Vinted

Vinted, the European second-hand fashion marketplace

Vinted is a platform for buying and selling second-hand items that operates across Europe. Its activity focuses on clothing, footwear and accessories, although the catalogue extends to kids' items, luxury handbags, home goods, electronics, books and media, hobbies and collectables, and sports. The company presents itself as a community open to those who believe that quality items should live long.

From a flat in Lithuania to a pan-European company

The company was founded in 2008 as a Lithuanian start-up. Its founder, Milda Mitkutė, was moving home and had more clothes than she could take with her; Justas Janauskas helped her by building a website to give those garments away to friends. The initiative quickly attracted media attention and both founders decided to turn it into a business. Today, more than 2,000 people work from the headquarters in Lithuania and from offices across Europe.

A catalogue that goes beyond clothing

The platform allows its members to trade millions of second-hand items every day. The catalogue includes popular categories such as dresses, outerwear, tops and t-shirts, jumpers and sweaters, activewear and boots for women and men. Among the best-selling brands are Nike, adidas, Zara, Next, Marks & Spencer, Ralph Lauren, Apple, Dr. Martens, The North Face and River Island. Items are listed with size, condition (new with tags, very good, good or satisfactory) and price; the site shows examples such as a Ralph Lauren jumper size M for £19.99 or Urban Outfitters leggings size S for £20.00, with the final price including taxes.

Sell without fees

The proposition for those who want to part with garments they no longer wear is straightforward: list items at the price chosen by the seller and with no selling fees (0% selling fees). The company offers a free mobile app to manage sales and encourages users to declutter their wardrobe with that model.

Leadership team and investor backing

The company is led by its CEO, Thomas Plantenga, and has Adam Jay as CEO of Marketplace. Among the cofounders are Milda Mitkutė and Justas Janauskas. The project is backed by venture capital firms from both sides of the Atlantic, including Accel, Burda Principal Investments, EQT Growth, Insight Partners, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Sprints.

Impact and positioning

Vinted maintains that second-hand is better than new for the climate, for your wardrobe and for your wallet, and cites its own Impact Report as evidence. Its stated goal is to make second-hand first choice for everyone. The company maintains informational sections on sustainability, press, advertising, accessibility and careers, as well as a help centre for buyers and sellers.