As this series of Love Island draws to a close, one thing is for certain: all the Islanders have fallen head over heels for pre-loved fashion – with pre-loved being worn almost every day of the series! The final contestants dressed to impress for the Love Island ball and the finale, donning show-stopping outfits from eBay including Meshki, House of CB and Reiss.
With sales of pre-loved fashion up an incredible 1400% compared to last year, it’s no surprise that eBay have continued their Love Affair with the reality TV programme, and the final showcased the range of pre-loved fashion brands available on the marketplace. Since the first partnership announcement, eBay has seen 1600% more searches for ‘pre-loved clothes’, as well as an increase of 24% more circular fashion businesses joining the online marketplace, showing pre-loved is on the rise.
To drive the shift, eBay offered any new customers £5 off their next pre-loved purchase while the show was on. This matters as it’s not just a case of driving sales of pre-loved fashion, it’s about capturing new customers to eBay, who invariably then go on to purchase across multiple verticals and on occasion shop new as well as pre-loved, used, and refurbished.
For the tear-jerking Love Island Ball, where the Islanders showed off their style while reading out their declarations of love, the stars dressed in stand-out looks, some of which were part of the series 8 shared wardrobe collection. Samie stunned in a Meshki Cartia red dress, while Sanam glammed up in a Club L pink off the shoulder dress. While speaking about her journey with Shaq, Tanya went for an Alexandra Rich blue dress, while Lana wore a show stopping Solace London black and pink dress.
The male Islanders showed up on the podium suited and booted, with Kai sporting a Ted Baker 3 piece suit and Asos tuxedo shirt. Meanwhile, Ron opted for a Next two piece suit, and Shaq showed up in a Zara Tuxedo and a Hugo Boss shirt. Mixing brands, Tom styled his Tailor & Cutter Jacket with Paul Smith trousers.
Then, as the Islanders gathered around the fire pit for a final time to find out whether they’d been crowned King or Queen of the villa, each one made a lasting impression. Making a statement in Meshki, Samie wore a black diamantes dress. With Tanya dazzling in a Nookie white dress with a bow, Lana stunned in a Nadine Merabi pink sequin dress with feathers. And, wowing in a brand that’s loved by celebrities such as Kylie Jenner, J-LO and Gigi Hadid, Sanam showed up in a pre-loved House of CB green corset dress.
While finding out their fate, Shaq and Ron sported the business vs party trend identified by eBay’s Pre-Loved Fashion Stylist this year, by wearing Reiss shirts, with Ron pairing his with Reiss chinos. Dressed for the heat, Tom sported a Vintage Christian Dior silk short sleeve shirt which went from a small store in Sheffield to the South African villa, while Kai paired a Kith blue cloud jacket with Reiss chinos.
It’s so amazing to see that up until the very last episode of the show, the Islanders have been choosing pre-loved. The Love Island ball and the finale are obviously two huge moments on the show, I was particularly excited to see the Islanders in the more dressy items I selected for the villa. It really does go to show the variety available on eBay, from casual jackets and trousers, to glamorous red carpet worthy dresses from such a diverse range of brands.
– eBay’s Pre-Loved Fashion Stylist, Amy Bannerman
With the series coming to an end, we’ve really seen pre-loved fashion continue to be a staple both on and off screens – and it’s so great to see the Islanders showcasing their fits from eBay on the last episode. With searches for ‘pre-loved fashion’ increasing by 1400% compared to last year, it’s clear the series has remained successful in continuing to change the game for second-hand shopping, encouraging more considerate fashion choices. We’re excited to see this continue beyond the show.
– Kirsty Keoghan, Global GM or Fashion at eBay
