Zalando has partnered with French second-hand platform Vestiaire Collective in a move to strengthen its position in the second-hand market. The collaboration will let the company offer its items directly on Zalando’s Pre-Owned category, giving customers access to luxury fashion that was previously unavailable on the German platform.
Zalando’s push into second-hand keeps growing
The Berlin-based online marketplace has been expanding its second-hand business for some time. In March it added children’s fashion to its Pre-Owned category, which is now available in 14 European markets: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden.
It has also been widening its geographic reach. Earlier this year it launched in Greece and Portugal, and a Bulgaria launch is expected later in 2025. That will bring the platform to 28 markets total.
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Demand for used fashion on the platform is strong. According to the company, an average of 62 percent of items listed in the Pre-Owned category in 2025 sold within seven days. It also says 40 percent of customers who buy second-hand add another item to their order.
What the Vestiaire deal brings
The company specializes in authenticated luxury goods. In 2023 it banned fast fashion brands from its marketplace. Through the partnership, Zalando customers will gain access to around 50 designer brands — covering clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories — that were not previously sold on the platform.
The French pre-owned platform will list its items directly inside Zalando’s Pre-Owned category, in all markets where that category is live. That means the luxury selection will reach the same 14 European countries plus any future additions.
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“The demand for high-quality second-hand fashion is constantly growing,” said Alice Marshall, head of the Pre-Owned category at Zalando. “By including authenticated luxury fashion in our offering and combining it with Zalando’s service, we want to encourage even more customers to discover second-hand fashion.”
Outside observers see a strategic fill-in
Industry observers note that the deal lets Zalando tap into Vestiaire’s authentication expertise without having to build its own infrastructure for high-end resale. That approach can be faster than developing in-house capabilities, especially in a market where luxury resale requires specialized knowledge. It also gives Vestiaire a larger distribution channel — Zalando’s existing customer base across Europe.
Some analysts have pointed out that partnerships like this are becoming more common as mainstream fashion retailers try to compete with dedicated resale platforms such as Vestiaire Collective and The RealReal. The resale market has grown quickly, and established players like Zalando are looking for ways to capture that demand without starting from scratch.
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The arrangement doesn’t appear to be exclusive. Neither company has said whether it will remain free to work with other luxury resellers, or whether Vestiaire can strike similar deals with other retailers.
Zalando’s Pre-Owned category already covers a broad price range, from affordable used clothing to higher-end items. Adding Vestiaire’s designer stock fills a gap at the top end, but it also raises questions about how the two companies will split revenue and handle returns. Neither side has released those details.
The partnership is an effort to accelerate the German platform’s position in the second-hand market — a area that’s seeing growth. Whether it gives Zalando an edge over competitors like Vinted or Asos Marketplace will depend on execution, pricing, and how well the luxury authentication process works at scale.