What Really Sells on Consignment (And Why)

Hey, it’s Rosie. Let’s talk all things CONSIGNMENT, and Nifty updates, baby!

One of the biggest questions (aside from “When is your next market?”) we get asked is: “What actually sells on consignment?”, and “What are you looking for?”. 

So I thought I would chime in to give you the inside scoop, observations, trends, and a bit of a monthly roundup.

Something I’ve been noticing lately? I keep catching myself saying, “wow, we’ve got some really great stuff right now.” Every week, I’m reminded of the sheer abundance of amazing clothing circulating in our community!

And honestly, I never get over it. It’s one thing to know the secondhand market is thriving in our city, but another to watch it unfold in real time. From brand-new sellers dipping their toes into reselling (always a thrill) to our regulars who know the system like the back of their hand (always a pleasure), it’s easily one of the best parts of running this store for me.

My favourite consignment piece that came in recently? A vintage Louis Vuitton Multicolore bag from the 2003 Murakami collection (the year that the iconic line of bags started!). Truly obsessed, and tempted to adopt a Chihuahua named Tinkerbell and carry it around in there (the bag will be online this coming week if this sounds on brand for you).

Now, let’s get into consignment observations, and what has been selling well recently:

DESIGNER + CONTEMPORARY LABELS: Think pieces that were $$$ new but still in great condition. People love the thrill of scoring them secondhand. Particularly brands like Penny Sage, RUBY, Gramicci, CDG x PLAY, Carhartt, Deiji Studios, Marle, Beach Brains, Paloma Wool, Wynn Hamlyn, and more.

SEASONAL GEMS: Now is the time to bring in spring pieces. Shoppers want to get ahead of the warmer weather and have outfits ready for all those extended daylight hours. Dresses, shorts, camis, mini skirts. Timing really matters.

Trans-seasonal pieces like cardigans, denim jackets, and hoodies also keep moving at this time of year. Our justification when buying warm layers in spring? “I’ll use it to cover up at the beach, so I’m buying it.”

LE CLASSICS:

• Vintage Levi’s (501s and 550s are undefeated)

• Graphic tees, band tees, and statement tees

• Lacey camis, blouses, and cute tanks. The blouse remains our strongest selling category

• Slip dresses (especially bias-cut ’90s ones, or lace-trimmed 2000s versions)

• Denim - shirts, skirts, shorts, jeans, jackets!

• Overalls / dungarees – especially 90s/early 2000s cuts

• Workwear staples – Carhartt jackets, Dickies pants, sturdy overalls

• Corduroy – pants, skirts, jackets. A fabric that cycles back constantly

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE VINTAGE WORLD: 70s, 90s, and 2000s are our most popular eras right now. We’re still seeing a huge demand for 2000s; low-rise denim, capri pants, vintage Glassons/Pagani/Jay Jays. 

Vintage dresses, particularly floral midis, prairie-style, or 70s boho silhouettes. 

Workwear staples. Carhartt jackets, Dickies pants, sturdy overalls. 

Corduroy! Pants, skirts, jackets. A fabric that cycles back constantly.

In exciting vintage news, we’ve received really fun Y2K deadstock that we’re bursting at the seams to put out for you all in the next week or so.

To break it down, the demand is for anything that screams early MySpace era (and dare I say, we are encroaching on the mid-2000s Bebo era). We’re seeing an increase in demand for brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, GAP, Lucky Brand ETC ETC! 

SHOES + ACCESSORIES: Especially sneakers (think dad sneakers: New Balance, Nike, Asics - those styles are a quick sell!). They move fast (as long as they’re in good condition). 

Classic Adidas originals are still having their moment. Styles such as Sambas and Gazelles are still selling really well.

And cowboy boots. Always cowboy boots.

In terms of accessories, one that we can never seem to have enough of, is belts! Whether it’s a classic leather staple, or a vintage chunky number, they’re an item often in demand.

Speaking of vintage accessories, we recently got a stack of vintage Von Dutch caps into the store, and have some more coming this week. These caps are truly an iconic part of fashion history, and they're the kind of piece that transport me straight back to the early 2000s. 

I was probably about 11 when Von Dutch was in its height of popularity, so having an authentic Von Dutch piece was very much out of the question for me, however I did have two fake Von Dutch bootleg pieces of clothing - see below a pic of adolescent me in my ‘Von Bitch’ t-shirt). 

Each vintage VD cap has its own quirks, colourways, textures, and wear patterns that you simply can’t replicate when buying new. That’s the beauty of vintage! No two are exactly alike.

ACTIVEWEAR: Lululemon remains at the top of the leaderboard for activewear. Leggings, bike shorts, tops and outerwear, continue to perform well. Regardless of season, quality activewear staples remain a year-round best-seller. 

Vintage activewear is also having a moment: think Y2K Nike and Adidas racer-backs, capri leggings, and sleeveless zip ups.

At the end of the day, it often comes down to this: if you’d be excited to find it secondhand, chances are someone else will too.

We’re passionate about keeping clothing in circulation, whether it’s a vintage treasure or a basically-new staple. The beauty of consignment is that clothes get to live many lives: loved, passed on, and loved again. And we love having a mix of it to offer!

MARKETS: Now. Onto events.. We have markets on the horizon. 

Yes marketS! Plural! In exciting news, they’ll now be happening monthly aaaall summer long! We’ll be posting the full calendar in advance so you can plan ahead. 

Live out of town? Book your flights. Already made summer plans? Cancel them! You know you won’t want to miss these.

Want first dibs on dates? Sign up to our EDM and get the details before anyone else. 

Want to become a vendor? Apply here or shoot us a message on Instagram with any questions.

Much love, and thanks for the ongoing support. We wouldn’t be here without you!

Rosie XX

P.S. We put out our store spring playlist. Listen here!