TikTok Shop has launched a pre-owned luxury fashion category on the platform after partnering with several designer brands.

TikTok Shop, which allows brands to sell products directly on the video-sharing platform through in-feed videos, Lives, and the Showcase tab, has teamed up with five designers, some of whom are already selling on the app, including Luxe Collective, Sellier Knightsbridge, and Hardley Ever Worn It.

The ByteDance-owned platform said that the move would allow more people to learn about authentic luxury fashion and make sustainable style choices.

The move comes after TikTok Shop partnered with luxury designer authentication service Real Authentication in November last year to assess the legitimacy of pre-owned handbags before they are sold on the platform.

"This announcement is an exciting first step in the world of preowned fashion for TikTok Shop,” said Jan Wilk, head of operations at TikTok Shop UK. “TikTok Shop is already a leader when it comes to discovery-based commerce and with a vibrant fashion community thriving on TikTok, this provides a unique opportunity for retailers to reach new audiences and customers with an inspiring and accessible way to embrace luxury fashion."

TikTok launched TikTok Shop in the US in September last year. At the time, the social media platform said that it wanted to take advantage of the increasing number of people using the app to share products.

It reportedly has plans to increase the size of its e-commerce business in the US to $17.5 billion, rivalling e-commerce giant Amazon.

The company also rolled out Fulfilled by TikTok last year, a new logistics service which provides picking, packing and shipping for a fee, including same day, automated fulfilment for orders made by 7pm Monday to Saturday.

Earlier this month ByteDance posted record pre-tax earnings of £31 billion ($40 billion), up 60 per cent year-on-year. This makes the company the most profitable Chinese tech firm, outperforming its domestic rivals such as Tencent and Alibaba.

Despite its success, the company has recently been subject to backlash over security and privacy concerns. The European Union is currently investigating TikTok to see whether the platform has violated the bloc’s rules designed to protect children and ensure transparent advertising.

Should it be found to be in violation, ByteDance could face fines of up to six per cent of its global turnover.

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