Secondhand Shopping: Understanding Consumer Behavior toward Pre-owned Clothing in India

A survey on secondhand clothing in India indicates that buyers are predominantly young females motivated by low prices and environmental impact, though hygiene and garment condition remain primary barriers to adoption.

• The demographic profile of secondhand clothing buyers in India tends to be female and under the age of 35.
• The primary obstacles preventing consumers from purchasing pre-owned clothes are concerns regarding the condition of the items and hygiene standards.
• Consumers are driven to buy secondhand by lower costs and a desire to reduce environmental impact, with environmentally conscious buyers maintaining a stable total volume of purchases.
• India's formal secondhand clothing market is in the early stages of adoption, presenting opportunities for resale and circular business models where stakeholders act as both buyers and sellers.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Secondhand Shopping: Understanding Consumer Behavior toward Pre-owned Clothing in India. https://www.wri.org/research/secondhand-shopping-understanding-consumer-behavior-toward-pre-owned-clothing-india

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Secondhand Shopping: Understanding Consumer Behavior toward Pre-owned Clothing in India. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/secondhand-shopping-understanding-consumer-behavior-toward-pre-owned-clothing-india.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Secondhand Shopping: Understanding Consumer Behavior toward Pre-owned Clothing in India |url=https://www.wri.org/research/secondhand-shopping-understanding-consumer-behavior-toward-pre-owned-clothing-india |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendsecondhand, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Secondhand Shopping: Understanding Consumer Behavior toward Pre-owned Clothing in India}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/secondhand-shopping-understanding-consumer-behavior-toward-pre-owned-clothing-india}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }