The Growth of the Second Hand and Vintage Clothing Market

• Posted on 7 September 2025
• By Rob Cahill
• Posted in Vintage Fur
• 0

I suspect you have seen that second hand and vintage clothing stores are popping up on downtown streets everywhere lately. It is no surprise since the second hand clothing market is the fastest growing sector in global fashion over the past 5 years. Vintage clothing items that were once not cool to wear because they were your parents’ or grandparents’ style are now trendy finds made from quality materials and a style that could well be iconic.

As we covered in last week's post on Slow Fashion, clothing made in the decades before 2000, especially couture fashions prior to 1990, was typically made in small local workshops all over North America and Europe, have characteristics of that time period, region and brand. It is hard to find clothing made that way today, which is why it is appealing to thrifters - it is quality clothing that fits their values and personal style.

Overall, the market for second hand and vintage clothing has been growing by double digits year-over-year since 2021. Discerning shoppers, driven by Gen Z and Millennials (20’s to 40’s), are driving this shopping trend for economic, environmental and socially responsible reasons. The challenging economic times and struggles by the younger generation over the past several years is a significant factor, while they are also aware of their footprint on the land for consumer choices they make. This younger demographic is more inclined to buy quality items that are already around, than support fast fashion. According to The Guardian, 68% of Gen Z shoppers purchased second hand clothing in 2024. That is significant!

We saw this trend starting in the vintage fur market in 2023 as younger and older shoppers alike began asking for and purchasing furs from our vintage collection (that has been kept in good shape in our on-premises climate controlled storage vault). After several decades those classic coats from the 1970’s with notch collars, fitted waists with belts and leather panels, or big shouldered, fluffy full length coats from the 1980’s are looking increasingly ‘cool’ and will keep someone warm for another generation after 40-50 years of existence. We are seeing constant traffic into the store by Gen Z and Millennials who are intrigued by the vintage furs and amazed that such a range is available at affordable prices.

That is the essence of the circular economy and legitimate, sustainable fashion choices.

After we held a “Mob Wives” themed event at the store with a lovely group of local, fur-loving ladies, the vintage fur market has continued to grow. Over the past year, we have been continuously cleaning, repairing, photographing and populating our online vintage fur collection. Our collection of vintage furs is probably the largest collection in Canada, covering all fur types, a wide range of styles and eras from the 1950’s up to the 2000’s.

The coats you have in your closet may well be ‘on brand’ today, if not for you, perhaps for your daughter or granddaughter, just the way they are. Demand for men’s fur coats is also beyond available supply. We have sold men’s raccoon coats from the 1950’s (think those college boys at football games), beaver and otter double breasted coats and parkas from the 1970’s and ‘80’s.

What new fur consumers are quickly realizing is that, while these coats have a certain fashion style (of course), they are also the warmest coat they have ever put on. Last year's winter certainly helped this point of view as the coldest winter in decades. If you or your friends are thinking about vintage fur, please give us a call and come “shop the vault” to find a coat that fits your style and vibe.

Remember, furs are meant to be in a cold, dry climate (not humid), so furs not kept in climate controlled storage in the summer time (not a box in the basement), may be dried out and will tear very easily. Be sure you are getting good value for your money, when thrifting for vintage furs. Read our earlier blog post on what to watch for when shopping for vintage furs.

We will be having a Cheap and Tender sidewalk sale on Friday, September 12th and Saturday, September 13th to sell off some of our more well-worn vintage stock at a flat rate of $45 per coat. It is first-come, first-serve, and in person only. We will continue to sell them until stock runs out. These are pieces that maybe weren’t stored properly, or were just very well-loved. They might be a little damaged, but they'll still keep you warm. A cheap option to wear for costumes, or to wear to bars, or even just the cheapest, warmest coat you can find to get you through school in style. We will also have our usual stock of higher quality vintage furs available at a range of prices.

We are here to help you navigate this interesting and exciting fashion cycle.