eBay Deepens Luxury Push With Streetwear Authentication

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eBay has begun authenticating streetwear as part of its push into the luxury market.

Beginning Thursday (June 1), the online marketplace will include streetwear along with sneakers, watches, jewelry, handbags and trading cards in its authentication program, according to a Thursday press release.

“eBay has pieces from nearly every notable streetwear drop that’s ever happened — whether in 1993 or 2023,” said Garry Thaniel, eBay’s global general manager of sneakers and streetwear, in the release. “We’ve heard loud and clear from our enthusiast community that they want to be able to come to eBay to buy and sell apparel in the same seamless way that they can sneakers. With the launch of Authenticity Guarantee for streetwear, we’re delivering on that ask.”

eBay will verify streetwear bought and sold in the U.S. for items worth more than $200, with each piece evaluated by the company’s trained authentication team, the release stated.

The program will start with brands including Aimé Leon Dore, Bape, Fear of God, Kith, Off-White, Palace, Stone Island, Supreme and Vetements. The company plans to add brands such as Adidas, Balenciaga, Burberry, Dior, Gucci, Prada and Nike by the end of September, according to the release.

The launch comes weeks after eBay acquired authentication firm Certilogo, and with it, a platform that lets consumers verify the authenticity of their garments.

eBay also recently unveiled its Certified by Brand program, aimed at giving shoppers a wider range of in-demand and collectible luxury items while also ensuring authenticity through eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee.

eBay will offer newly released, certified pre-owned, limited-edition, or exclusive “only on eBay” stock from high-end brands.

The company’s earnings report in April showed growing traction in the luxury sector with double-digit yearly growth since the fourth quarter of 2019 in categories that include watches, handbags, jewelry and sneakers.

“However, despite this growth, a significant percentage of these items listed are noted to be pre-owned,” PYMNTS wrote. “In 2022, over 60% of watches, over 50% of handbags, and over 30% of jewelry listings were categorized as pre-owned.”

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