India Second-Hand Apparel Market: Current Analysis and Forecast (2025-2033)

India Second-Hand Apparel Market Size & Forecast

The India Second-Hand Apparel Market was valued at USD ~3500 million in 2024 and is expected to grow to a strong CAGR of around 13.20% during the forecast period (2025-2033F), owing to the growing awareness of sustainable fashion.

Second-Hand Apparel Market Analysis

Second-hand clothing is defined as garments that are used before and are bought in new forms, such as from stores selling vintage clothes, online fashion, and outlets that sell second-hand items. Such clothing may be slightly worn, old, or even new with the tags, but cheaper than when they were first put on the market. Its concept entails cost-effectiveness, durability, and an environmentally friendly strategy since the lifespan of the clothes would be elongated, thus avoiding the constant manufacturing of textiles.

To boost production in India, many companies in the consumer market for second-hand wearable garments in India are adopting e-commerce, mobile apps, and social media to target young consumers. Some are opening curated, branded, and premium pre-owned sections to appeal to the urban youth, while others share content created by influencers to socialize thrifting. They are also adopting hygiene assurance messages for consumers about the brand and its safety, reconciling and/or creating contactless authentication features for both physical and electronic access to the brand and the environment, and adopting eco-friendly packaging to expand their business in metros and tier 2 cities.

On February 7, 2025, Swap Fashions, India’s leading platform for pre-owned luxury clothes, transformed the way fashion-conscious consumers shop for designer apparel. By offering a curated selection of pre-owned clothes from global fashion houses at affordable prices, Swap Fashions is making luxury fashion more accessible while promoting sustainability.

India Second-Hand Apparel Market Trends

This section discusses the key market trends that are influencing the various segments of the India Second-Hand Apparel market, as found by our team of research experts.

Pre-Owned Ethnic & Wedding Wear Demand

The popularity of purchasing used ethnic and wedding wear is on the increase in India because, usually, these clothes are expensive and are hardly worn. Having lehengas, sarees, and sherwanis rented or buying the ones that have been used earlier has become acceptable for the consumers, especially the brides and grooms. Nowadays, customers can choose between suggested lists of dresses on the internet or in online shops of specialized second-hand clothing stores or numerous shops designed for selling wedding things at lower costs. This can be attributed to the new societal trend that is promoting practicality in the choice of traditional wear. It also opens an opportunity to wear exclusive fashion accessories and clothes, but not committing one’s pocket for the long term.

Second-Hand Apparel Industry Segmentation

This section provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the India Second-Hand Apparel market report, along with forecasts at the regional and state levels for 2025-2033.

Dresses & Tops Category Dominates the Second-Hand Apparel Market.

Based on product type, the market is segmented into dresses & tops, shirts & t-shirts, sweaters, coats & jackets, jeans & pants, and others. Among these, the dresses & tops market is leading the market in 2024. Among all the apparel items, the dresses and tops are usually bought and sold often in the second-hand apparel market of India. The need to emulate celebrities’ fashion by wearing their replicas at reasonable prices increases the sales of second-hand dresses and tops. Social media and the culture of the influencer make this trend even more desirable among young people. Since access to such fashion through online thrift stores is convenient, the markets expand rapidly.

Women’s Apparel Category Dominates the Second-Hand Apparel Market.

Based on gender, the market is segmented into men’s apparel, women’s apparel, children’s apparel, and unisex apparel. Among these, the women’s apparel segment is the largest contributor to the second-hand apparel industry in 2024. Women’s clothes are predominant in the global second-hand clothing market mainly because of the greater variety of clothing they require and the faster turnover rates. Similarly, ethnic wear, western casual wear, and maternity clothing are the most popular categories among the buyers. Fashion companies are appealing to this segment by offering precisely selected items, clothes in various sizes, and size/ style recommendations. There is yet another positive trend that women are more conscious about sustainable and cheap clothes, garments.

North India is expected to grow at a considerable rate during the forecast period.

North India is the largest hub of second-hand apparel markets in India, followed by cities such as Delhi, Panipat, and Ludhiana. Panipat is one of the foremost hubs for imported used garments, as distribution and wholesaling of the garments take place in the region. Thus, the region has a well-developed resale mechanism due to informal sectors as well as established new digital reselling platforms. Moreover, prominent Delhi flea markets like Sarojini Nagar, Lajpat Nagar, Janpath, etc. function as some of the major markets that help students and young professionals to buy trendy goods available at second-hand affordable prices. Companies ensure the supply’s efficiency using sorting centers located in geographic regions near major groceries and convenience stores in cities.

India Second-Hand Apparel Competitive Landscape

The India Second-Hand Apparel market is competitive, with several global and international market players. The key players are adopting different growth strategies to enhance their market presence, such as partnerships, agreements, collaborations, new product launches, geographical expansions, and mergers and acquisitions.

Top India Second-Hand Apparel Companies

Some of the major players in the market are RETAG APPARELS, Swap Fashions LLP, Stage3 (Cosmo Brands Private Limited), FLYROBE, Kandla Exim Pvt Ltd, Shiv Enterprises, Kuro (Naamo Clothing Private Limited), Bombay Closet Cleanse, The Mainstreet Marketplace, and The Thrift Kart.

Recent Developments in the Second-Hand Apparel Market

• On February 3, 2025, Chinese fast-fashion retailer Shein re-entered the Indian market through a partnership with Reliance Retail, nearly five years after its ban in 2020. The new app, named Shein India Fast Fashion, will initially deliver only in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, and Bengaluru but is planning for a nationwide expansion.

India Second-Hand Apparel Market Report Coverage

Reasons to Buy India Second-Hand Apparel Market Report:

• The study includes market sizing and forecasting analysis confirmed by authenticated key industry experts.

• The report briefly reviews overall industry performance at a glance.

• The report covers an in-depth analysis of prominent industry peers, primarily focusing on key business financials, type portfolios, expansion strategies, and recent developments.

• Detailed examination of drivers, restraints, key trends, and opportunities prevailing in the industry.

• The study comprehensively covers the market across different segments.

• Deep dive regional level analysis of the industry.

Customization Options:

The India Second-Hand Apparel market can further be customized as per the requirements or any other market segment. Besides this, UnivDatos understands that you may have your own business needs; hence, feel free to contact us to get a report that completely suits your requirements.