India's Gen Z Builds ₹33,000 Crore Thrift Trade as 10% Youth Unemployment Bites
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 14
India's Gen Z Builds ₹33,000 Crore Thrift Trade as 10% Youth Unemployment Bites
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 14
Instagram sellers and Delhi market resellers are turning secondhand fashion into full-time work as weak hiring pushes more young Indians into informal self-employment.
About 10% of Indians aged 15–29 were unemployed in 2025, and thrift resale offers low start-up costs, flexible hours and faster cashflow than waiting for scarce formal jobs.
₹5,000-₹10,000 is enough for some to start, but income is volatile: sellers handle sourcing, photos, marketing and delivery themselves, while dead stock, fake payments and returns can wipe out gains.
Instagram drives roughly 70% of sales for some traders, making social media their storefront even as algorithm shifts, scams and missed posts can quickly cut visibility and earnings.
India's secondhand clothing market is estimated at ₹33,000 crore a year, but economists say the boom reflects labour-market weakness more than a sustainability-led retail shift.
Is India's thrift boom empowering Gen Z or just masking a deep jobs crisis?
As the thrift market triples, can 'survival work' ever become a stable, long-term career?
Gen Z, Youth Unemployment, and the $18 Billion Thrift Boom: The Future of Fashion and Work in India
Overview
India is experiencing a youth unemployment crisis, even though its overall unemployment rate is moderate. Many young Indians pursue multiple degrees, hoping to improve their job prospects, which has helped the education sector grow rapidly. However, this investment in education does not always lead to jobs, revealing a disconnect between academic qualifications and what employers need. Structural issues in the labor market make it harder for young people to find suitable work, highlighting the need for comprehensive reforms. As a result, young Indians are turning to new opportunities like the thrift economy, blending education, adaptability, and entrepreneurship to navigate these challenges.