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Second-Hand Fashion & Market Forces | Case Study for A-Level

Geoff Riley

19th April 2025

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This new revision video case study looks into one of the UK’s most fascinating economic shifts — the rapid rise of the second-hand clothing market. From apps like Depop and Vinted, to high-street giants like ASOS jumping on the resale trend, this is more than a fashion fad — it's a case study rich in economic insight. Whether you're revising externalities, market structures, or consumer behaviour, this topic brings it all together. You can download the case study in PPT format.

Second-Hand Fashion & Market Forces | Case Study for A-Level

In this revision video, we’ll cover:

✅ The rise of ethical consumption and its impact on consumer preferences

✅ How online platforms like Vinted and Depop are reshaping retail through lower transaction costs and digital convenience

✅ The environmental externalities of fast fashion — and the positive externalities of reusing clothing

✅ Key exam-style questions like:

– What explains the increase in demand for second-hand fashion?

– What are the benefits to UK consumers of resale platforms?

– How is market structure in the retail sector shifting?

✅ Diagrams and exam tips on profitability, market failure, and market structure

Download this PowerPoint

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Geoff Riley

Geoff Riley FRSA has been teaching Economics for nearly forty years. He has over twenty years experience as Head of Economics at leading schools. He writes extensively and is a contributor and presenter on CPD and Revision conferences in the UK and overseas.