A vintage reseller from Wisconsin has shared how she accidentally sold a designer dress worth thousands for just $135.
Hannah, 22, has been reselling vintage fashion since she was 17. But one recent sale on a live auction platform quickly turned into what she called “the worst mistake of my life.”
“I started the item out at a $30 bid and the 60 or so viewers in my live bid it up to almost $135,” Hannah, who didn’t give a surname, told Newsweek. “I realized it was worth a little more even before I ran it when people in my live stream were getting super excited and informing me of the brand.”
The dress, a rare designer piece, turned out to be valued at around $3,000—far more than what she sold it for.
Building a vintage resale business
Hannah began her journey during the pandemic, first selling on online under the handle @gremlinzgarmentz, focusing on vintage clothing from the 1960s through early 2000s.
Recently, she shifted her focus to 90s and Y2K styles, sourcing many of her pieces from wholesale boxes filled with clothing otherwise destined for landfills.
“When it comes to curating for my store though my goal is not to find the biggest designers, but more so a feeling and wanting to provide the best quality of items for my buyers,” Hannah explained.
Selling the dress
When she shared the mistake online, other resellers urged Hannah to cancel the order and relist the dress at its true value, Hannah chose to honor the sale.
“After a couple hours, I was mostly just excited that I got to share such an iconic vintage dress with someone who may not have been able to afford it otherwise—all while still making a profit,” she said.
Like many in her field, Hannah sees mistakes like this as part of the job: “All resellers have an ‘uh oh!’ kind of story where they sell something for less than it’s worth.”
Reseller backlash
When Hannah shared her story on Instagram and TikTok, reactions were mixed. Some sympathized, but others criticized her profession, accusing resellers of “stealing from the poor.”
But she pushed back, pointing out that thrift stores and donation centers in the U.S. are overflowing with items. “There is enough clothing in the world to clothe the next seven generations without making a single new garment of clothing,” she said.
She argued that resellers play an important role in sustainability by encouraging shoppers to choose secondhand over fast fashion.
“Secondhand fashion is about giving old clothing new life,” she said. “Not only do you get a unique piece, but you also help cut down on waste. Why would you want to wear a T-shirt that a million other people also own?”
This isn’t the first time the true value of a resale object has amazed the internet. Earlier this year one woman picked up a designer top for $13, only to discover the huge true value.
While another shopper found a $3 bag of pens at the thrift store, only to find out they had a true value of more than $100.
The post Gen Zer Sells Dress for $135, Then Realizes Its True Value: “Worst Mistake” appeared first on Newsweek.
