Reselling these luxury brands could earn you thousands of dollars

It's no secret that the luxury market has experienced a slowdown in recent years, with many top brands reporting ongoing sales decline. While high-end consumers have traditionally dismissed secondhand luxury, shifting economic conditions are reshaping perceptions and creating new opportunities in the resale market.The implementation of global tariffs in 2025 significantly raised prices on foreign luxury goods, including apparel, handbags, watches, and fine jewelry, making it more expensive for American consumers to buy new luxury items. However, for existing luxury owners, it has increased the value of their collections, allowing pre-owned items to resell for higher prices.Rebag, a leading luxury resale platform, has released its annual Clair Report for 2025, a comprehensive luxury appraisal index that tracks resale demand and value retention across luxury categories. The report highlights which brands and styles are proving most resilient in today's market."Global tariff shifts and evolving consumer behaviors have made 2025 a defining year for luxury resale," said Rebag Founder and CEO Charles Gorra. "Higher primary prices pushed more consumers to the secondary market, reaffirming its stability. The 2025 Clair Report highlights the brands demonstrating lasting long-term value."Below are the top pre-owned luxury items to resell, organized by category and year-over-year value growth. Secondhand luxury retail demand and prices increase, generating thousands of dollars for owners.Shutterstock Top luxury resale bag brands of 2025Hermès dominated the luxury handbag resale market in 2025, with the Kelly Mini II experiencing a 282% increase in value, followed by the Sellier Birkin at 183%, and the Constance at 137%, according to Rebag. Core Hermès styles also exceeded a 110% retention rate.Founded in Paris in 1837 as a handcrafted saddlery and harness store, Hermès transitioned into leather goods in 1922. The brand has long prioritized premium materials, strict quality standards, and limited production, all factors that have consistently driven up prices, even before the recent tariff hikes.Despite being one of the most expensive luxury brands, Hermès remains among the most coveted. The Birkin bag, in particular, is the most difficult to obtain, since each piece requires a minimum of 18 hours of handcrafting by a single artisan, elevating it beyond a fashion accessory and into the collectible art category.The labor-intensive process has also made the Birkin extremely scarce. Thousands of aspirational buyers worldwide hope to secure a spot on the brand's waitlist. Yet access is typically limited to long-standing clients, or the so-called "top 1%" who have demonstrated brand loyalty.Depending on size, material, and year of production, a Birkin bag can retail anywhere from $10,000 to upwards of $2 million. Since 2015, Birkin resale values have grown at a pace more than twice that of Hermès retail price increases. In 2025 alone, Birkin resale prices have surged 92%, compared with a 43% rise in retail pricing.2025 luxury resale bag brandsHermès: 138% retention, +38% from 2024Goyard: 132% retention, +28% from 2024The Row: 97% retention, +24% from 2024Top luxury resale watches and jewelry 2025Van Cleef & Arpels and Cartier led the jewelry category, driven by sustained demand for their most iconic collections, even decades after their release. Van Cleef & Arpels' Sweet Alhambra, introduced in 1968, and Cartier's Love collection, launched in 1969, continue to perform strongly in the secondary market. 2025 watches and jewelry resale brandsVan Cleef & Arpels: 112% retention, +9% from 2024Rolex: 104% retention, +4% from 2024Cartier: 87% retention, +4% from 2024The fashion industry outlookWhile fashion leaders have described market conditions as "challenging" since 2024, expectations remain negative, with the industry once again posting low single-digit growth in 2026, according to McKinsey & Company's The State of Fashion 2026. About 46% of industry executives anticipate that the fashion market will worsen in 2026, an 8% increase from the previous year, citing tariffs and consumers' cautious spending as primary concerns.More Retail Business News:Popular women’s fashion brand closes dozens of stores nationwideMacy’s announces unexpected closure ahead of holiday seasonCelebrity shapewear brand coming after Lululemon’s throneHowever, luxury is expected to see slight improvements. Despite prices being projected to continue surging, recent creative resets could reignite demand among U.S. shoppers.Nearly three-quarters of fashion executives plan to raise prices in 2026, with 15% of North American leaders anticipating price increases exceeding 5% to offset tariff-driven costs."Brands are making price changes, shifting sourcing and improving efficiency in a bid to counteract the impact. Larger suppliers are pursuing footprint optimisation, digitisation and automation, while smaller players face mounting pressure. Agility will be the defining factor enabling brands and suppliers to maintain their competitive edge," said McKinsey & Company analysts.Why luxury resale mattersAs retail prices continue to climb, consumers are increasingly turning to secondhand fashion. The resale sector is expected to grow two to three times faster than the traditional luxury fashion market by 2027, primarily driven by price sensitivity, supply constraints, and rising tariffs.The global secondhand apparel market is expected to reach $367 billion by 2029, growing at an average annual rate of 10%, according to ThreadUp Resale Report 2025. The U.S. secondhand apparel market is expected to reach $74 billion by 2029, with an annual average growth rate of 9%."The second-hand luxury market is not a recent phenomenon," said Luxonomy President Pablo Gutiérrez-Ravé Villalón in a report. "For decades, antique stores and specialized boutiques have offered used luxury products. However, the rise of e-commerce in the last 20 years has transformed this sector, allowing for greater accessibility and global reach."The impact of the luxury resale marketKeeps consumers in the cycle: Encourages future purchases in the primary marketValidates luxury pricing: Demonstrates long-term value retention, making consumers more willing to investHelps combat the counterfeit market: Provides access to authenticated pre-owned luxury instead of fakes Source: UBS report on secondhand luxury "We believe investors cannot afford to ignore that market segment, which provides a window into brand desirability amid widening performance gaps between various luxury players," said UBS analysts.Related: Lululemon makes major changes, adds surprising new partner