ST. PETERSBURG, Fla — Secondhand vintage apparel is becoming a popular option for many. 

ThreadUp, one of the world’s largest online consignment and thrift stores, has been tracking used apparel habits. In a 2025 report, the company predicted that the U.S. secondhand apparel market will climb to $73 billion by 2028, increasing by an average of 11% each year. 

What You Need To Know

ThredUp’s retail report for 2025 supports growing trends for vintage stores

ARTpool Gallery Boutique and Record Store, located at 2000 Central Ave. in St. Petersburg, has seen a business spike in the last five years

Owner Marina Williams credits Gen-Z fashion trends, the hurting economy, and environmental factors for the uptick in business

In St. Petersburg, ARTpool Gallery Boutique and Record Store is where all things funky and unique go to thrive.

“ARTpool is a treasure trove of all the decades, all the genres from 1920s flapper to 1970s disco,” said owner Marina Williams.

The store offers a look at secondhand hats from different decades, vintage shirts, or handmade items, and jewelry.

“Sometimes they need a little more love to continue their journey on the planet,” Williams said. 

Williams opened ARTpool Vintage and Vinyl in 2008, and said it took a while for her business to take off.

“People thought, ‘What is this? What is vintage?’” she said. “They were just so used to either being new or it being thrift.”

But nearly 20 years later, things have changed. The shop has moved locations and is now a family business, with her husband’s record shop next door.

With vintage becoming trendy, business has improved — in the last five years, Williams said she has seen a spike.

Customer Aurora Jamenez said she comes in often to reduce textile waste.

“It’s kind of brutal,” she said. “So, something like a silly costume that’s usually made out of plastic anyway, might as well get it used.”

Williams reducing waste is one of the reasons for the uptick in sales. The other, she said, is the economy.

“People want to find more value and be economical and very conscientious of where their money goes and how far it can stretch,” Willams said.

University of South Florida associate professor Richard Smith said economic data backs up that observation.

Smith said that while wages have risen by 18% in the last few years, when you account for inflation, he said it’s actually a 2% net decrease.

“So they can, in terms of actual goods and services, afford less on average,” Smith said.

And Smith said prices aren’t likely to come down anytime soon either.

“What we generally see is eventually wages rising to meet the new price level,” he said. “But we haven’t reached that yet, and that’s the uncertainty.”

Williams said she always makes sure to prioritize affordable pricing for her store, with the economy and locals in mind.

“If you are looking for some things that are going to be more affordable than those mall venues, and also supporting a local economy, pour so much more into your own neighborhood, which is vital right now more than ever,” Williams said.