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B C B U S I N E S S . C A
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in 2024 is tricky business, largely because
many style experts consider trends them-
selves to be a thing of the past. To the
modern shopper, conscious consumerism
is more important than fashion fads, and
the second-hand retail industry is flourish-
ing. According to ThredUp's 2024 Resale
Report, the global second-hand apparel
market is expected to reach US$350 billion
by 2028—it's growing three times faster
than the overall apparel market.
And while thrift stores and flea mar-
kets have always been an eco-conscious
(and affordable) option for more frugal
consumers, shopping second-hand is
becoming more common in affluent com-
munities, too. "A couple of years ago,
the really wealthy wouldn't shop resale,
because they wouldn't need to," says Court-
ney Watkins, founder of Vancouver-based
luxury designer resale store Mine & Yours.
"But now it's seen as a smart choice, an
environmentally conscious choice—there
isn't much side-eye toward second-hand
anymore."
We asked Watkins what non-trend
trends she's seeing in B.C.'s luxury resale
market. Here's her insight on what's in
and out.
Writing
a trend
report
Vintage Fashion
"Consumers are now starting to really
talk about how polluting fast fashion
is for the environment," says Watkins.
As a result, long-lasting vintage items
are seeing a resurgence.
If you haven't yet had the pleasure,
allow us to introduce you to the "mob
wife" aesthetic: a fur-embracing,
animal-print-happy, large-sunglassed
look that turns up its nose at minimal-
ism. "Especially in Vancouver, we've
been skewed toward a minimal-
ist, athletic aesthetic, and now the
pendulum has swung the other way,"
says Watkins.
Fast Fashion
