3 resale experts on turning clothes into capital

For this week’s No More Ls column, we’re looking at the income that is in your closet (or basement or storage unit) and how you can cash in.

By Elio Iannacci

Did you know that, in Canada, clothing resale is growing six times faster than traditional retail? The second-hand apparel market is on track to surpass $4 billion this year. It’s a staggering sum for an industry once dismissed as thrift-store leftovers. Taken together, these and other numbers from Canadian Fashion Industry Statistics suggest resale is no longer a fringe trend or a sustainability side note—it’s a money-making movement.

The neon signs have been flashing for years. From consignment boutiques to the cult following of second-hand sneaker shops, resale has evolved into a full-blown marketplace. Online powerhouses—such as Kijiji, eBay, Poshmark, Vinted, and Facebook Marketplace—now operate as 24/7 trading floors, where sellers flip wardrobes and collectors hunt digital racks in real time.

Sure, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure, but knowing what actually holds resale value is key—before you decide to flip (or add to cart). To make pre-loved shopping less confounding, The Get tapped three trusted resale experts from across Canada to help you sell smarter.

Junk or jackpot: How do you know what’s worth selling?

Before listing a sneaker, scarf or sweater, Toronto-based psychology student and hair and makeup artist Margot Keith checks that it’s in the condition she’d want if she were buying it. As one of 2.5 million Canadian Poshmark users, she knows that fashion karma isn’t just a buzzword—it’s good business. “Mutual respect is non-negotiable,” she says, noting she’s sold items on Poshmark since it launched in Canada in 2019. Since then, she’s developed a few golden rules as both shopper and dealer. “I only buy items listed as brand new, with or without tags, or gently worn. So, I make sure everything I list for sale meets this same standard.”

Big-name labels are a draw, but Keith advises prioritizing pieces that are rare or special. Birkin bags and Supreme sweaters may move fast, but limited-edition items from accessible giants—think rare launches (coveted Nikes) or limited collaborations (H&M x Versace)—have obsessed, Beyoncé-like fanbases.

Authenticity is non-negotiable. Keith scrutinizes each piece with a mini investigation, tracing its origins, seasons and production years. She also breaks down sizing with surgical precision—S in Canada may fit like an XS in Hong Kong or an M in Miami—because global wardrobes don’t follow one size chart. She includes measurements in her listings, too.

Her golden rule is honesty over hype. If a garment has frayed edges, stains, pilling, misshaping or wear that crosses the line, it doesn’t make the cut. “Don’t sell something you wouldn’t buy back,” she says.

Before hitting “post,” Keith also runs a compliance check. Platforms like Poshmark and Vinted aren’t just trend-curated marketplaces, they’re rule-driven ecosystems. Hazardous items, like perfumes and colognes, or anything deemed unhygienic, are off-limits. For Keith, diligence isn’t just ethical—it’s smart selling.

Resale without risk: How to sell preloved luxury and avoid scammers

Vancouver’s Courtney Watkins, owner of designer consignment store chain Mine & Yours, has built a reputation for spotting authentic designer pieces in a sea of convincing fakes.

What started as a 300-square-foot townhouse operation has expanded into multiple locations in Vancouver’s Yaletown and Kitsilano, Toronto’s Yorkville and occasional pop-ups at Holt Renfrew in downtown Calgary. The growth has turned Watkins into a local authority, with Elle UK, The Vancouver Sun and Fashion magazine naming her shop a destination for luxe style at fair prices.

Her biggest advice: avoid knock-offs and dupes. “Do your homework,” she says. That means checking colour, stitching, hardware and tags, as well as—when necessary—getting professional appraisals or verifying unique codes. “Stick with established resale businesses that are transparent about authentication, pricing and payouts,” she adds. “Every piece is checked for quality, craftsmanship and authenticity. By the time something hits the floor, it’s something we would happily wear ourselves. That is the bar.”

If you’re buying: “Ask questions. A real company will have real answers. Trust your gut. If something feels off or too good to be true, it almost always is.”

While online sales are part of the business, Watkins prioritizes secure, scam-free transactions—a welcome reassurance amid Forbes’ recent report of a 600% rise in PayPal scams last year. She champions in-person resale for that added layer of safety, especially for high-end pieces. “You can feel the fabrics, see the condition up close, try things on, and chat with people who really know the product. There is also that sense of discovery, especially in resale. That feeling does not come from a scroll.”

For digital-first buyers and sellers, many platforms, including Mine & Yours, Depop and Poshmark, offer various forms of purchase protection, alongside the safeguards tied to credit cards and financial institutions.

When selling outside of Canada on resale sites like TheRealReal, caution should be paid in full. Shipping can be expensive, duties are typically unpaid (often noted as DDU, or delivered duty unpaid), and import taxes can significantly cut into profits.

Pricing right: How much to sell your used stuff for?

Montreal stylist and Déjà Vu co-founder Agnès Bohn has watched second-hand pricing surge. Her Verdun storefront is carefully curated, and her Poshmark closet (a mini virtual storefront on the site) extends that reach online—a dual model that’s come with a steep learning curve since she started in 2024.

“You can improve with time and you know better what customers are looking for,” she says. “You’ll go through many trials and errors until you’re getting to a point where you know for sure what type of items are going to sell well. Knowing the brands helps a lot… I usually resell for at least double the price I bought the item for.” But to be sure you’re pricing competitively, search sites to see what the going rates are for your items, too.

“The more you provide information,” she says, “the better you can price.” She also adds: “Consistency is key. If you’re selling online, you need to post at least one item daily if you want to keep the algorithm on your side.”

Material matters when it comes to deciding to selling something as expensive or cheap and cheerful. Bohn says that quality materials, such as cashmere, consistently sell well—many shoppers in Canada and abroad prioritize longevity over volume.

“My best sell so far was a Kenzo bag I bought super cheap at the thrift store for $9 and sold it for more than $100,” she recalls. “It was my first ever sale on Poshmark, so it was very encouraging.”

Paying attention to how you photograph your pre-loved products, Bohn says, helps showcase items for resale. She uses mannequins, takes pictures in daylight and uses multiple angles. And, she includes photos of labels, tags and any documentation that may accompany specialty items.

Are you ready to sell?

While long considered as a niche hobby, clothing and accessory resale has grown into a serious market with real financial muscle. Across Canada, indie sellers such as Keith, prolific entrepreneurs such as Watkins, and multi-platform fashion gurus like Bohn are making money while mastering the rules of the game. With expertise, authentication and strategy, second-hand selling has proven to be a new source of income for many.

Elio Iannacci is an award-winning writer, scholar and journalist whose work has appeared in more than 80 publications, including The Globe and Mail, Vogue Italia, The Hollywood Reporter and Maclean’s. His writing also appears in a number of literary anthologies, including the newly released The Nuances of Love, published by Guernica.