8]. Popular categories include:
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Designer pieces for global buyers
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Streetwear (Nike, Adidas, Supreme)
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Vintage items (20+ years old)
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Y2K fashion from early 2000s icons [8]
The RealReal focuses on verified luxury goods in different tiers. Tier 1 features Chanel, Hermès, and Louis Vuitton - the "undisputed champions" with top resale values [21]. Hermès scarves bring the best returns, often selling above retail prices [21].
The key is matching your items to each platform's audience. eBay works for variety, Poshmark suits mainstream fashion, Depop connects with young trendsetters, and The RealReal serves luxury buyers. However, you need to consider the percentage each platform is taking, which is where Depop takes the lead because The RealReal and Poshmark take a significant percentage of your listing profits.
Tips to Maximize Profit from Reselling
The right attention to detail can boost your resale profits. Good pricing and eye-catching images are the foundations of getting maximum returns on your thrifted finds.
How to price second hand brands to work
Smart pricing starts with good research. Check similar items on Poshmark or eBay to find a baseline value [22]. The best results come when you remove the lowest-priced listings and average the rest. Then add a 30% markup to this average. This gives room for attractive offers while keeping your profits intact [22].
Special items need a different approach to pricing. You can price vintage pieces and rare items higher even with small flaws [23]. Designer labels, unique materials, and limited editions usually bring higher prices whatever their age [23].
Photography and listing strategies that convert
Great photos speed up your sales. Natural lighting works best as it shows true colors and textures better than artificial lights [6]. Buyers feel more confident when they see multiple angles, so shoot everything - tags, labels, and any flaws [6].
Clothes can be shown these ways:
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On a model/person – Works best but needs more planning
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Flat lay – Simple and available for beginners
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Hanging – Perfect for dresses and formal wear [9]
Write your item description as if photos didn't exist [22]. Use keywords that buyers might search for. Bullet points work better than paragraphs and help your items show up in searches [22].
Timing your listings for seasonal demand
The right timing can substantially increase your profits. Items sell best when they match the season—sandals do well in spring, while jackets sell best during fall and early winter [24]. List seasonal items when each season starts. Buyers want things they can use right away [24].
Holiday items sell best 4-6 weeks before the actual holiday [25]. The back-to-school season brings high demand for backpacks, hoodies, and denim [25].
These basic principles can turn your reselling side job into a steady money-maker.
Conclusion
Clothes reselling has grown from a simple side hustle into a real business chance. Our research shows that certain brands keep bringing good returns. Nike and Lululemon work great for quick flips, while luxury names like Hermès and Chanel prove valuable as long-term investments.
Your success in this market depends on three things: pick profitable brands, choose the right selling platforms, and become skilled at creating effective listings. Luxury items might fetch higher profits, but a mix with fast-moving everyday brands creates a balanced inventory that gets more and thus encourages more steady income.
An item's condition matters most - pristine pieces with original packaging will fetch premium prices. Your sales can soar when you time your listings with seasonal buying patterns.
The resale market continues to grow as we head into 2025. Now that you know the best-performing brands and proven selling methods, you can transform your thrifting hobby into a money-making venture.
References
[1] - https://www.statista.com/forecasts/997103/most-common-second-hand-purchases-by-category-in-the-us
[2] - https://clothesmentor.com/blogs/news/high-resale-value-items
[3] - https://www.uprightlabs.com/2022/11/15/best-clothing-brands-to-resell-online/
[4] - https://www.reddit.com/r/Flipping/comments/1ai0p3i/clothing_brand_for_flipping/
[5] - https://www.rachelteodoro.com/2023/04/the-best-clothing-brands-to-resell.html
[6] - https://www.pixelcut.ai/learn/learn-how-to-take-pictures-of-clothing-to-sell
[7] - https://blog.vendoo.co/bolo-brands-for-resellers-in-2024
[8] - https://blog.vendoo.co/top-selling-brands-on-depop-in-2023
[9] - https://www.remove.bg/b/how-to-take-good-pictures-of-clothes-to-sell
[10] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAG0_TA4QXQ
[11] - https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/11/business/resale-popular-clothing-brands-2023/index.html
[12] - https://www.forbes.com/sites/celiashatzman/2022/10/31/rebags-clair-report-reveals-the-luxury-brand-with-the-best-resale-value-and-it-will-shock-you/
[13] - https://www.vogue.com/article/bags-with-the-best-resale-value
[14] - https://realstyle.therealreal.com/analyzing-resale-value-top-designers/
[15] - https://eluxemagazine.com/fashion/designer-brands-with-the-best-resale-value/
[16] - https://brandsgateway.com/blog/best-selling-ebay-items/
[17] - https://www.hustleandslow.com/best-selling-clothes-ebay/
[18] - https://selleraider.com/best-selling-brands-on-poshmark/
[19] - https://closet.tools/what-sells-best-on-poshmark
[20] - https://www.nylon.com/fashion/fashion-brands-designers-on-depop
[21] - https://www.topbubbleindex.com/blog/what-sells-best-on-the-realreal/
[22] - https://helpsysource.com/blogs/reseller-insights/how-to-maximize-profit-as-a-beginner-reseller
[23] - https://www.twicecommerce.com/blog/how-to-price-thrift-store-items
[24] - https://realstyle.therealreal.com/seasonal-fashion-and-when-to-resell-key-designer-items/
[25] - https://www.bankvogue.com/seasonal-trends-in-secondhand-goods-what-to-stock-and-when/
