The changing landscape of second-hand goods in Japan

Vintage clothing and second-hand shops have exploded throughout Japan in the past decade. However, even though the market has remarkably increased over the past ten years, some concerns regarding purchasing used clothing remain.

Although the used item market in Japan is relatively new compared to other countries, the second-hand goods market was worth approximately 2.62 trillion yen in 2016. Throughout major cities including Toyko, second-hand shops have sprung to life, especially those for vintage and used clothing. Furthermore, some major outlets around Japan are even considering selling clothing in their own department stores.

There are still a number of Japanese people who still refuse to buy used clothing for various reasons. One obvious issue would be the fact second-hand clothing has been worn by other people, which would mean that the clothes aren’t brand new or may have stains. Other customers may be drawn to only buying new garments because it gives them a boost in confidence at work or in public that some second-hand clothing cannot provide. There are also worries that counterfeits or imitations could be circulating within the market.

There are, however, numerous benefits to purchasing and donating used clothing. Many people have begun buying used goods for environmental and social reasons. Instead of discarding clothing, it has become more common to recycle or resell them. Major clothing companies like H&M gladly take donations, even for brand goods that aren’t from the company. There are also many community platforms such as Facebook groups and Sayonara Sales that allow anyone to sell various types of used goods, such as furniture and home appliances. Other options include taking old clothes to the Mottainai Market. Organized by the Mottainai Campaign, the Mottainai Market offers a space to purchase and donate clothing. The market also has a recycling corner at which people can drop off unwanted goods such as clothing and books.

Although not everyone is on board with used goods in Japan, the number of stores and organizations which offer sustainable solutions is rising. Now that more people and organizations in Japan are buying, selling, and donating used goods throughout the country, this will only aid in kickstarting the trend of being more environmentally and socially aware of sustainable alternatives.