What to Buy on Secondhand Shopping Sites This Spring

It takes some time and patience, but there’s no better feeling than finding that truly unique piece of clothing secondhand. Whether you’re digging through the racks at the thrift store or taking advantage of new online destinations, the benefits of secondhand shopping are endless. But most importantly, each pre-owned piece you buy means one less in a landfill. And with Earth Month well underway, we’ve gathered some key stats and upcoming trends to make it easier for you to find those eco-friendly treasures.

Vintage designer pieces have always been desirable in the secondhand market, especially if they’re rare or archive pieces. Vivienne Westwood, Versace and Tom Ford-era Gucci are among some of the most popular brands among vintage lovers (yes, the 2000s is vintage now) thanks to the Y2K frenzy, while brands like Pleats Please by Issey Miyake and Maison Margiela are continually popular among a niche group of fashion enthusiasts.

This spring, light-coloured leather outerwear and contemporary Japanese aesthetics have been gaining traction according to Vancouver-based secondhand designer shop Faulkner. And spring pastels colours such as pink, violet, and seafoam green colourways are also trending in the sneakerhead community this season, as reported by StockX.

In terms of handbags, although the Hermès Birkin has long been the ultimate investment bag, luxury vintage curator What Goes Around Comes Around states that there’s a new sheriff in town: Old Céline. The demand for Phoebe Philo’s Céline pieces soared after the British designer famously stepped down from her role in 2017, but the recent rumours that she may be laucnching a new labelwith her own label put the brand back on everyone’s radar. With the rise of 2010s Tumblr trends (think balletcore, indie sleaze etc.), What Goes Around Comes Around predicted that the brand’s Luggage Tote, aka “the smile bag”, will be in high demand once again.

Whether you’re shopping for your next investment or a highly sought-after item, here are a few secondhand pieces we have our eyes on this spring.