Rebag plants resale shop in Westfield World Trade Center

Westfield World Trade Center's newest tenant is a luxury resale retailer. Rebag, marketed as the ultimate destination for buying and selling luxury handbags, announced the location of its latest store in the Westfield mall.

The secondhand retailer is clearly growing exponentially this year, as the new location marks its fifth new store opened this year. Rebag currently operates two other stores in New York, in Soho and on Madison Avenue, and two in Los Angeles.

"When deciding where to open a Rebag boutique, we look at where and how our customers are shopping," said Rebag founder and CEO Charles Gorra in a statement. "We found that malls are thriving ecosystems in this country, with shoppers visiting and seeking the same premium shopping experience and brands one would find from a stand-alone luxury boutique. It was a natural next step to open our newest location in not just a mall, but inside the iconic Oculus."

The Westfield store has all of the hallmarks of the retailer's existing locations: the Rebag Bar where shoppers can have bags instantly authenticated for sale, and a Hermès Birkin Wall. Rebag hopes that this store can allow it to continue its mission of providing transparency, flexibility and personalized services to shoppers wishing to buy secondhand items, or sell luxury bags to the retailer. Those coming in to sell their items to Rebag can complete the exchange within an hour.

Rebag innovates the secondhand luxury market

While other secondhand retailers and consignment shops work to extend an unwanted item's lifespan, Rebag functions under a principle similar to that of a luxury rental service: consumers tastes change quickly, especially when it comes to accessories.

Gorra had previously worked in business development with Rent the Runway before launching Rebag in 2017. He grew to understand problems of sustainability and consumption within the luxury fashion industry, and founded Rebag as a way to give products a more sustainable life cycle while empowering consumers to make savvy decisions.

The retailer launched its Rebag Infinity program this year, which allows shoppers to return bags purchased through Rebag to the retailer for 70 percent of the purchase price towards their next item.

"With Rebag Infinity we are facilitating an infinite cycle, where shoppers can reinvest their Rebag Credit endlessly and always carry the handbag of their dreams," said Gorra in a statement. "Providing a predetermined resale outcome at the time of the initial purchase will influence consumers' buying decisions."

Shoppers can utilize the Rebag Infinity program in the Westfield store, as well as the other four locations and online.

Photo: Rebag website