High End, an AI‑powered marketplace for luxury resale, is on a mission to make designer fashion more accessible.
With a customer base of over 100,000, High End allows both individuals and businesses to buy and sell securely, relying on technology, authentication, curation, and a focus on sustainability.
The platform is seeing significant growth in the resale market, especially amid tariff uncertainties and shifting consumer behavior. As some luxury brands experience share price declines, more buyers are looking to resale as a practical, accessible way to invest in fashion.
Lauren Kennedy, High End and Verity AI CEO and CTO, sees this shift as part of a wider economic and cultural trend.
“On one hand, consumers are looking for smarter ways to spend, they want value, but they don’t want to compromise on quality. On the other hand, there’s a huge shift toward conscious consumption,” Kennedy told RetailBiz.
Resale, she explains, gives luxury items a second life and caters to a growing appetite for unique, personalized, and vintage pieces. Today’s buyers are more strategic — mixing high and low, vintage and new — and increasingly view fashion as both self‑expression and investment.
“At High End, we’re seeing customers who are about logos and longevity. They’re educated, digitally savvy, and motivated by sustainability as much as style.”
Global uncertainty, from tariffs to supply chain issues, has pushed more people toward resale platforms. Kennedy says resale offers stability and value, allowing shoppers to sidestep import fees while still accessing top‑tier fashion.
“Consumers are researching more, seeking quality over quantity, and they’re open to pre-owned items if they’re authenticated and in great condition.”
She has also seen the rise of the ‘fashion investor,’ someone who buys with resale in mind, signifying a big mindset shift from fast fashion to thoughtful ownership.
According to Kennedy, rare and exclusive pieces are a primary draw.
“Our platform combines high end fashion with premium tech, making luxury resale feel elevated. Verity AI, our authentication engine, helps take the uncertainty out of resale. Plus, we’re curating access to rare finds and exclusive pieces that simply can’t be found anywhere else.”
Today’s buyers are motivated by value, sustainability, and the thrill of discovery — priorities that set them apart from traditional luxury shoppers.
“Unlike traditional luxury customers who shopped in-store for status, today’s buyers are proud to say they got an iconic piece at 70 per cent off retail, and proud to say they thrifted or shopped resale.”
Authentication is crucial in luxury resale, and Kennedy notes that it is the core of what they do. Therefore, High End uses Verity AI as their authentication technology, featuring machine learning and image recognition to assess the legitimacy of fashion items across brands such as Zimmermann, Aje, and Alemais.
“We combine this digital layer with human expertise for in-person verification on premium verified items. It’s this hybrid approach that gives our customers confidence and helps us scale trust alongside growth.”
Kennedy also sees AI, blockchain, and advanced imaging playing a role in general resale security and verification, and even at High End.
“We see AI as essential in scaling authentication, and advanced imaging allows us to compare micro details across products, especially as counterfeits become harder to detect. Blockchain is a longer-term play. We see potential in provenance tracking and digital certificates of authenticity that stay with a product across owners.”
In the past, luxury brands resisted resale due to concerns that it might impact their full-price sales and affect their exclusive image. However, there are improvements as resale becomes more mainstream and consumer-driven.
In Kennedy’s view, luxury brands are beginning to see resale as a value enhancer rather than a threat. Resale prolongs the life of their products and keeps them in the style conversation.
“What’s improving is the infrastructure. Platforms like High End are elevating the resale experience so that it aligns with the prestige and personality of the original brand. With better curation, tech, and customer experience, resale is now something even the most exclusive brands can’t ignore.”
In the next phase of growth in luxury resale, Kennedy is most looking forward to witnessing resale evolve from being an alternative option to a first choice.
“With Verity AI, we’re building the tools that will power the next generation of resale, giving both buyers and sellers more confidence than ever.”
High End is focused on making circular fashion aspirational and accessible at the same time, and Kennedy expects that is where the future of luxury resale is headed.