When it comes to luxury handbags, few topics are as buzzy or as widely discussed as the secondary market. In the last decade, the market has grown exponentially, with a growth rate two to three times that of the primary luxury market.
Now more than ever, consumers are paying attention to what holds or has the potential to hold value over time, and while there is a lot of money to be made for both brands and consumers, the market is constantly changing and evolving.
Still, luxury resale platforms like The RealReal release annual or biannual reports to track the ever-changing trends within the secondary market. Its 2026 Luxury Resale Report was just released yesterday, and the results, quite honestly, are not all that surprising.
Consumers Lean in to Vintage
Millennials and Gen Z make up around 50% of TRR consumers, and now, more than ever, this subset of luxury lovers is focused not only on shopping the secondary market but also on shopping vintage goods. While younger Millennials look to the designer items of their youth that were once out of reach, Gen Zers are fixated on the cultural influence of Y2K fashion.
Searches for Y2K fashion were up 93% year over year, while total demand for vintage on TRR has grown by over 400% over the last six years. Most interestingly, late 2000s bags, accessories, and more have become highly sought-after as they finally hit or near vintage territory. While TRR defines vintage as anything 15+ years old, many vintage enthusiasts follow the 20-year rule.
Millennials are reveling in the nostalgia of the late aughts, while Gen Zers, born in the early aughts, are experiencing it for the first time, searching for things like Nicolas Ghesquière’s Balenciaga or Marc Jacobs-era Vuitton.
Bags to Buy, Bags to Sell
For handbag lovers, there’s no better time to be a shopper on the secondary market, no matter what it is that you’re looking for. While the popularity of items with history or character has grown over the years, shoppers still look to the secondary market for discounted retail hits like The Row Cecily.
Still, the resale market is not immune to fashion’s ongoing obsession with nostalgia, and iconic bags like the Louis Vuitton Speedy, the Gucci Jackie, and the Lady Dior are as in demand as ever. If you’re looking to sell, these three silhouettes, along with the Fendi Baguette and the Saint Laurent Mombasa, have seen demand increase by up to 10x, have appreciated in value, and offer some of the best returns.
Curious if it’s still worth it to buy last season’s It-items? Most-wanted bags like the Savette Symmetry Pouch, Prada Bonnie, Balenciaga Rodeo, and Alaïa Le Teckel are still going strong, with demand increasing by up to 379% in some cases.
As for the most-wanted brands? Chanel has taken the No. 1 spot as the most in-demand brand, with demand increasing by a whopping 10,967%, a trend attributed to Matthieu Blazy’s unprecedented debut at the end of 2025. Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Gucci followed suit, proving the continued power of storied heritage brands.
