Shein, Temu, and Asos are a few fast fashion brands contributing to mass clothing waste, one of the world’s largest pollutants. The rapid turnover of clothing that these brands encourage comes with a detrimental cost. Some people are turning to more sustainable options to combat this issue.
Each year, U.S. landfills are bombarded with over 11 million tons of textile materials, averaging about 82 pounds of textile waste per person.
In response, many consumers have turned to platforms like Depop, an online second-hand shop that claims to offer a more sustainable way of shopping.
Is Depop truly sustainable, or is it yet another form of consumerism disguised as eco-consciousness?
Fast fashion and micro-trends are more dominant than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic can partially be blamed for accelerating the cycle of overconsumption, especially among Gen Z. During this time, online shopping became the only way to shop and a common pastime.
The consequences of fast fashion are undeniable, but is there a way to be fashionable without producing clothing waste?
What is Depop?
In 2011, Depop was developed, a second-hand shopping platform that offers much more than a sustainable shopping alternative. With endless brands and a large selection of vintage and rare pieces, Depop has created a community of like-minded individuals wanting to improve consumption practices.
The platform encourages individuals to clean out their closets and sell their unwanted clothing rather than throwing garments away.
For Americans struggling with overflowing closets and contributing to the environmental crisis caused by textile waste, Depop seemed to be the cure.
Many argue that resell platforms like Poshmark, eBay, and Depop are combatting overconsumption. On the other hand, some argue they are further promoting overconsumption.
Is Depop truly a sustainable platform or is it also contributing to overconsumption and pollution?
The Inside Scoop
Shannon, the founder of Depop account and business Historian Vintage offers a candid look at the good, bad, and ugly sides of the platform.
Shannon’s experience with Depop began with practicality in mind: “starting from a truly utilitarian place of wanting to refresh my closet and utilize what I already had to do so,” she shares. What began as a personal effort to recycle and replenish her wardrobe turned into much more.
The initial focus of her Depop page was vintage clothing, but as her business grew, she began to specialize in archival runway pieces and garments that have been seen on the silver screen.
Shannon’s answer to whether Depop is truly sustainable is a “mixed bag.” She explains, “I think that inherently shopping second-hand is positive because even if something is new, if it is a new fast-fashion item, someone has access to that item through Depop, preventing them from buying new.”
When Depop first launched, second-hand shopping was not nearly as mainstream as it is today. There was a stigma around thrifting; many saw second-hand clothing as undesirable or dirty. Shannon shares, “Depop has definitely helped change that idea.”
She credits the app with making vintage and pre-loved clothing more accessible, especially among younger generations.
The Dark Side of Depop
Despite Depop’s role in promoting sustainable shopping, reselling fast-fashion garments has become very common.
Shannon has witnessed a shift from niche and vintage items to deceptive listings for low-quality fast fashion items. This shift raises concerns about the dilution of the platform’s original goal and sustainability efforts.
Although the presence of fast fashion clothing has negatively changed Depop, there is no denying the positives.
Ross Lohr, sustainability expert and Co-Founder of Project Repat and Scrappy Socks, shares his opinion on platforms like Depop. He stated, “Resale platforms are a great way to keep clothes worn and loved, just as they were meant to be. And honestly, that should be the top priority—finding homes for clothes.”
The Shift
For individuals who have been using the platform since its launch, the shift between then and now is undeniable.
Shannon notes that from 2015 to 2020, “it was much more niche, and more people were truly looking for real vintage and specialty pieces.”
The platform’s user growth plays a large role in the shift of items listed, from a few million users in 2015 to about 35 million users in 2025. Now that the platform is more popular, it is natural for the variety of items listed to differ.
Gen Z and Overconsumption
To blame the overconsumption that the world has seen in Gen Z on Depop would be silly, but it is one place where we can visually see the amount of clothing people want to discard from their wardrobes.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, TikTok promoted an excessive amount of micro-trendy garments, which encouraged users to mass purchase poor quality and inexpensive clothing.
Lohr highlights the unfortunate results of textile waste sharing, “The sad truth is that 80% of clothes in thrift stores go unsold, and many of those end up becoming a problem for third-world countries.”
Is Depop Truly Sustainable?
Is Depop a champion of sustainability, or has it fallen victim to the very habits it aimed to destroy?
While Depop presents itself as a sustainable alternative way of shopping, its role in our society is much more complex. What was once a platform made to extend the lifespan of clothing is now morphing into a fast-fashion resell platform as well. The increase in fast-fashion sellers has decreased the platform’s sustainable credibility.
At the end of the day, Depop is a generally sustainable platform because it recycles clothing rather than adding to the textile waste in landfills. If Depop becomes another avenue for impulse and mass purchasing, it will follow the cycle it was designed to combat. As of right now, the responsibility does not lay with the platform, but with consumers and Depop users.
