Second-hand clothing has broad appeal among US consumers, but interest varies considerably across demographic groups. According to YouGov Surveys research, nearly two-thirds of Americans (64%) say they would be very or somewhat interested in buying second-hand clothing in the future.
The findings reveal important second-hand clothing consumer trends, with Gen Z, women and parents of children under 18 showing particularly strong interest. The research offers insight into which U.S. consumer groups are most receptive to second-hand fashion.
Gen Z and women show particularly strong interest in second-hand clothing
Younger Americans are the most receptive to buying second-hand clothing. Nearly four in five Gen Z adults (78%) say they are interested, including almost half who are very interested (47%).
Interest falls to 67% among Millennials and 61% among Gen X, while around three in five Baby Boomers (59%) say the same.
Women are also substantially more interested in buying second-hand clothing than men. Nearly three-quarters of women (74%) express interest, compared with just over half of men (54%).
The difference is particularly pronounced among those who are very interested – 41% of women select this option compared with 24% of men.
Parents of younger children are more receptive to buying second-hand
Parental status also comes with some differences in interest levels.
Seven in ten parents or guardians with at least one child under 18 say they would be interested in buying second-hand clothes (71%). That compares with 65% among Americans who are not parents or guardians.
Interest is lower among parents whose children are all aged 18 or older, at 59%.
The gap is also visible at the stronger end of the scale. Two in five parents of children under 18 say they are very interested in buying second-hand clothes (41%), compared with 29% of parents of adult children and 33% of non-parents.
Despite demographic variances, overall interest levels in second-hand clothing are high across the board. Interest, however, is only one part of the picture. Separate YouGov research finds that Americans still have a range of concerns about buying second-hand clothing, from cleanliness and condition to fit and whether the savings are worthwhile.
Methodology: YouGov polled 1,000 U.S. adults online on October 1. The survey was carried out through YouGov Surveys: Self-serve. Data is weighted by age, gender, education level, race, and region.
