Opting for second-hand fashion isn’t just about saving money — it’s also a way to help the planet. Each pre-owned item purchased saves around 1,000 liters of water otherwise used in its production, as well as 15 kg of CO₂ emissions generated during manufacturing and shipping.

With this in mind, Fabien Huché-Deniset (H.17) founded Paradigme in 2022 — a resale platform for premium women’s fashion. “It’s a family project that was born during the lockdown,” he explains. “To help more people shift to a more sustainable model, my brother and I wanted to remove the main barriers to second-hand shopping: the time-consuming, unpredictable process for sellers, and the cheap, hard-to-navigate experience for buyers.”

Paradigme offers gift cards (valid on its own site and with partners like BHV, Showroomprivé, and Place des Tendances) in exchange for a “super fast” item submission process. On the logistics side, the platform manages everything: authentication, professional studio photography, cleaning, refurbishing, and a premium display online — aiming to create a shopping experience that rivals buying new.

This vision of second-hand retail isn’t far from that of Rebag, founded a decade ago by Charles-Albert Gorra (H.07). Based exclusively in the U.S. with a team of around 200 employees, the company buys pre-owned luxury goods, audits and stores them, then sells them on its own platform. Its specialty? Designer handbags — high-value items with no sizing constraints, easy to ship, and whose vintage appeal only adds to their desirability.

Sneakers in stock

Originally launched in 2021 as a mobile app, Sneakmart was the brainchild of Anthony Debrant (who joined the HEC Incubator earlier this year). The platform started as a second-hand marketplace for sneakers and streetwear, attracting a community of over 200,000 members.

But in 2024, the startup pivoted to a new model: for a €14 monthly subscription, users now gain access to weekly private sales featuring premium streetwear brands such as Ami Paris, Jacquemus, Stone Island, Nike, and New Balance.

“For our subscribers, it means exclusive and highly attractive prices. And for our brand partners, it’s a way to preserve their image — unlike collaborations with mainstream discount platforms like Veepee, The Bradery, or Showroomprivé,” explains the 25-year-old founder.

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