Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology

The RealReal’s 2025 Resale Report

The Economics of Resale, From Investment Jewelry to Nostalgic Comebacks

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The RealReal (Nasdaq: REAL) – the world’s largest online marketplace for authenticated resale luxury goods – today released its annual Resale Report. For the past 14 years, The RealReal has been at the forefront of a cultural shift, redefining luxury resale as both desirable and accessible. With a community of more than 40 million members, the company enables people to discover pieces they love while unlocking the value of luxury assets in their closets. Drawing on years of proprietary data and authentication expertise, the 2025 Resale Report explores the state of luxury resale today, analyzing the shopping and consignment behaviors of The RealReal’s members and highlighting the cultural and economic forces reshaping demand and value.

Findings show that fine jewelry and timeless handbags continued to hold strong, while cultural shifts, the current political climate, and creative director shakeups also shaped demand. Nostalgia remained a powerful force, fueling the revival of 2010s fashion and high heels alongside the return of 1980s maximalism. The Row stayed a defining anchor among American brands, while both established names like Coach and emerging voices such as Diotima gained fresh relevance with new takes on American style. Vintage pieces reached new highs, with nearly 30% more members searching for vintage this year than last, as shoppers sharpened their eye for long-term value, turning to resale to both express personal style and invest strategically.

“Resale has gone from disruptor to cornerstone in the consumer journey: *nearly one-third of clothing purchased in the U.S. last year was secondhand, and 58% of consumers now prefer the secondary market outright. Today, shoppers are not only defining their style through resale, they’re also considering resale value at the point of purchase. In a year defined by instability, AI blurring real and synthetic, and trends flattened by social media, consumers rejected uniformity and sought out pieces that felt real, unfiltered, and unreplicable. The result is a moment in fashion not shaped by brands or trends, but by individuals expressing their personal style.” — Rati Levesque, CEO & President, The RealReal.

2025 RESALE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS

  • The Economics of Resale

    • With inflation and rising retail prices, consumers are increasingly factoring resale value into purchase decisions: *47% now consider resale value before buying new.
    • Accessories Are Assets: Some of the smartest investments in 2025 weren’t on Wall Street. Resale values climbed steadily for classics like Rolex Datejusts (+17%), Goyard Saint Louis totes (+18%), Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra jewelry (+20%), Hermès Birkin 30 (+15%), and Louis Vuitton Speedy bags (+13%)

  • The Brands That Defined the Year

    • Top 10 most-searched brands, plus breakout year-over-year search leaders: Coach, Ferragamo, Pucci, Toteme
    • American Designers on the Rise: CFDA members drove strong momentum — Diotima (+152%), Zankov (+65%), Marina Moscone (+44%)

  • Creative Director Shakeups & Cultural Moments

    • Jonathan Anderson is The RealReal’s Creative Director of the Year — Loewe searches spiked +488% following his departure
    • Celebrity impact: Kendrick Lamar’s Celine Super Bowl jeans drove “Celine Flare Jeans” searches +963% in 24 hours
    • Comeback Brand of the Year: Isabel Marant, now the #1 most-searched contemporary label (+54% year-over-year)

  • Trend Resurgences

    • Maximalism Returns: 1980s silhouettes, sequins, fur, vintage Mugler suits
    • 2010s Nostalgia: Hervé Léger bandage dresses (+106%), a high-heel revival led by Louboutin, Manolo, D&G, and Giuseppe Zanotti (+24–45%), and reissued It Bags like the Balenciaga City, Chloé Paddington, and Fendi Spy
       
  • The Patina Effect
    • Sales of Fair Condition items +32% year-over-year, with growth driven by new buyers (+40%)
    • Distressed brown leather jackets +155%
    • Sticker-covered Rimowa luggage +65%
    • Bags showing visible wear +45%
       
  • Weddings & Generational Shifts

    • Wedding searches surged across generations: Gen Z (+55%), Boomers (+45%)
    • Bridal standouts: Danielle Frankel (+67%), Vivienne Westwood (+73%), vintage engagement rings (+198%)

  • Investment Categories

    • Fine jewelry average selling prices rose +17% year-over-year, with sterling silver being the highest they’ve ever been
    • Tiffany & Co. posted record resale prices
    • Piaget Polo crowned The Watch to Watch (+285% in sales year-over-year), alongside generational watch preferences

 The full 2025 Resale Report is available here.

*Source: Capital One Shopping, Thrifting Statistics, 2025.

About The RealReal
The RealReal is the world’s largest online marketplace for authenticated, resale luxury goods, with more than 40 million members. With a rigorous authentication process overseen by experts, The RealReal provides a safe and reliable platform for consumers to buy and sell their luxury items. We have hundreds of in-house gemologists, horologists and brand authenticators who inspect thousands of items each day. As a sustainable company, we give new life to pieces by thousands of brands across numerous categories—including women's and men's fashion, fine jewelry and watches, art and home—in support of the circular economy. We make selling effortless with free virtual appointments, in-home pickup, drop-off and direct shipping. We handle all of the work for consignors, including authenticating, using AI and machine learning to determine optimal pricing, photographing and listing their items, as well as shipping and customer service.

Press Contact:
Mallory Johnston
Head of PR
pr@therealreal.com


Primary Logo

Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.