Saree, an iconic attire deeply woven in Indian culture, continues to evolve in a dynamic and complex industry with a market size worth USD 5.76 billion in India projected to reach USD 10.33 Billion with a CAGR of 6.7% owing to enormous consumer adoption of ethnic wear as influenced by rising online commerce. source
The preloved market in India is an unorganised market and the second-hand women's apparel market is expected to grow from $3 billion in 2023 to an estimated $9.1 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 13.04% from 2024 to 2032. Source
The Indian second-hand saree market is estimated to be worth ₹2,500 crore in 2023, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15-20% over the next decade, reaching ₹12,000-15,000 crore by 2034.
Growth Drivers:
Strong cultural significance: Sarees hold an important place in Indian culture, worn for celebrations, festivals, and everyday occasions.The saree is deeply ingrained in Indian culture and tradition, symbolizing elegance, femininity, and social status. This emotional connection fuels demand
Rising Disposable Incomes: Increasing disposable incomes are leading to higher spending on apparel, and consumers are increasingly looking for affordable alternatives
Affordability and Adaptability: Pre-owned sarees offer significant cost savings compared to new ones, catering to budget-conscious customers and promoting inclusivity in festive and celebratory occasions. The industry constantly innovates with new fabrics, blends, and contemporary designs to appeal to younger audiences and modern trends.
Rising Demand for Sustainable Fashion: Consumers are increasingly becoming more environmentally conscious, driving demand for sustainable fashion options. Second-hand sarees offer an eco-friendly alternative to buying new ones.
Growing Popularity of Online Platforms: Online marketplaces and thrift stores offer convenient access to a wide variety of second-hand sarees, making them more attractive to consumers e.g. https://www.unneu.com/
Changing Consumer Preferences: There is a growing trend towards vintage and unique clothing, which is driving demand for second-hand sarees. Pre-owned clothing offers a wider variety of styles and brands than what is available in mainstream stores, appealing to fashion-forward consumers.
The market is currently fragmented and unorganised with numerous small and medium-sized players which makes it difficult for consumers to find reliable sources of high-quality second-hand sarees. The unorganized sector dominates, accounting for 95% of the market, leading to concerns about quality control and lack of transparency.
Here are some of the insights that uses ( resellers are facing in the unorganised market):
Lack of Market Intelligence and Organized Support Limits Growth: A significant challenge for resellers is the absence of readily available market data, trends, and formal guidance. They rely heavily on assumptions, observation, and peer behavior for decision-making, leading to random postings and an inability to capitalize on seasonal or daily fluctuations.
"I feel like I'm flying blind when it comes to understanding the market. With all the uncertainties in the supply chain, I'm just relying on my own observations because I don't have a way to connect with other sellers or get broader community insights."- Shivangi, Agra
2. The lack of trust and price inconsistency makes every transaction an unhill battle: Resellers constantly battle mistrust and uncertainty in the unorganized market. They struggle with fraudulent listings, misrepresentation of high-value items, and quality discrepancies between product descriptions and actual goods.
"When I try to sell sarees, customers often get confused and distrustful because similar sarees have wildly different prices. I need a way to build trust and assure buyers they're getting a fair deal, especially to attract new customers." - Sapna, Delhi
3. Navigating a Fragmented and Unfair Market is Exhausting: The unorganised market is characterised by intense competition, unfair practices, and a lack of structured support. Resellers struggle with dominating established sellers, arbitrary group admin behaviors and the absence of a free and fair platform for selling.
"It felt like I was thriving, but then I hit a wall. Group admins started dictating where and how I could sell, even blocking me just for trying to reach more customers. It's an uphill battle with dominant sellers and admins controlling everything from visibility to sales."- Mamuni Mohanty, Bhubaneshwar
4. Sourcing and Inventory Management are a Constant Tug-of-War: Resellers face significant hurdles in consistently procuring high-quality and diverse inventory. Their limited access to reliable suppliers, often relying on personal collections or a small, trusted network, restricts their ability to expand beyond regional items or secure branded sarees.
"I'm missing out on sales because I only sell regional sarees. I want to offer more variety and reach a wider audience, but I'm not sure how to expand my inventory beyond what I currently know."- Ghishma, Bhuj, Gujarat.
5. Profitability is Undermined by Excessive Bargaining and Undervaluing: Resellers find it incredibly difficult to achieve sustainable profit margins. They frequently encounter excessive negotiation from buyers. This widespread lack of awareness regarding the fair pricing of pre-loved items forces resellers to resort to minimal markups or even break-even pricing.
“Pre-owned sarees are in demand especially the high range sarees, however the negotiation is also high and buyers don’t value pre-owned from a price standpoint even if it’s almost new and thinks its value would degrade by 1/5th”.- Debina, Kolkata
This leads to the need of a centralized platform that brings structure and reliability to the currently fragmented landscape of saree thrifting. By offering an end-to-end service, Unneu ensures supply chain integrity and a seamless experience for both buyers and sellers.
How Unneu Works for Sellers:
Selling your beautiful second-hand sarees on Unneu is simple and secure. Here's how:
Reach a Wider, Verified Audience: We've built a system to verify all sellers, ensuring a trusted community. Once you're in, your sarees get seen by a large audience, significantly boosting your chances of making a sale
Hassle-Free Selling, From Pickup to Payment: Forget about packaging and shipping. We'll provide you with standardized Unneu packaging in a seller kit when you register. Once your saree sells, you'll get a notification via email and SMS. Simply pack the saree, and our courier will handle free doorstep pickup. Best of all, once the buyer receives their saree, you get paid on the same day through our secured payment gateway, with zero chances of fraud
Build Trust and Grow Your Business: Your performance truly matters. Buyers can rate and review your products and services, helping you build trust and loyalty. This feedback increases your credibility, encouraging repeat purchases and helping your business thrive
Discover the Joy of Selling Your Sarees with Ease!
Tired of the unorganized market? Our platform offers a seamless experience designed to empower you:
Build Your Brand: Create a unique pseudo profile with your bio, location, and even your thoughts on sustainable fashion. Gain trust through ratings, reviews, and a "verified user" badge that showcases your sales history.
Share Your Story: Each saree can carry its own story, connecting buyers to its journey and enhancing its appeal.
Effortless Promotion: Get a unique store link for every saree, making it simple to share on WhatsApp, Facebook, or Instagram and attract buyers from your network.
Fair Negotiations: Engage in live chats to discuss prices, with a smart 20% cap to protect your earnings from excessive bargaining.
Smart Pricing: Our AI-powered recommendations guide you to competitive and fair prices based on real market trends, ensuring you're always compensated fairly.
Boost Visibility: Reach the right buyers with advanced search filters and get discovered through personalized recommendations. Buyers can also follow your store to get instant updates on your new arrivals.
Join the club now and unlock the ride of selling your preloved sarees and make money. Sign up at https://www.unneu.com/