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It’s the age of Ozempic. Initially designed as a diabetes medication, the GLP-1 drug and similar versions have exploded in popularity as a weight loss solution, particularly among the wealthy elite. As Ozempic’s ripple effects reach the fashion world, the resale market is being reshaped as a result.
Tracy Sun, co-founder and SVP of seller experiences at Poshmark, the peer-to-peer secondhand marketplace based in San Francisco, is already witnessing signs of a shift stemming from GLP-1 agonists. “With the rise of these new medications, we expect that Poshmark will support our customers through yet another life change,” says Sun.
Poshmark’s data reveals a significant surge in plus-size women’s apparel listings on the platform over the past two years, including a 103 per cent increase in size 3XL listings, 80 per cent in size 4XL, and a 73 per cent rise in size 5XL. The company also reported a 78 per cent increase in new listings mentioning “weight loss” in the title or description as sellers look to get rid of items that no longer fit. While these numbers suggest customers are parting with larger clothing sizes after shedding some pounds, the distribution of sizes across orders remains consistent, with no marked increase in demand for smaller sizes, says Sun. “We’re noticing shifts in supply and demand,” she adds, “and we monitor these trends closely to stay attuned to the customer.”
Vestiaire Collective, the Paris-based B Corp facilitating the sale of premium secondhand goods online, has also detected patterns that could be related to the increased use of Ozempic. “Anecdotally, we have had some sellers tell us that they were selling because their sizes have changed,” a spokesperson for the brand tells Vogue Business.
Supply and demand
As the fashion industry grapples with these developments, the implications for the resale market are complex. Neil Saunders, managing director of Globaldata’s retail division, points out that it’s still early days regarding the influence of Ozempic. “Resale platforms need to analyse supply and demand patterns, especially with the potential influx of plus-size clothing,” he notes.
Jim Davis, chief revenue officer of Goodwillfinds, the online thrift store selling donated items from Goodwill shops across the US, has observed a growing trend of individuals donating pieces after significant weight loss attributed to medications like Ozempic.
The surge in clothing donations presents a unique challenge for resale platforms specifically. “Goodwill could potentially face the same problem that other branded retailers are encountering,” Davis explains. “If the influx of donated goods is all within a certain size range, and demand is moving towards smaller sizes, these larger items may not sell. This creates an issue in terms of our ESG [environmental, social and governance] mission to prevent anything from going to a landfill.”
The issue of managing an inventory imbalance — stemming from Ozempic-induced weight loss or otherwise — could saddle resale marketplaces with the challenge of aligning their inventory with shifting consumer demand, says Saunders. “A sudden influx of larger sized clothing could be problematic, especially for platforms without strong demand in that category,” he adds, advising resale companies to invest in analytics to achieve efficiencies in their sizing assortments.
For fashion brands considering launching their own resale programmes, the trend presents both opportunities and challenges. Resale technology providers like Trove, which powers brand-owned secondhand platforms for Levi’s, Patagonia and Carhartt WIP, are already helping clothing labels capitalise on the environmental benefits and circular economy potential of resale. The weight loss movement stemming from usage of drugs like Ozempic could tip the scales for companies mulling a secondhand launch. “Brands see resale as a way to regain control over how their products are presented, priced and maintained,” says Saunders. “It’s a way to participate in the market while ensuring their items align with their brand values.”
Brand-owned resale programmes could also serve as a strategic tool for labels facing the impact of weight loss drugs. “For consumers undergoing significant weight changes, branded resale programmes offer a convenient way to trade in old sizes for new ones,” says Terry Boyle, CEO of Trove, which recently acquired Recurate, a resale technology partner of Michael Kors, Another Tomorrow and Mansur Gavriel. “It’s an attractive option for consumers and a smart move for brands to maintain customer loyalty.” Goodwillfinds’s Davis believes that some brands will likely introduce programmes allowing customers to trade in clothing that no longer fits as a result of weight loss — a savvy way to retain a shopper’s wallet share.
Resale has been one of retail’s lone growth engines in recent years. The secondhand clothing market is projected to reach £367 billion by 2028, according to online resale platform Thredup’s latest Resale Report. (Thredup declined to comment for this story.) This is more than double the sector’s £108 billion global value in 2021, and likely does not account for macro-trends like the recent emergence of anti-obesity injectables. In a survey of over 5,577 US adults, at least 15.5 million Americans have used these drugs, according to research firm Gallup. And in total, 12 per cent of adults report having used GLP-1 drugs at some point, with 6 per cent currently taking them, according to poll data published in May by US health policy organisation KFF. Nine per cent of the US population, or 30 million individuals, could be taking GLP-1 weight loss drugs by 2030, according to JP Morgan.
All this data suggests the apparel resale industry faces what could amount to a perfect storm: America’s rapidly changing body sizes and cast-off clothing colliding with the 24-7 availability of online secondhand fashion stores.
Though a large portion of resale transactions occur through myriad e-commerce sites and marketplaces, brick-and-mortar businesses remain a critical component of making secondhand accessible. Some community resale stores are already making the link between weight loss pharmaceuticals and an increase in larger size apparel donations. For Janet Curran, the owner of Do Good Co, a not-for-profit boutique selling vintage and secondhand fashion in support of local charities, drugs like Ozempic are sparking a “big shift in the sustainability marketplace” by unleashing a fresh wave of — often high-end — apparel into resale channels.
“We’ve noticed enthusiasm from women and men who have lost weight and have a new lease on life,” says Curran. Because the store relies on donations from the community, inventory is unpredictable, but she points to an “uptick in luxury donations from this GLP-1 craze” when the organisation hosts collection events. Outerwear from Oscar de la Renta, Max Mara and Chanel are just some of the recent donations in sizes 12 and 14 arriving at Do Good Resale — a distinct departure from typical trends, according to the company. “There’s a large Burberry raincoat in our inventory that won’t last the month,” Curran says.
While the long-term impact of weight loss drugs on the fashion resale market remains uncertain, it’s clear that the industry must adapt to evolving consumer behaviours.
Brands can capitalise on this trend by partnering with resale platforms, offering bespoke services such as wardrobe refresh programmes, and promoting sustainable fashion practices like mending and tailoring. Additionally, they could consider creating flexible sizing options like “one-size-fits-four” jeans a la Good American, or launching campaigns that appeal to consumers who are experiencing significant changes in their body size, positioning themselves as allies in their style evolution. Bruce Smith, founder of Hydrow, the connected fitness device company supporting the weight loss journeys of many consumers, likens Ozempic-style GLP-1 agonists to “a giant hammer” for a nuanced health issue. “But when you hit things with a stick of dynamite, who knows what you’re doing,” he says.
The implications of the Ozempic phenomenon are still unfolding, with no clear direction for its impact on the secondhand sector. But anyone with skin in the game will be watching closely as these weight loss drugs scale and slim millions of consumers. “We’re at the beginning of a journey that could reshape the fashion resale landscape,” Boyle says.
Correction: Tracy Sun's title is SVP of seller experiences at Poshmark, not VP of merchandising as previously reported. (3 September 2024)
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