You wouldn't steal a handbag, even if it were second-hand? The vintage clothing industry has boomed since the pandemic, thanks to the rise of second-hand fashion apps and a shift towards sustainable fashion. As of 2026, over one quarter of UK fashion transactions are second-hand, with the resale sector worth £7bn to the economy, research from OC&C Strategy Consultants has found. But vintage traders are fast becoming victims of their own success, they say. Sellers on Portobello Road have told