Study claims resale fuels fast fashion habit

YALE – A new study has highlighted a consumption paradox. Contrary to the widespread narrative that resale replaces new purchases, the research found a strong positive correlation between spending in the primary and secondary markets, suggesting the two are largely complementary.

The news comes after a recent Ecotextile Talks podcast last week that features ThredUp chief strategy officer Alon Rotem, who said that resale is now poised to become the new normal.

The study, by researchers at Yale University in the U.S. and Bar Ilan University in Israel, was published in Scientific Reports, based on a survey of over 1,000 U.S. consumers. Results indicated that the most frequent second-hand shoppers, who are often younger consumers exhibiting high levels of engagement, are also the most active consumers of new clothing.