Gen Z thinks everything already exists, and they’re buying it secondhand
eBay and Depop’s $9 billion fashion sales are fueled by Gen Z’s belief that nothing is new.
The story
eBay and Depop generated $9 billion in U.S. fashion sales over the past year, driven by Gen Z's interest in secondhand clothes, with Depop's sales doubling and eBay expanding its focus on recommerce.
Source: fortune.com
Our reading
eBay’s Q3 earnings call revealed that Gen Z’s love of secondhand clothes has turned Depop into a $9 billion fashion engine, but the average Gen Zer now believes everything they need already exists in the world. Which, sure, if you’re a 20-year-old who’s never seen a new pair of jeans.
It’s not just about saving money—it’s about feeling like you’re part of a movement. Which is fine, until you realize the movement is just a bunch of people trading clothes they bought from other people who bought them from other people, all while a CEO says they’re ‘redefining the place of secondhand in fashion.’
And yet, the numbers keep climbing. Maybe the real secret isn’t sustainability or affordability—it’s that Gen Z is just really good at convincing themselves they’re part of something bigger, even if it’s just a bunch of old clothes on a website.
