The Number That Changes the Secondhand Conversation

The global apparel resale market is on track to hit $338.4 billion this year, according to research firm GlobalData, which projects the category will grow 85.5 percent between 2022 and 2026 alone. That figure comes directly from GlobalData’s published market analysis. Emily Salter, GlobalData’s Senior Apparel Analyst, is blunt about why traditional retail is paying attention: “fast fashion players are also trying to get onboard to stay relevant.”

What’s Actually Driving the Growth

According to GlobalData’s analysis, the surge isn’t attributable to a single cause. Cost-of-living pressure is pushing budget-conscious shoppers toward secondhand options. Online resale platforms have matured into genuinely convenient marketplaces. And sustainability concerns are pulling in shoppers choosing resale on principle. Clothing is projected to be the fastest-growing segment, with footwear close behind.

A Second Report Says the Same Thing, Independently

ThredUp’s 14th Annual Resale Report, published in April 2026, projects the global secondhand apparel market will reach $393 billion by 2030, growing roughly twice as fast as the overall apparel retail category. In the U.S. specifically, the report projects the domestic resale market will reach $78.8 billion by 2030, and notes American resale grew nearly four times faster than traditional clothing retail in 2025 alone. Gen Z and Millennial shoppers are expected to drive more than 70 percent of that growth through 2030.

Why the Figure Matters Beyond the Headline

What makes the $338.4 billion figure notable is that two independent research organizations, using different methodologies, are describing the same underlying shift. It also helps explain why the secondhand shelf at your local thrift store looks noticeably more competitive than it did even five years ago. When institutional money and full-scale retail infrastructure start flowing into a category, the casual thrifting experience changes along with it. That’s not a trend anymore. That’s a market.