4 Streetwear Brands to Consign Now
While the luxury fashion industry has, at times, struggled to adjust to the ever-evolving modern world and its unrelenting demand for new content, the somewhat under-the-radar streetwear movement has managed to capitalize on the digital revolution and millennial purchasing power. With its finger on the pulse of today’s youth, streetwear has rejected the concept of biannual collections from the start, opting instead to release super-limited product drops several times per year (and sometimes multiple times a month), which not only ensures that every item sells in minutes, but also creates a constant buzz as brand-loyal customers breathlessly await the next collection.
Intentionally or not, they have also disrupted the secondary market. Demand for these limited items is so intense that their resale value is often far higher than retail. Many brands welcome resale, as it drives more customers to purchase pieces as soon as they become available. Here, we’ve rounded up the four best brands that you can consign now on The RealReal and earn top dollar fast.
Supreme
A brand Vogue once referred to as “the Chanel of streetwear,” Supreme first launched in 1994, taking influences from punk rock, Southern California skaters, 1980s hip hop and military garb to create what’s now a cult favorite. For years, the brand was only recognized by in-the-know street kids. Founder James Jebbia notoriously avoids interviews, and brand marketing is almost as limited as the label’s short-run product drops, which keeps the 12-year-old company in high demand.
New items are released every Thursday, and loyal fans camp out in front of Supreme’s nine brick-and-mortar stores for days in advance in order to snag the newest inventory (or impatiently refresh their browsers between 10:55am and 11:00am EST when the product hits the site). Jebbia aims to keep the brand in-tune with the younger generation, so he keeps prices affordable with T-shirts starting at $26, but small-batch collections and fast sell-outs mean the brand’s most buzzed-about pieces go for 15 times the retail price in the secondary market. If you’re looking to cash in on Supreme’s extreme demand, opt for iconic pieces like flat-brimmed caps, sweatshirts, T-shirts and of course, anything with the beloved red box logo.
Off-White
With luxe fabrication and inventive silhouettes, Off -White launched in 2013 aiming to blend the concepts of high fashion and underground streetwear. “In a large part streetwear is seen as cheap,” founder (and former Kanye West style consultant) Virgil Abloh told Business of Fashion. “What my goal has been is to add an intellectual layer to it and make it credible.” From biannual runway collections to a Selfridges shop-in-shop to a MATCHESFASHION.COM capsule collection, the brand has positioned itself as a luxury fashion company, often sold alongside the likes of Prada and Givenchy. Though Off-White’s collections are more widely available than traditional streetwear brands, the label can still fetch a nice resale price with iconic items selling for as much as 95% of the original price. In terms of cost per wear, it’s easy to justify a splurge when you consider that you can quickly make nearly all of your money back and fund your next purchase. Your best bet for high resale value are camouflage bomber jackets, anything with the graphic black and white striped logo and the Levi’s Made and Crafted collaboration.
Fear of God
With an aesthetic founder Jerry Lorenzo describes as “grunge chic,” Fear of God blends a dash of Kurt Cobain, a pinch of Rick Owens, a sprinkling of Axl Rose and a spoonful of religious references to create one of the most coveted high-end streetwear brands currently on the market. Inspired by his Christian faith and channeling the youth culture of his hometown of Los Angeles, the self-taught designer debuted the first FOG collection just three years ago. Fans abound from average teens saving up their allowance for $400 flannels to celebrity customers like Justin Bieber, who had his entire Purpose tour wardrobe furnished by the brand, the same year Kanye West selected Lorenzo as part of his own design team. The retail prices are on the higher end compared with brands like Supreme, but all the hype means that pieces sell for about 90% of the original price and on The RealReal, usually within 24 hours. FOG’s most sought-after styles include bomber jackets, sleeveless plaid flannels and longline t-shirts.
Adidas Collaborations
After a 20% revenue decline in 2014, Adidas has managed to make a huge comeback over the past few years. A return to their iconic throwback styles, the athleisure craze, increasingly frequent product drops and a host of celebrity collaborations have laid the groundwork for the floundering sportswear brand to make a spectacular turnaround. 2015 marked the debut of the first Yeezy Boost sneakers: a pair of shoes that sparked a major frenzy in the sneaker world, leading to huge markups and a flood of counterfeits. While most Three Stripes shoes retail for around $240, in the secondary market their value appreciates to at least four times that amount, and on The RealReal, often sell within the first day. Besides Yeezy, other best selling collections to consign include Pharrell’s recent Human Race release and Raf Simons’ minimal low-tops.
Ready to consign your streetwear & fund your next cult item purchase? Start consigning here.
