Understanding how your wardrobe can become more valuable is a genuine investment tool.
A woman’s wardrobe says a lot about her style, even personality, and over the years, I’ve realised it also says a lot about how she views investment. Most of us remember our first “big girl purchase.” Maybe a well-made handbag, a pair of shoes we saved up for, or jewellery we promised ourselves would last long. At the time, it felt like just a treat, but looking back, it was something more. It was an investment in quality, in longevity, and in ourselves.
What many of us are now discovering is that fashion can actually hold value, and some can even grow our wealth. Now, the pieces we once saw as only beautiful belongings start to look a lot like investments.
This shift has changed the way women think about purchases. We are no longer just building wardrobes. We are shopping with intention — looking for investment pieces that carry stories, craftsmanship and sometimes, genuine financial potential. Fashion is becoming a space where style meets strategy, and where the things we love can also work for us in the long run.
Understanding true investment pieces and how fashion can function as a financial asset
A true investment piece retains or grows in value regardless of shifting trends. These are items backed by craftsmanship, heritage, scarcity and consistent demand. They tend to come from brands with a track record of stable resale performance or from artisan traditions that ensure long-term desirability and longevity.
This applies globally, including within African fashion, where craftsmanship and limited production naturally create scarcity. Brands like Hermès, Lisa Folawiyo, Chanel, Lukhanyo Mdingi, Maxhosa Africa, LVMH, Thebe Magugu, Shekudo, and Femi Handbags have built international recognition precisely because their pieces combine cultural storytelling with exceptional craftsmanship. Many of their items are produced in small quantities, which enhances long-term value and makes them attractive to collectors who seek authenticity and heritage.
Basically, fashion can function as a financial investment — but only if you buy pieces wisely, maintain them, and view them through a long-term lens.
Certain handbags, for instance, have shown a tendency to increase in value more rapidly than conventional financial investments. According to resale data, some Birkin bags have achieved an average annual increase in value of 14.2%, outperforming major stocks over time.
Jewellery made from gold or rare gemstones gains value as raw material prices rise. Handcrafted garments, beadwork and textiles from African designers also hold collector value because the skills behind them cannot be replicated at a mass-production scale.
What influences whether a fashion item appreciates
Several factors determine whether a fashion item increases in value:
Brand reputation
Brands with strong heritage, limited production and consistent demand tend to hold value better.
Scarcity
Limited editions or pieces with controlled supply likely appreciate due to demand outpacing availability.
Condition
Wear and tear affect value. Items stored properly, cleaned regularly and maintained well always sell higher.
Cultural relevance
If a piece becomes iconic or linked to pop culture, demand grows. For example, certain sneaker collaborations or vintage pieces rise sharply when they become culturally symbolic.
Material value
Gold offers more transparent pricing and easier resale due to its commodity status, though it still fluctuates with market conditions. Diamonds are trickier: certified, high-quality stones can hold value, but most retail diamonds carry markups of 100-300%, making resale disappointing. For jewellery investment, gold provides more reliable value retention, while diamonds require careful selection, certification, and realistic expectations about resale prices.
Documentation
Original packaging, certificates and receipts increase trust and resale price.
Where to begin if you want to treat fashion as an investment tool
If you intentionally want to build a fashion investment portfolio, these are the strongest categories to consider.
Designer handbags
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Handbags are one of the most reliable fashion investments because supply is controlled, and global demand is high.
Global luxury examples:
African luxury examples:
- Okapi (South Africa) with ethically sourced, limited-run leather bags
- Femi Handbags (Nigeria), known for fine craftsmanship and exclusive production
- Shekudo (Nigeria), using artisanal weaving and unique materials
- IamIsigo and other contemporary African brands with growing global resale appeal
These brands are increasingly sought after by collectors who value pieces that are distinct, culturally rich and rare.
Read also: Bags of gold or just hype? The truth about luxury handbag investment
Fine jewellery
Fine jewellery is one of the most dependable fashion investments because it combines beauty with intrinsic material value.
Key points to know:
Gold appreciates consistently due to global demand and a tracked market price.
Diamonds can appreciate, but only if they are high-quality and certified.
Gemstones such as emeralds, rubies and sapphires hold strong value when rare and well cut.
Africa is a major global source of precious metals and gemstones. Designers like Ami Doshi Shah, Patrick Mavros, Pichulik, and other fine jewellers use local materials and traditional metalwork techniques. Their pieces often become collectors’ items because they blend artistry, heritage and limited availability.
Watches
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Luxury watches are an increasingly important investment category for women. Strong performers include: Rolex, Patek Philippe, Bvlgari, Audemars Piguet and Cartier.
These brands create pieces that often hold or appreciate in value due to precision craftsmanship, heritage and scarcity. Limited editions likely perform especially well.
Sneakers
Sneakers have become one of the fastest-growing secondary markets in fashion.
Value-driven factors:
Limited drops
Designer or artist collaborations
Cultural relevance
Excellent condition and original packaging
Pairs from collaborations like Off-White x Nike, Travis Scott x Jordan, or Adidas Yeezy often hold or grow in value because they capture a moment and are released in small quantities.
Condition is equally important. Unworn sneakers with their original box almost always resell at stronger prices, while lightly worn pairs still move but for less.
Globally, platforms such as StockX, GOAT, Flight Club and Stadium Goods have turned sneaker reselling into a transparent marketplace, complete with authentication and real-time pricing.
How luxury resale platforms changed value perception
Luxury resale platforms have made it easier than ever to create a real turnaround on fashion investment. A few years ago, many of us bought pieces based purely on emotion. Today, before making a major purchase, it’s easy to check how much that item is selling for on resale apps. With this new visibility, you begin to understand which brands stay strong, which pieces appreciate and which items lose value quickly.
These platforms have also made selling simple and accessible. Instead of needing a direct buyer, you can upload an item, authenticate it and reach thousands of interested shoppers across the world, all from your phone. For many women, this has been a confidence shift. Knowing you can easily resell a bag, a watch, or even sneakers makes you more intentional about what you buy and how you care for your wardrobe.
Globally, platforms like The RealReal, Vestiaire Collective, Fashionphile, and Rebag have become everyday tools for people buying and selling investment pieces. And across Africa, platforms like Vynt are creating trusted spaces where buyers and sellers can trade authentic luxury and premium items locally. Many cities also rely on Instagram-based consignment pages and curated thrift communities that make pre-owned shopping feel both modern and accessible.
Misconceptions about investing in fashion
Here are the common myths that mislead many women when they start exploring fashion as a potential investment.
Myth: “If it’s expensive, it must be an investment.”
Fact: A high price tag does not guarantee appreciation. Trendy designer pieces often lose value quickly.
Myth: “All designer brands appreciate.”
Fact: Only certain models from certain brands consistently appreciate. Many luxury items sell for far less on the resale market.
Myth: “You need a huge budget to start.”
Fact: You can start small with fine jewellery, pre-owned pieces, limited sneakers or artisan-made items from rising African designers whose value may grow as their brands expand.
Myth: “Investment fashion sells quickly.”
Fact: Fashion is not as liquid as stocks. Resales can take time, and consignment stores often charge commissions.
Myth: “Maintenance is not important.”
Fact: Condition directly affects resale value. Proper storage, cleaning and care are essential for preserving worth.
Myth: “Only Western brands count as investments.”
Fact: African luxury is rising globally. Limited production, rich cultural storytelling and exceptional craftsmanship make many African brands valuable to collectors around the world.
Fashion becomes more than just what you wear when you start seeing it as an investment — in style, in quality and sometimes even financially. But it’s important to remember that fashion isn’t an overnight wealth builder. Not every luxury item is an investment piece, and not every designer name guarantees future value. True investment fashion takes intention. It takes research. It takes paying attention to how certain pieces perform over time before making a purchase.
For women everywhere, particularly across Africa, fashion as an investment blends creativity, heritage and smart decision-making. From a hand-crafted handbag to a limited-edition sneaker, the right pieces can shift from simple purchases to assets that hold value, tell a story and stand the test of time.
Read more: The truth behind luxury fashion: Are brands really what they claim?
