I’m an Experienced Reseller: 7 Fashion Brands That Aren’t Worth Selling
Written by
Dawn Allcot
Edited by
Jenna Klaverweiden
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From using sites like Poshmark to listing items on Facebook Marketplace or the OfferUp app, determined entrepreneurs can earn extra money or a full-time income reselling clothing. But to be successful as a reseller, it’s important to choose the right platforms for sales, market your business properly and pick the right products.
If you choose the wrong brands to sell, you could get stuck sitting on inventory or even lose money on each sale. Two East Coast resellers shared several brands that may be perfectly acceptable as part of your wardrobe but aren’t worth pursuing for resale.
Also see four items to sell for a more minimalist lifestyle and extra cash.
Forever 21
Shopping mall staple Forever 21 may be a hit with teens and tweens for wardrobe essentials like tank tops and tees. But these products might not be the best for resale.
“Fast fashion does not do well. It’s inexpensive to begin with and never holds up or holds its value,” said Jennifer Johnson, owner of the lifestyle resale store True Fashionistas in Naples, Florida.
Uniqlo
Japanese clothing company Uniqlo gives a slightly more upscale vibe than most fast-fashion clothing stores, with items of clothing that are perceived to be of higher quality. The company also develops partnerships with designers to further elevate its brand.
“Uuniqlo is often lumped into the fast-fashion category, but, in my opinion, it’s really different,” Myles Ethan Lascity, director of fashion media at Southern Methodist University, told Highsnobiety.
In spite of these efforts to stand out, Uniqlo does not hold its value well in the reseller market, according to Johnson.
Target and Walmart Private Label Brands
The epitome of fast fashion, any brands sold at mass market retailers like Target or Walmart are unlikely to hold value. This includes Time and Tru, George, and No Boundaries from Walmart and Cat & Jack, Art Class, Universal Thread, Wild Fable and others from Target.
“By the time we take to process them, we have already lost money because they can be purchased for so little,” Johnson said.
PrettyLittleThing
Online women’s clothing retailer PrettyLittleThing might be likened to the online equivalent of Forever 21, with clothing that won’t hold up in the long term.
“PrettyLittleThing has trendy styles, but the fabrication is mostly polyester,” said Eddie Reyes, founder of Jersey City, New Jersey-based conSHINEment. “Polyester is plastic. It won’t breathe, so it doesn’t feel good to wear.”
Theory
It’s not just fast-fashion clothing you should avoid as a reseller, Johnson and Reyes agreed. Some top brands don’t hold their value for various reasons. It comes down to knowing the marketplace and what your audience wants. One example is Theory.
“Theory is a luxury brand that sells for several hundreds of dollars in their retail stores. But they don’t resell for a lot due to the number of items from that brand flooding the thrift and consignment stores. A women’s top original price can be over $200, but the resell value drops significantly,” Reyes said. “Some [can go] as low as under $10.”
True Religion
Similarly, if you were hoping to earn some extra pocket cash by selling those comfy, well-loved True Religion jeans in your closet, don’t bother, according to Johnson.
“True Religion used to be huge and now no one wants the brand, so we don’t even take it anymore,” she said.
Juicy Couture
Juicy Couture has also fallen out of favor, according to Johnson.
In spite of releasing its first menswear line in 2024 and attempting to bring back the popularity of its iconic tracksuit, once a favorite of celebrities, the brand struggles to hold its value on the resale market.
“Juicy Couture had a resurgence a little while ago and now that is another brand that isn’t worth much,” Johnson said.
The casual luxury brand is now available through retailers like Kohl’s, which could reduce the perceived value of its higher-end products. “There are so many brands that sell a lower ticket item, and we find that it ‘waters down’ their regular brand,” Johnson said.
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