How ethical is depop?

Sustainable fashion has become a buzz word in the fashion industry in the last decade. Thrifting and reselling practices are more popular than ever before and it is largely due to Gen Z’s prioritization of two things: sustainability and low budget consumption. 

When you add the accessibility of technology to that equation, you are left with reselling apps like Depop, which currently has over 35 million registered users from around the world.

Founded in London in 2011, Depop has grown from a small platform accessible only in certain countries to a much broader network where people in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Italy can conveniently sell their clothes with just a 10% selling fee. Over $3.5 billion dollars have been generated by sellers on the app, and approximately 180,000 new listings go up every day.

I first discovered Depop five years ago as a 16-year-old sophomore in high school. Since then, I have sold over 100 articles of clothing, and made over $4,000. 

I originally started on the app in search of vintage clothing, but I soon realized that I could purchase items that I could not get in the United States from sellers in other countries. I have since bought a pair of vintage jeans from the UK, a straw bag from France from a seller located in Australia, and a navy wool sweater from Switzerland. Unlike other resell apps such as Poshmark, Depop allows you to connect with those overseas, with a lower selling fee and an adjustable shipping price.

I have personally benefited from Depop in many ways. Not only have I saved hundreds of dollars buying vintage clothing, but I have also reduced my carbon footprint. 

A relatively new feature of Depop is a small banner that appears after you have purchased several items that reads “Secondhand Is Your First Choice.” It then proceeds to tell me that I have helped save 2,605 gallons of water = 59,232 glasses of drinking water. Another banner informed me that I have helped save 1,093 lbs of greenhouse gas emissions = 1,767 miles driven by a car.

I have very few issues with the app. Like with any online platform, there is room for error. I have received an item before in slightly worse condition than advertised, and I have sold an item that the buyer attempted to return due to it being “ill-fitting.” 

I have had to send an item back, and I have dealt with sellers who took over a week to ship an item. Nonetheless, each time I have sold an item on the app, its price point has gone directly to my bank account in a matter of days.

One of the biggest complaints Depop has received has come from social media. It has become a common occurrence for sellers reselling “rare” or vintage items to list it for over double what they purchased it for. This certainly has caused some annoyance amongst users of the app, but in my personal opinion the individual seller’s behavior is not necessarily a reflection of the app and its policies.

Depop continues to improve their Help Centre and Community Guidelines to ensure safety on the app. If someone were to be scammed, they are able to reach out to support to solve the issue, and transactions made within the app are fully protected by Depop Payments or Paypal. 

I continue to use the app as a full time college student, not only because it allows me to clear my closet and make money from it, but also because it is a much more environmentally friendly option.