Vintage, second-hand, pre-loved or retro: what’s the difference?
Vintage, second-hand, pre-loved, retro and deadstock are often used interchangeably. Here’s what each term means, with examples.
In short
- Second-hand and pre-loved mean the same thing: clothing that has had a previous owner.
- Vintage is second-hand clothing that is usually twenty years old or more.
- Retro is new clothing in the style of the past.
- Deadstock is old shop stock that has never been sold or worn.
In shops, on online platforms and on social media, you’ll come across them all: vintage, second-hand, pre-loved, retro and deadstock. They’re often used interchangeably, but they don’t mean the same thing. The difference mainly comes down to two questions: has the garment been worn before, and how old is it?
Second-hand and pre-loved
Second-hand clothing is clothing that has had a previous owner, however old it is. Pre-loved is a friendlier term used mainly by online shops and brands. So a jumper that was bought new last year and is now being resold is second-hand, but not (yet) vintage.
Vintage
Vintage is second-hand clothing of a certain age. There’s no official definition. A widely used rule of thumb, applied for example by the marketplace Etsy, is that an item is at least twenty years old. Items more than a hundred years old are called antique. Vintage is often about character too: pieces that are typical of their time, such as a blazer with broad shoulders from the 1980s.
Retro
Retro refers to a style from the past. Usually, it means new clothing inspired by that style: a new dress with a 1970s-style print is retro; the original dress from 1975 is vintage.
Deadstock
Deadstock is clothing that has never been sold: old stock from a shop or manufacturer that was left over. So it’s old but unworn, often with the original tag still attached. In GSYL’s condition grades, a piece like this falls under New with tags.
Upcycled
Upcycled clothing is made from old clothes or leftover material, such as a bag made from old jeans or a top made from a vintage scarf. The material is second-hand; the product itself is new.
| Term | Worn before? | Age | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second-hand / pre-loved | Usually | Any age | A three-year-old blazer |
| Vintage | Usually | Usually 20 years or older | A wool coat from the 1990s |
| Antique | Usually | More than 100 years | A lace blouse from the 1910s |
| Retro | No, new | Newly made | A new dress in 1970s style |
| Deadstock | No | Old, never sold | A dress from 2015 with the shop tag still attached |
| Upcycled | The material, yes | Newly made from old material | A bag made from old jeans |
What does GSYL sell?
GSYL sells second-hand women’s clothing, shoes and bags: from timeless basics to statement pieces. Every item is unique and hand-picked. You’ll also find never-worn items with the original tag; you can recognise them by the New with tags grade. For what to look out for when you buy, read buying second-hand clothes online.
Frequently asked questions
How old does clothing have to be to count as vintage?
There’s no official cut-off. Clothing that is twenty years old or more is usually called vintage; that is also Etsy’s rule, for example. Items more than a hundred years old are called antique.
Is pre-loved the same as second-hand?
Yes. Pre-loved is another, slightly friendlier term for second-hand: clothing that has had a previous owner.
What is the difference between vintage and retro?
Vintage is old and original. Retro is newly made in a style from the past.
What does deadstock mean?
Deadstock is old stock that has never been sold or worn. So it’s old, but unworn.
Sources
- Vintage (opens in a new tab), Cambridge Dictionary
- Pre-loved (opens in a new tab), Cambridge Dictionary
- Vintage items on Etsy (opens in a new tab), Etsy
- Heading 9706: Antiques of an age exceeding 100 years (opens in a new tab), UK Trade Tariff (GOV.UK)
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