Australia’s second-hand luxury goods market was valued at US $700.8 million in 2025 and is expected to almost double to $1.38 billion by 2034 according to market research done by IMARC Group.
The report predicts the market to grow by 7.7 per cent annually between 2026 and 2034 with the rise of resale extending beyond a handful of new boutiques.
Designer pieces once considered out of reach are becoming increasingly accessible as Perth shoppers embrace the booming resale market.
But one question remains for Perth shoppers: is it still luxury if everyone can afford it?
Resale has long been an option for designer shoppers, however, Perth’s growing number of luxury resale boutiques – including Rerun, The Secret Closet and Banjo Style – are making pre-loved designer fashion more accessible.
The previously mentioned boutiques are making designer fashion more accessible than ever, while raising questions about whether luxury can remain exclusive when it is available to almost everyone.
Long-time luxury shopper, Susan believes the growing popularity of second-hand fashion is changing what makes designer brands special.
“It ruins the experience and rarity of buying new and buying directly from the brand is half the experience,” she said.
“I enjoy the experience of going into the store, speaking to the staff, seeing what is new to the shelves and then purchasing something unique.”
Rerun store employee Hannah says the popularity of the shop is steady and many view pre-owned luxury as a smarter way to shop rather than a compromise.
“It’s a shift in shopper’s attitudes, with mostly budget coming into play, uni students, teens and many others can now afford designer pieces that were just sitting in a cupboard, it’s a win win,” she said.
As resale continues to remain popular the definition of luxury stays challenged.
For some, making designer fashion more accessible is a positive shift giving more people the opportunity to explore new brands and styles.
For others the appeal of luxury is more than the price tag and rather about the exclusivity and experience that comes with buying new.
As more turn to preloved fashion, luxury is seeming to be increasingly defined by exclusivity. The trend of spending thousands on a brand-new item is gone, replaced by a mutual love for exclusive brands we can now all indulge in.
