Market data clearly indicates that the secondhand clothing sector is entering a phase of dynamic, long-term expansion, and the role of specialized logistics centers in this area is becoming a key component of Europe’s fashion retail infrastructure—and one that will very often be the deciding factor in the success or failure of a venture. Changes in consumer behavior (according to a report by the Boston Consulting Group and Vestiaire Collective), the market for secondhand clothing and luxury goods has become one of the fastest-growing segments of the fashion industry, and its value is expected to grow three times faster than the market for new products; meanwhile, according to KPMG, by 2030, as much as 50% of fashion purchases will be made online.
Environmental pressures and new EU regulations (the EU 2030 Strategy) also mean that requirements for product durability, repairability, and recyclability—as well as widespread access to reuse and repair services—will become increasingly common. From an operational perspective, this means the need to launch specialized processes for handling clothing from re-commerce, refurbishment, and recycling. The fashion industry is therefore undeniably facing the need to build a logistics infrastructure capable of ensuring the quality, standardization, and scalability of these services, while also operating in compliance with the law (e.g., recycling and waste management regulations). The global secondhand clothing market is projected to grow from $96 billion in 2021 to $218 billion next year. In Poland, the re-commerce market is estimated at PLN 5–6 billion, with the strongest future growth in the online channel; however, consumers are increasingly shifting their purchasing habits from buying “new” items to a “value-driven,” “sustainable,” and “refurbished” model. This trend is already evident in the strategies of global players such as Zalando and H&M.
It is worth noting, however, that distribution centers for re-commerce differ significantly from traditional warehouses. They are dominated by zones dedicated to quality control, classification, refurbishment, and repair processes; dedicated process streams for refurbishment, conveyors, and technical workstations are required; and the storage of such goods demands flexible solutions such as chaotic storage or multi-SKU storage, given that we are dealing with virtually unique and one-of-a-kind SKUs. Additionally, from a regulatory perspective (product passport, mandatory transparency), companies will need to ensure traceability and a complete product lifecycle, which requires WMS systems often expanded with AI modules.
Given its location, experienced workforce, and existing network of large fashion distribution centers, Poland certainly has the potential to become one of Europe’s main hubs serving the European pre-owned clothing market, both for dedicated e-commerce platforms in this sector and for retail chains that, anticipating this trend, are embracing circular economy models within their brands. It is worth noting that, according to a recent BCG report, second-hand sales in fashion and luxury brands already account for 8% of total sales and are projected to reach 10% by 2030, suggesting further developments in this area. In the coming years, second-hand e-commerce platforms will not merely complement the market but will become an integral part of the horizontal supply chain, much like fulfillment services did a dozen or so years ago.
The author of the article is Damian Kołata, Head of Commercial, 7R Poland & Czech Republic
