How to sell designer clothes second-hand: proof, photos and pricing

Only sell what you know is genuine

This comes first. Rewear's Terms do not allow counterfeit or replica items, or anything described with a brand it was not made by. If you are not sure a piece is genuine, because it was a gift or bought second-hand, do not list it under the brand name. You can find out what buyers look for in our guide to spotting fake designer clothes, which works just as well for checking your own pieces.

Gather your proof

Anything that shows the history of the piece helps a buyer trust it.

• The receipt or order confirmation. Cover or blur your name, address, card details and order number before you photograph it.
• The original box, dust bag or garment bag.
• Authenticity cards, booklets and swing tags.
• Spare buttons or fabric swatches that came with it.

None of these is proof on its own, since packaging can be copied, but together with good photos they make a buyer far more comfortable.

Photograph the details

Take all the usual shots: front, back and the piece laid flat or hung in daylight. Our guide to photographing clothes to sell covers the set-up. For designer pieces, add close-ups of:

1. The main brand label, straight on and in focus.
2. The care and composition labels, including any small codes printed or sewn on them.
3. Stitching, especially around pockets, seams and the edges of the label.
4. Hardware: zips, buttons, poppers, buckles and any engraving on them.
5. The lining, inside and out.
6. Any wear, each mark in its own photo.

Buyers who know the brand will compare these details with the real thing, so clear, sharp photos work in your favour.

Describe it precisely

Write the description a careful buyer would want:

• the brand, the type of piece and the style name if you know it
• the size on the label, and the sizing system if it is not UK
• the fabric, exactly as the composition label says
• where and roughly when you bought it, if you know
• the condition, in plain words that match the grade you choose
• every flaw, where it is and how noticeable it is
• the measurements in cm, laid flat

Designer sizing can run differently from high-street sizing, and European labels use their own numbers, so measurements matter even more than usual. Our guide on how to measure clothes shows which ones to take.

Be strict about condition

Buyers paying more for a designer piece expect the condition to be exactly as described. Choose the lower grade if you are torn between two, and tick any flaws in the "Any flaws?" section of the Rewear listing form, as well as describing them. Our guide to condition grades explains each one.

Small things matter more on expensive pieces: a faint mark on a cuff, light pilling, a little wear on the corners of a bag or a scratch on a buckle. Mention them all.

Price it from real comparisons

1. Search for the same piece, or the closest you can find, in similar condition.
2. Look at the spread of asking prices, not just the highest.
3. Adjust for what you have. Proof of purchase, original packaging and a classic style usually help; a missing label, heavy wear or a dated style bring the price down.
4. Decide your lowest price before buyers start making offers.

Our guide on how to price second-hand clothes walks through the method. On Rewear there is no selling fee, so the price you agree is the price you are paid. The buyer pays postage and a buyer protection fee of 30p + 3%.

Answer questions quickly

Designer buyers often ask for more photos or details before they commit. Reply promptly, add any extra photos they ask for, and keep the whole conversation in the app. If anyone asks you to take payment outside Rewear, say no: it removes the buyer protection for them and leaves you with no record if something goes wrong.

Pack it as carefully as you photographed it

• Use the dust bag or garment bag if you have one.
• Wrap the piece in tissue paper and use a sturdy box for anything structured.
• Include the packaging and extras you mentioned in the listing.
• Choose the parcel size from what it weighs packed, not from the piece alone.

Post within five days of the sale with the prepaid label from the app, and keep proof of posting until the buyer confirms it has arrived.

The short version

Only sell what you know is genuine. Gather the receipt and packaging, photograph labels, stitching and hardware, describe the condition precisely with measurements, price from real comparisons and pack it with care.