The Rise of Online Consignment and Thrift Shopping

Online consignment and thrift shopping is the hottest shopping trend taking the fashion world by storm. It’s an eco-conscious, budget-friendly way to shop for high-quality, designer clothes without breaking the bank. It’s no surprise that secondhand shopping has seen a 28% increase since 2021, propelling the secondhand industry to $177 billion in 2022. It’s even predicted that the secondhand industry will double to $351 billion in global sales by 2027. We’re quickly seeing that the rise of online consignment and thrift shopping is not just a fad. It’s the future of fashion.

In this guide, we’ll look at the five top reasons online consignment shopping has such a massive upward spike: sustainability, affordability, unique style, ease of search (online), and supporting small business.

1. Sustainability

Buying and selling secondhand items is one of the best ways to support sustainable fashion. Purchasing consignment pieces directly lowers the demand for new, resource-draining production from big fashion designers. You’re also helping to redirect textiles away from landfills by giving garments a second life. Together, this dramatically reduces waste by discouraging the fast fashion production and encouraging the lifespan of current pieces.

Sustainable fashion is the way fashion is headed. People are beginning to understand the harm of fast fashion labels, and we anticipate that eco-friendly materials, increasingly timeless styles, and consignment shopping will become the norm in the fashion industry.

2. Budget-friendly

One of the key reasons women are moving towards consignment shopping is because of the cost. Women want gorgeous designer pieces without paying designer price tags. When shopping at Current Boutique, you can sometimes find designer items up to 70, 80, or 90% off their original ticket price! Consignment is the way to go if you want to fill your wardrobe with high-quality pieces without hurting your wallet.

Best yet, when browsing online consignment stores, you can keep an eye out for flash sales and discounts – right from the comfort of your couch – so you can get an even better deal on your favorite designer pieces.

3. Unique finds

Shopping consignment is like a treasure hunt. No two racks are alike, and every day ushers in new pieces for you to browse. That makes the “find” of the perfect dress or purse even more exciting!

Big box stores all sell similar pieces and trends – and their items are made to be worn today and thrown out tomorrow. These mass-produced products are not only unsustainable, but they’re also boring! Everyone is wearing them. If you care about your unique style and the planet, fast fashion retailers just don’t cut it. But at consignment stores, you can discover genuine vintage and designer pieces that are guaranteed authentic. This helps you find more timeless and cyclical trendy pieces as opposed to ultra-trending looks from a corporate store.

Consignment shopping helps you find your unique style rather than conforming to what the big stores are telling you your style is. The rise of micro-influencers and social media has created a community of fashionistas more willing to express their unique look. Consignment shopping opens a world of possibilities, so you can curate a wardrobe that suits your personality.

4. Ease of search

One of the only drawbacks to traditional consignment stores is that you have to be there in person to shop. Many women like the ease of browsing their favorite big box stores online from the comfort of their couches. That’s why so many consignment stores are moving online! Even many smaller consignment stores are starting to promote online shopping and post their “just-in” finds on social media.

Many women also like online shopping because it gives them a little more control over how they shop. You can easily search by color, size, designer, and trend. That’s why Current Boutique has so many different search tabs for you to search by; you can choose to narrow your hunt or browse freely to your heart’s content. (Pro-tip: Keep an eye out for the heart “tags” on our website that tell you about each find, like if it’s a unique material or new to our store.)

Even though we’re based in Washington, D.C., Current Boutique’s website is widely popular across America because we make it easy to find trending looks and browse your favorite designers.

Psst… Learn how to spot quality clothes while shopping secondhand here.

5. Supporting small business

A lot of communities have their own local, small business consignment stores. These shops are run by entrepreneurs, charities, and small biz owners. By shopping at these stores, you’re helping make someone’s dreams come true with every purchase. Rather than putting your money into the hands of corporations that don’t care about their employees or customers, shopping from a consignment store allows you to help fund and build your local economy.

Check out these 10 smart reasons to shop secondhand.

Where can you start online consignment shopping?

Current Boutique carries all your favorite designer brands, from apparel to accessories and beyond. Our clients keep coming back to us – some for more than a decade – because we focus on building an incredible community of fashionistas who want high-quality, sustainable, and affordable pieces.

What’re the perks of shopping online at Current Boutique?

• Free shipping on all orders (no minimums!)

• 3-5 day U.S. shipping

• Authenticity guarantee backed by expert authenticators and inspectors

• Hassle-free returns policy

• Major discounts on original ticket price

• Huge assortment of designers and brand, from moderate to luxury

What are you waiting for? Start shopping our just-in styless right now to start the search for your new favorite gorgeous, preloved piece!