With our hectic schedules, it has become more difficult to visit physical stores to try on new clothes or check out the latest products. Instead, we shop online and find more affordable alternatives, such as secondhand clothes, that allow us to feel stylish without spending a lot of money.
Photo: Unsplash
Popular classifieds marketplace Carousell has released its first “Year-in-Secondhand” insights, spotlighting how Filipinos are championing secondhand fashion and contributing actively to a sustainable economy. The insights showcase Carousell’s growing community in the Philippines, where affordability and eco-consciousness are making pre-loved shopping an essential lifestyle choice.
Fashion-Forward Filipinos Lead in Sustainable Style
Women’s Fashion reigns as Carousell’s top secondhand category across Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan; with the Philippines driving over 30% of regional transactions. Filipino users are leading this trend, embracing thrifted fast-fashion brands as a savvy way to keep up with style while minimizing their carbon footprint. Opting for secondhand clothes in the Philippines saved the equivalent of 2,544 tonnes of carbon emissions—a positive impact akin to washing 552,048 loads of laundry.
Filipino sellers on Carousell earned an impressive average of around ₱39,000 this year from their secondhand sales, placing the Philippines among the top three markets in regional earnings. These figures underline Carousell’s role in empowering Filipinos to make extra cash from decluttering, making it both a win for the wallet and the planet.
Key Insights from the Philippines’ Year-in-Secondhand Report:
Photo: Carousell Philippines
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Fashion Favorites: Top fashion searches include “dress”, “Zara”, “Uniqlo”, and “bag”, reflecting Filipino users’ enthusiasm for stylish alternatives
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Luxury aspirations: Demand for bags and wallets is led by interest in more affordable luxury brands, such as “Coach” and Kate Spade” matching the growing local desire to own luxury items
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Most Given-Away Items: Clothes are the most popular items Filipinos share for free on Carousell, creating a thriving community of generosity
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Always in Style: Buying and selling activities in the most popular categories—Women’s Fashion, Men’s Fashion, and Hobbies & Toys—stay throughout the day
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Gen Z’s Retro Revival: 2000s digital cameras continue to trend, with searches for “digital camera” outpacing “iPhone” in 2024 as nostalgic Gen Z users bring back the Y2K aesthetic.
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Night Owl Shoppers: Filipino users are most active from 9 to 11 p.m., with high engagement in browsing, chatting, and transacting after office hours.
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Afternoon Declutter Sessions: Sellers in the Philippines list items most actively around 2 p.m., using the afternoon to refresh their wardrobes and homes.
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Mystery-box collectibles: Fans of Sonny Angel and Labubu have turned to Carousell to find their desired collectibles. ‘Labubu’ enters the top-searched charts at 20th position, while ‘Sonny Angel’ rises 29 spots to be ranked 24th
Carousell’s Role in the Circular Economy
“Our leadership in key markets provides deep insights into consumer behavior and preferences, which allows us to create programs that drive sustainable shopping across the region. Carousell’s commitment is to make it easy for anyone to engage in the circular economy and to cultivate a culture that prioritizes secondhand for the good of both people and the planet,” said Ms. Jingzhi Peh, Regional Head of Goods at Carousell.
“The Philippines has become a leader in sustainable shopping, especially in the area of secondhand fashion,” shared Ms. Shine Resurreccion, Business Director and Market Representative at Carousell Philippines. “Seeing the Filipino community embrace pre-loved options as part of the circular economy is inspiring—they’re making impactful choices that are good for both their wallets and the planet. By choosing secondhand, our Filipino community has reduced environmental impact equivalent to xxx hours of Netflix streaming.”
Curated for Filipinos, by Filipinos
Carousell Philippines continues to inspire more users to make secondhand their first choice by regularly curating themed collections of trending items, along with special decluttering campaigns where users have the chance to win exciting prizes, like the much-loved Popmart collectible Labubu.
Visit carousell.ph to discover the many ways to buy, sell, and give secondhand items a new life.
