Did you know that in the U.S., the most popular product category for online purchases in 2024 is clothing? This data from Statista shows that clothing accounts for 43% of online purchase intent—followed by footwear with 33%—making it one of the most profitable categories in ecommerce.
Despite the numbers, being able to sell clothes online well goes far beyond having the best brands in stock; you need to know where to sell them.
Many platforms have different features and regulations that can benefit or hinder your business, so choosing the right place to sell can be the difference between success and failure.
In this article, we’ll talk about the benefits of selling clothes online and give you tips on the best places to sell.
Why sell clothes online in the first place?
Convenience. More and more people are choosing to shop online instead of going to brick-and-mortar stores because it's so easy to do so.
Prices are a big draw, as finding good deals online is much easier than visiting multiple stores to compare prices.
This growing online demand is so beneficial that even brands that are already established as physical retailers are choosing to sell online as well.
Here are some more good reasons to start selling clothes online:
High demand
Clothing is a universal need. Regardless of the person, or their tastes, buying clothes will always be a necessity, so there’ll always be a demand for this type of product.
With an online store, you can take full advantage of this high demand, offering products to a larger number of people than a physical store ever could. With this wider audience reach, you’ll always have someone to sell your clothes to, whether new or used no matter the type or the brand.
Lower overhead than selling in-person
One of the main benefits of selling anything online—be it clothing, sneakers, or even electronics—is the fact that an online store will always have lower costs compared to a brick-and-mortar store.
By selling online, you’ll have fewer expenses with rent, utilities, and other operational costs associated with physical spaces. Depending on the platform you choose, you won’t even have to worry about storage and shipping products—ThredUp, for example, handles all of this for you.
It all depends on how you want to manage your business.
Flexibility and adaptability to trends
Just like people’s tastes, clothing styles change from year to year. As an online retailer, you can focus on offering what’s currently in style, or you can focus on exclusivity, with one-of-a-kind, designer pieces.
You can set on sportswear for fitness enthusiasts, or go vintage, selling what was popular years ago to retro style aficionados.
One of the biggest advantages of selling clothes is that there’s an audience for everything. Brand-new pieces or pre-owned clothing. It doesn't matter. There are target audiences you can appeal to as an online clothes seller, you just need to know the right platform to reach them.
Where to sell clothes online
There are many platforms for selling clothes online. Each has its features and regulations. Some are better suited for specific types of clothing—be it designer, used, or new. It’s important to keep these factors in mind when choosing a marketplace for your business.
Here are some of the best platforms for selling clothes online:
1. Etsy
One of the most well-known ecommerce marketplaces, Etsy focuses on all types of handmade and vintage items. The platform has a section dedicated to "fashion finds" with several categories ranging from women's and men's clothing, accessories, and even clothes for children and babies.
It’s a platform with a greater focus on vintage and retro clothing, as well as eco-friendly pieces made from natural products, such as wool or organic cotton. There is also space for handmade clothing, which makes the platform a great differentiator if you intend to offer exclusive handmade clothing and accessories.
Best for: Sellers of handmade, vintage, or eco-friendly fashion.
Pricing: The listing fee is a flat rate charge of $0.20 USD per listing.
Pros of Etsy:
- Access to a niche audience seeking creative or handmade items.
- Customizable store for branding.
- Built-in tools to improve product visibility.
Cons of Etsy:
- Listing and transaction fees can add up.
- Competitive marketplace; standing out requires effort.
- Limited for non-creative or mass-produced items.
2. eBay
With nearly 30 years of experience in ecommerce, eBay is one of the largest marketplaces in the world, known for selling just about anything, including clothing.
Whether new or used, eBay has hundreds of storefronts offering all types of brands. As a platform with strong support for auctions, resellers can make a good profit on more exclusive items, even if they are second-hand.
Another great advantage of eBay is its global reach, as well as the options for shipping products to other countries.
The one downside of this large reach is that there is a lot of competition, especially in the clothing segment, where prices can vary greatly from seller to seller.
Best for: Resellers of branded, secondhand, or rare apparel.
Pricing: Vary by category, the more expensive the item, the higher the fee. For clothing, shoes, and accessories, eBay's final value fee is 15% if the sale is $2,000 or less, and 9% if the sale is over $2,000. It’s important to always check eBay’s guidelines to stay updated on possible changes.
Pros of eBay:
- Large, established user base.
- Flexibility in pricing (auction or fixed).
- International reach with global shipping options.
Cons of eBay:
- Fees for listings, final value, and payment processing can be high for small sellers
- Requires effort to compete with low-cost sellers.
3. Amazon
Although it’s best known as a marketplace focused on electronics, accessories, ebooks, and similar items, Amazon has a huge clothing category with products that are always on the platform's "Movers & Shakers" list.
Still, the platform is best suited for clothing brand owners or resellers looking to sell items in bulk, as clothing sold in sets is quite popular on the marketplace.
Features like Amazon FBA and other features for Amazon sellers make the platform a favorite among business owners as a whole.
Best for: High-volume sellers or brands looking for global exposure and streamlined logistics.
Pricing: Amazon offers two selling plans, individual ($0.99 per item sold) and professional ($39.99 a month). Plus fees for additional features.
Pros of Amazon:
- Amazon FBA and other features for sellers simplifies storage, shipping, returns, and marketing.
- Shoppers often prefer Amazon for convenience and reliability.
- Access to powerful advertising tools for targeting.
Cons of Amazon:
- High competition, especially in popular categories, such as clothing.
- Fees can be substantial, including referral fees, FBA charges, and advertising costs.
- Strict seller policies with potential account suspension for violations.
4. ThredUp
ThredUp is a consignment platform focused on buying and selling second-hand clothing, footwear, and accessories. It’s a marketplace that presents a more modernized version of "Thrifting", valuing used clothing in order to extend the life of clothes and fight fashion waste (according to ThredUp).
The most interesting aspect of ThredUp is that the platform sells your clothes for you. You send your second-hand clothes to ThredUp in a special bag provided by the website. Once they've received your clothes, they will set a price for them, sell them, ship them, and you receive a commission that varies according to the price of the item sold.
Despite its practicality, it’s important to note that ThredUp only accepts certain brands. And, in some cases, the amount received for a sale may end up being lower than what you could receive by selling it yourself.
Best for: Sellers of high-quality or branded secondhand clothing.
Pricing: Commissions vary depending on the final sale price.
Pros of ThredUp:
- The platform handles pricing, photos, and shipping for you
- Appeals to environmentally conscious shoppers.
Cons of ThredUp:
- Payouts are relatively low since it is commission-based
- Only accepts certain brands and conditions.
5. The RealReal
The RealReal is a marketplace that focuses on exclusive, high-quality designer clothing and accessories.
It’s a platform for brands like Channel, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and others that represent the best in the fashion world. Because of this, it’s a very niche website. But if you are looking to sell designer clothing, there’s no better place to find the right customers for your business.
Best for: Selling luxury and designer clothing.
Pricing: It’s defined by commissions that vary according to the value of the item sold. For example, sales around $5000 will earn you a commission of 70% of the total price.
Pros of The RealReal:
- You’ll have access to high-spending buyers looking for luxury items.
Cons of The RealReal:
- Commission amounts can be substantially lower when selling items with lower values.
6. Poshmark
Primarily focused on fashion and lifestyle products for men and women, Poshmark is an online marketplace on mobile and desktop where you can sell new or secondhand clothing for women, men, and kids, including everyday wear, formal wear, and even designer brands.
Poshmark works mainly as a “peer-to-peer” selling platform, similar to sites like Facebook Marketplace (we're gonna talk about it soon), but also combining social elements like sharing listings and following other users, making it a more interactive marketplace than other ecommerce platforms.
Best for: Businesses looking to sell trendy, mid-priced clothes on a platform that combines social elements and peer-to-peer selling.
Pricing: The Poshmark seller fee is $1, $2, or $3 based on the order price plus 5.99% of the order total.
Pros of Poshmark:
- Strong community and social media focus with engaged buyers.
- It offers a simple and efficient shipping service based on pre-paid labels, although the platform itself doesn’t operate globally.
- Low fees compared to other marketplaces.
Cons of Poshmark:
- The focus on social media-style interactions may not be attractive to sellers who prefer a more pragmatic business model.
- It’s less suitable for high-end or niche apparel.
7. Depop
Depop is a peer-to-peer social shopping app primarily focused on fashion and lifestyle combining ecommerce with a social media experience. It’s a mobile-first platform that allows its users to buy and sell items, follow other users, and engage with the community by liking and commenting on posts, all from a cellphone.
Depop is designed for simplicity and ease, making it a great platform for new sellers or small-scale businesses. One downside to Depop is that it’s not for everyone.
If you’re not the type of person who seeks constant interaction and engagement on social media, selling on the platform can be a challenge, since in order for your listings to be noticed, your account on the app needs to be noticed.
Like the sound of Depop? Here's how to make up to $5k per month on this thrifty platform.
Best for: Business with strong social media presence and engagement focusing on selling streetwear and trending clothing.
Pricing: For sellers based in the US, the Depop fees are 3.3% + $0.45 for each sale. For sellers based in the UK, the Depop fees are 2.9% + £0.30 for each sale.
Pros of Depop:
- Strong emphasis on mobile, visual appeal, and branding.
- Highly engaged community-driven user base.
- Easy-to-use tools for promoting items, similar to social media like TikTok.
Cons of Depop:
- Limited reach, only operational in the UK and in the US.
- Because it’s a social media-based marketplace, it requires constant activity to stay visible. Which may not be attractive to certain sellers.
8. Grailed
With a focus on quality and authenticity, Grailed is a marketplace specialized in men’s fashion (although it has a section for womenswear as well), particularly luxury, streetwear, and high-end designer items.
It attracts a dedicated audience of fashion enthusiasts who appreciate unique and exclusive styles.
Listing items is straightforward, and sellers have significant control over pricing, with tools available to adjust costs based on market trends.
Grailed also emphasizes seller-buyer communication, encouraging negotiation for fair deals while maintaining transparency.
Best for: Businesses selling premium streetwear, designer menswear and womenswear, and rare or limited-edition fashion pieces.
Pricing: Grailed takes 9% commission fee, applicable to domestic and international transactions.
Pros of Grailed:
- Attracts a loyal, style-savvy audience willing to pay top dollar.
- Low listing fee compared to other marketplaces.
Cons of Grailed:
- Requires careful attention to authenticity and product descriptions to avoid any problems.
- Negotiation-driven sales may require extra effort to finalize deals.
9. Vinted
Known for its simplicity, affordability, eco-conscious ethos, and for having a dedicated space for selling new and second-hand pet clothing and accessories (something unique compared to other platforms) Vinted is a peer-to-peer marketplace for selling new, used, and even designer clothes.
One great selling point of Vinted is that on the marketplace you can list items for free.
Vinted doesn’t take a cut from sales, allowing you to keep 100% of the profits. Instead, the platform charges buyers a small service fee, which covers features like payment protection and support.
It's a unique fee structure that makes Vinted especially appealing to casual sellers, small businesses, or those testing the waters of online selling.
Best for: Casual sellers or businesses with products focused on sustainable and affordable secondhand fashion.
Pricing: Vinted doesn’t take a cut from sales. The platform charges buyers a small service fee that may depend on the product or shipping services.
Pros of Vinted:
- The platform doesn’t charge sellers fees
- An easy-to-use platform for quick listings.
- Appeals to budget-conscious and eco-friendly shoppers.
Cons of Vinted:
- Shoppers generally come to Vinted for low-priced products, even luxury products, so profitability may not be as high as in other marketplaces
- It has limited scalability for professional sellers or businesses.
- Offers a smaller audience compared to larger platforms like eBay or Amazon.
10. Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace is a sales website integrated directly into Facebook that provides a convenient way for individual sellers and small brands to do business quickly by listing products and selling in their area.
This is a fairly simple platform compared to others on this list. Its unique feature is that it uses Facebook's interface, which means that you only need to have an account on Facebook to be able to sell products on Facebook Marketplace.
Another positive point is the fact that there are no fees for listings.
Despite this, Facebook Marketplace is a platform that works mainly with the "peer-to-peer" model, which means that most transactions are local, with shipping being carried out in agreement between seller and buyer.
Best for: Local sellers or small-scale online clothing businesses.
Pros of Facebook Marketplace
- There are no fees for listing products or local sales.
- Simple, user-friendly platform. You only need a Facebook account to use Facebook Marketplace.
Cons of Facebook Marketplace
- Limited protections for sellers.
- Shipping and other operational support is very limited compared to other marketplaces.
Take your online clothing business to the next level with Whop
Ready to sell clothes online and make the most of this booming industry? Whop connects you with a community of successful entrepreneurs and expert resources to help you succeed in every area of ecommerce.
Whether you're reselling, dropshipping, or starting your own ecommerce store, Whop has what you need.
Explore the Whop Discover feed to find courses and communities tailored to online clothing sellers. The experts in these groups can teach you how to maximize your reach on platforms like Etsy, eBay, and Amazon, master pricing strategies, and uncover tips to boost your profits.
All you need to do is access the Whop Discover page, choose the course or community that suits you, and start learning.
Where to sell clothes online FAQs
The frequently asked questions about selling clothes online.
What are the benefits of selling clothes online?
Clothing is a universal necessity, so there’s always demand for this type of product. By selling clothes online you can reach a much broader audience compared to physical stores. It’s convenient, cost-effective, and offers flexibility and profitability.
Can I sell both new and second-hand clothes online?
Yes. Some platforms support both new and gently used items, while other marketplaces only accept new inventory. It’s important to consider this when looking for a place to sell your clothes. Also, when selling secondhand clothes, make sure to point out all possible wear and tear your product may have.
