Description: The rapid growth of second-hand platforms has created new data-rich ecosystems that remain largely untapped by fashion brands. Although recommerce is a key pillar of the circular economy, brands often lack visibility on how their products circulate, perform, and retain value in resale markets. This thesis aims to explore what brands currently know about their products in second-hand channels, what they would like to know, and how this information could support decisions in product design, durability strategies, pricing, and circular business models. The study will combine qualitative inquiry with a data-driven analysis developed in collaboration with a technology provider able to extract and structure large datasets from second-hand platforms.

Objectives:

(1)Identify brands’ information needs regarding product performance in second-hand markets;

(2)Understand what data is currently accessible vs. inaccessible to brands

(3)Co-design a data extraction and analysis plan with a technology provider;

(4)Analyze structured data from selected second-hand platforms to uncover trends and insights;

(5)Discuss implications for design, durability, supply chain decisions, and circular business model development.

Methodology: Literature review, Case-studies & quantitative analysis

Type of work: Dissertation/Thesis