2025 Luxury Resale Market Unveiled: Hermès Reclaims the Throne, The Row Emerges as a New Unicorn
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To all our partners and friends at the Asia Luxury Association, this is Shiken.
The latest 2025 Clair Report from the authoritative resale platform Rebag has just been released, shedding light on the current dynamics and future trends of our market. As an industry insider, I believe several key takeaways from this report are invaluable for our sourcing and pricing strategies as second-hand luxury dealers.
First and foremost, the most striking news is the triumphant return of Hermès. After being briefly surpassed by Goyard in 2024, Hermès has reclaimed the top spot this year with an astonishing average value retention of 138%, a 38-percentage-point increase from last year. This reaffirms its absolute dominance at the pinnacle of the luxury pyramid. The report highlights that the resale value of the Mini Kelly II reached 282% of its original price, while the classic Birkin has seen a 92% price increase in the resale market over the past decade, far outpacing the cumulative retail price hike of 43%. This tells us that the investment value of core Hermès pieces, especially rare configurations, continues to set new records. It’s a clear signal for our inventory strategy: core Hermès bags remain the most solid currency in the market.
Secondly, a delightful newcomer is The Row. The brand, founded by the Olsen sisters, has entered the "unicorn" category for the first time with a remarkable 97% value retention rate, surpassing even Chanel (92%) and Louis Vuitton (88%). The success of The Row signifies the market's sustained appetite for minimalism, exceptional craftsmanship, and "Quiet Luxury." For our businesses, this means we must broaden our horizons beyond the traditional mega-brands. Discovering and introducing high-potential designer brands like The Row will be key to differentiating ourselves in the market.
Furthermore, Miu Miu's performance is equally impressive, with a 104% retention rate, reflecting the powerful influence of younger consumers and the Y2K trend. The resurgence of nostalgia is another trend we cannot ignore. Searches for the Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami collection surged by 600%, and Balenciaga's Le City Bag saw an incredible 986% spike in searches. The revival of these "vintage" classics reminds us that what was once "outdated" in our inventory might just be the next market hotspot.
In conclusion, the market trends for 2025 point in several clear directions: consumers are approaching luxury with a more sophisticated investment mindset; the scarcity of top-tier brands remains the core guarantee of value; and there is immense enthusiasm for both emerging designer brands and iconic pieces that define an era. As dealers, we must be more astute in capturing these signals and flexibly adjusting our sourcing strategies to win in this market of opportunities.
I look forward to more in-depth discussions with you all on our association's platform.
For more industry insights and resource matching, visit the official Asia Luxury Association website: aisaluxassoc.com
