Hong Kong’s luxury retail market is enduring a severe downturn, with government data revealing a 7.7% year-on-year decline in retail sales value for the first eight months of 2024, while sales volume dropped by 9.3%. Sales of jewelry, watches, clocks, and valuable gifts fell sharply, declining 24% in August following a 25.1% drop in July. The slump is largely attributed to changing consumer habits and travel patterns among mainland Chinese tourists, a critical pillar of the city’s retail sector.

Once dismissed as "dead people’s clothes" and shunned for their supposed bad luck, second-hand fashion in Hong Kong has undergone a transformation. The younger generation, driven by a mix of sustainability consciousness and a love for unique styles, has shattered this long-standing stereotype, giving rise to a thriving thrifting culture. Today, vintage finds and pre-loved gems are no longer taboo but celebrated as a fusion of practicality and personal expression. As the city embraces this global shift, second-hand fashion is not only rewriting narratives but also carving out a new space in Hong Kong’s dynamic retail landscape.