StockX isn’t just for sneakerheads anymore.
The streetwear-heavy marketplace now offers women’s , including high-hear brands from Amina Muaddi, Hermès, Chanel, and Gucci, to Prada, Versace, Dior, Polo Ralph Lauren and Christian Louboutin.
The expansion comes in response to consumer demand, according to vice president of sneakers, apparel and accessories Cynthia Lee. One-third of StockX shoppers are women, who have long been interested in purchasing luxury handbags and accessories on the platform.
“Based on both direct feedback and market trends, it became clear that luxury footwear was the perfect next step for us,” Lee told Sourcing Journal. StockX plans to introduce more luxury shoe brands through 2023. While the expansion focuses primarily on women’s styles, men’s footwear from Hermès, Gucci, and Prada are coming as well.
The launch coincides with the addition of a “Shoes” category on the StockX homepage, which will serve as a home for both new women’s footwear and other trending non-sneaker shoes from brands such as Crocs, Birkenstock, Clarks, Ugg, Timberland and Dr. Martens. Currently, the category page for Shoes shows limited-edition styles including the Crocs Pollex clog by Salehe Bembury Stratus and the UGG x Telfar Logo Mini boot, along with luxury dress silhouettes like Amina Muaddi satin slingbacks, Gucci horsebit ankle boots, Christian Louboutin patent leather pumps, and Chanel quilted tab loafers.
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Adding women’s luxury footwear will help StockX sellers, especially those overseas, Lee said. “In the case of luxury shoes, because so many legacy fashion houses were founded in Europe, StockX sellers in this region oftentimes have greater access to supply,” she added. When it comes to regionally exclusive items only available in specific markets, “StockX sellers residing in that market are able to meet demand from buyers in other parts of the world,” Lee pointed out.
Even if access isn’t an issue, “in some cases, regional price variances create significant arbitrage opportunities,” she continued. While customers outside of Europe can face import fees, duties and taxes, StockX offers broader choice regardless of where shoppers reside.
StockX also enhanced its authentication process to support the new expansion so that all items are verified before being shipped to buyers. “StockX’s in-house knowledge managers—industry experts with extensive knowledge and direct experience with the brands on our platform—help develop and employ training for our authenticators,” Lee said. The company hired a dedicated “knowledge manager” to facilitate the expansion. “This new role supported our broader preparation efforts, which included, among other things, rolling out extensive new training across our authentication centers,” she added.
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Over the summer, the company’s authentication processes were called into question when Nike, which sued the marketplace over NFT trademark infringement, claimed it had purchased four pairs of counterfeits on the site. StockX publicly refuted the allegations, saying, “We take customer protection extremely seriously, and we’ve invested millions to fight the proliferation of counterfeit products that virtually every global marketplace faces today.”
Sellers ship sold product to StockX’s authentication center where quality assurance experts verify its condition, packaging and authenticity. The company also uses machine learning to assess product risk, and many brands now embed advanced technologies in their products to enhance verifiability. The company in August opened its 12th authentication center in Berlin, which it said will help it meet continued global demand amid its expansion.
