Clothing designers base the value of their products on their brand and the quality of their materials, but also on scarcity.
Most designers only make so many products in each style, colour or type, to improve prices and make their items less common.
Some lines will be re-released, while others are limited edition and are only sold for a specific amount of time.
As with anything that’s scarce, people are prepared to pay more for limited edition designer pieces, items that have a specific cultural significance, or clothing that was made for a special occasion. Items that were worn by celebrities are also more valuable than other designer pieces.
In some rare cases, shoppers have been known to get lucky and find rare designer pieces worth a lot of money in charity shops, on market stalls or at car boot sales. Some entrepreneurial fashion lovers even turn finds from charity shops into online businesses by reselling items on digital marketplaces for significantly more than they paid for them.
Finding these items can be the challenge: there are a lot of items to sift through, and it can be tough to tell what’s ordinary used clothing and what’s a rare find that could be a great addition to your wardrobe or a valuable piece you can sell on for a profit.
If you’re looking to make your own luck and hoping to find some rare pieces that suit your style in among all the flotsam, here are some tips on how to improve your search.
Know What You’re Looking For
Unfortunately, there’s no equivalent of the Antiques Roadshow for designer clothing and rare garments, so you need to know what you’re looking out for when shopping. It all depends on what you want from the item, and the brands you’re interested in. If you’re looking to make a profit from your designer threads, then you need to know what sells well, and what is more common and therefore worth less money. For anyone shopping just for themselves, work out what you want before you start looking, and learn about the identifying marks and features of legitimate pieces, so you know your bargain is legitimate. To do this, request proof of purchase, use authentication services, or consult forums and experts if you’re unsure. You’ll then be able to ensure that you get the perfect designer pieces at the right price and don’t fall for a dud.
Try Your Luck With Vintage Clothing Bundles
One way to save money and potentially find rare designer clothing is to shop in bulk. Providers like Vintage Wholesale offer a wide range of vintage clothing bundles that are made for resellers, so they’re curated to offer great value and amazing pieces from top brands. Effectively, it’s like a lucky dip, as you never know if you’re going to find something rare, unusual, or just an item you’ve always wanted. You can then either resell the other pieces in the bundle for a profit or make the most of them by wearing them yourself. Whatever you choose, you can find some potentially amazing pieces by checking out vintage clothing bundles.
Copy Other People’s Techniques
If someone else finds success in a particular market or store, then the chance’s are that there might be more gems to be found there. As such, you should try to emulate others and try their favourite shops. A great way to start to follow some fashion influencers and online bloggers. Many of these fashion influencers often showcase rare pieces and share insights on where to find them. Their recommendations can lead you to the right sources and give you inspiration, so they’re worth checking out. You could also try networking in the fashion industry to get ideas directly from others. To do this, try taking part in fashion forums, such as Reddit’s r/fashion and r/streetwear, or join designer-specific Facebook groups. Members often share leads on rare finds and provide valuable advice, which you can make the most of.
Use Online Search Alerts
For those who shop online for secondhand threads, set up alerts on online marketplaces for specific designer brands or pieces you’re hunting for. You’ll receive notifications when new listings match your criteria. By using search alerts effectively, you can turn the vast world of online marketplaces into your personal treasure trove of rare designer clothing pieces. It’s a proactive approach that ensures you’re among the first to know when that elusive item you’ve been searching for finally becomes available.
Look Beyond Traditional Collectable Pieces
When you think of rare designer items of clothing, it’s easy to imagine limited edition shoes or cult handbags. However, some other types of garments, such as scarves, t-shirts and dresses, could also be limited edition and might be rarer. Some specific pieces, such as rare football shirts, are collectable and could sell for a lot of money, so they’re worth keeping an eye out for. These items might not be as obvious as some other designer pieces, but they could be equally as valuable, so they’re worth keeping an eye out for when shopping.
Keep Looking
Even if you don’t find something amazing on your first search, don’t give up. It’s easy to become disheartened, but the fact is that it can take a long time and a lot of searching to find something rare and unique that you can treasure and that could potentially be worth a lot of money. Even if you don’t think you’re going to find anything, keep looking, as you might still find a piece of clothing you love, even if it’s not worth much or by a designer. On the other hand, you might get lucky and end up spotting a really exciting find- you never know!
As with everything in life, there’s no guarantee that you’ll find a rare item when shopping for secondhand clothing. What these tips can do is to make it more likely that you’ll find something you love and improve your chances of spotting a rare piece if there’s one to be found. Good luck in your search!
