Re-commerce, also known as re-sale, is an emerging area of the second-hand marketplace where businesses and individuals can buy and sell pre-owned fashion items through consignment, peer-to-peer and online platforms. While the second-hand market has traditionally existed in vintage and charity shops, auction houses, and informal fairs or markets, re-commerce generally refers to a more selective, ‘curated’ or high-end approach.(1) Re-commerce offers users the ability to sell on unwanted pieces, and so ensures that products are kept in use for longer by passing them on to new ownership. The recent expansion of re-commerce models has been driven by multiple innovations that enabled professionalization of online platforms and logistics, as well as a shift in public perception due to attractiveness of access to the luxury market at an affordable price.(1-5) The assumed benefit of re-commerce is in decreasing industry reliance on virgin materials and the need for new goods. However, the correlation between re-commerce models and reduced consumption of new items still requires evidence.(5)
RE-COMMERCE
