Last Updated on November 13, 2023
Second hand shopping has never been so popular, so I decided it was time to do a round up of the best pre-loved stores for designer bags and share the best styles on offer right now. Shopping sustainably has never been bigger and I am here for it. Not only is buying a pre-loved bag the more sustainable choice, but you can find rare gems including one-off collaborations that you just won’t find amongst the new collections.
What’s more, shopping pre-loved means you won’t be paying full retail price either. Fashion gals on a budget, this one’s for you. If there’s anything more satisfying than finally finding that bag you’ve been searching for, it’s finding it on a second hand site for a bargain price too.
But while shopping second hand is great, there are a few things to be careful of. The most important factor is to look out for the authentication and quality control processes the store is offering to ensure the product is legitimate and what you are expecting quality wise.
There are hundreds of online re-selling websites and stores, but I narrowed them down to 7 brands that have been tried and tested from both personal use and thousands of customer product reviews. And if you want to see all the pre-loved bags I am eyeing up right now, keep scrolling as I have rounded up 17 of my favourite pieces from trusted re-sale brands.
Next, check out What Actually Is Vintage Fashion? A Useful Guide to Pre-Loved, as well as our deep dive on the Difference Between Ethical and Sustainable Fashion?
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The Cirkel
The Cirkel always have a great collection of the most-sought after bags of the moment, featuring a wide range of both designer clothing and bags from the likes of Chanel, Prada, Dior, Celine and Gucci. The Cirkel also offer a ‘Cirkel value’ for each item meaning that if you send back the item you purchased in excellent condition within 6 months of you buying it you will receive a voucher for your next purchase. Essentially its a bag swap scheme, what’s better than being able to swap out for a new designer bag ever 6 months guilt free?
Gucci X Balenciaga Bag, £1,750, The Cirkel – buy now
Stella McCartney Silver Chain Bag, £400, The Cirkel – buy now
Mulberry Bayswater Bag £400, The Cirkel – buy now
SIGN OF THE TIMES
This resale brand was founded back in the 1970s, so it certainly knows a thing or two about vintage bags. On their website, Sign of the Times list certain items as ‘investment pieces’, signififying that these are classic pieces to add to your collection that will never go out of style. I find this really helpful even if I know what style I want and just need to narrow down which colour to go for.
Givenchy Black Antigona Leather Tote Bag, £785, Sign of the Times – buy now
Fendi Brown Zucca Mamma Baguette, £650, Sign of the Times – buy now
Saint Laurent Black Solferino Satchel Bag, £1,900, Sign of the Times – buy now
Vestiaire Collective
Probably the most well known store in the pre-loved market, Vestiaire Collective has gained a cult community of over 3 million users worldwide both buying and selling pre-loved items. This is a must-visit for anyone looking for second hand designer items as they have a huge collection with thousands of pieces added weekly. Make sure to set up your favourites and you’ll be alerted to any price reductions to the items which is super handy. Also for anyone making a purchase right now, Vestiaire Collective are offering a £20 discount with the code* WELCOMEVC when using the app.
GUCCI Dionysus Super Mini Leather Crossbody Bag, £853, Vestiaire Collective – buy now
Bottega Veneta Jodie Leather Bag, £1,365, Vestiaire Collective – buy now
Designer Exchange
If your a bagaholic like me, none of these websites/stores will be new to you but Designer Exchange is a great one which specialises in designer bags. Items are listed with their current selling price point, so you can always see how much of a discount is being offered.
Louis Vuitton Cannes Bag, £1,500, Designer Exchange – buy now
Céline Teen Classic Box Bag, £1,200, Designer Exchange – buy now
Farfetch
Farfetch Pre-Owned was first launched in 2019, which offers you the same luxury shopping experience for purchasing pre-loved designer bags as it does for its new items. Farfetch also offer what is called the Second Life programme, which enables you to exchange your back which you no longer want for store credit. The whole process is super hassle-free.
CHANEL Pre-Owned, 1989-1991 Small Double Flap Bag, £3,538, Farfetch – buy now
Prada Pre-Owned Leather Crossbody Bag, £1,650, Farfetch – buy now
Sellier Knightsbridge
Sellier Knightsbridge is a go-to destination for mega-brands, with stylists making it their one stop shop for pre-loved bags. Chanel and Hermes are their most-desired labels and pieces sell out fast so act fast if you see something you like.
Goyard Yellow PM Artois Tote, £1,350, Sellier Knightsbridge – buy now
Chloe Suede Leather Crossbody Bag, £545, Sellier Knightsbridge – buy now
Bagista
Bagista was first launched back in 2014 and has been offering a curated selection of pre-loved second-hand bags ever since. They also have a bricks-and-mortar store in London’s Knightsbridge, so you can go into the store to see the items in person which is great so you can really see the quality of the item.
Chanel Vanity Case, £2,299, Bagista – buy now
Louis Vuitton, Sac Plat GM, £999, Bagista – buy now
Givenchy Antigona – Medium, £799, Bagista – buy now
