Depop

Depop launched in 2011 as a peer-to-peer social shopping app, founded by Simon Beckerman. It blends the visual feed of Instagram with the transactional backbone of eBay, letting users buy and sell used and vintage clothing, accessories, and home goods. The platform quickly became a Gen Z staple, roughly 90% of its active users are under 26, and its feed-driven interface encourages discovery through likes, follows, and direct messaging. By 2021, Depop had grown to 30 million registered users across 150 countries, catching the attention of Etsy, which acquired it for $1.6 billion.

What sets Depop apart is its emphasis on individuality and sustainability. Sellers style their shops like personal boutiques, often shooting their own photos and writing detailed descriptions. The app's algorithm surfaces trending items based on user behavior, making it a hotbed for micro-trends like Y2K revival, cottagecore, and gorpcore. In its first year alone, Depop hit 1 million users, and by late 2024 it was managing around 180,000 daily listings. The platform has been recognized by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation as a key player in the circular economy, driving a cultural shift toward second-hand fashion.

Recent updates have leaned heavily into AI and seller tools. In September 2024, Depop rolled out an AI description generator that creates listings from photos. A major product release in June 2025 added photo editing via a Photoroom partnership, automated "Boosted Listings," an improved Shop Stats dashboard, and CSV bulk upload for desktop users. These features aim to streamline the selling process while keeping the platform's social, creative core intact. [edit]