Buying pre-loved should feel as considered as buying new. That starts with knowing exactly what you're getting.
Every piece that comes to The Harmonic passes through our studio before it reaches you. Here's what happens along the way, and what each of our condition grades means.
Every piece, in our hands first
When a piece arrives, our team inspects it by hand for any faults or damage: fabric, seams, linings, hardware and labels. We only accept pieces of the highest quality, and every item is cleaned. If there are any marks, they're clearly shown in the photos or noted in the listing. Then we steam it, photograph it in our studio and write its listing, including the size on the label and the Australian size it would best fit.
If a piece doesn't meet our standard, it doesn't go on the site.
Luxury, independently authenticated
For our luxury pieces, from houses such as Chanel, Hermès, Celine and Prada, we go a step further. We partner with Real Authentication, an independent service that isn't tied to any brand. Its expert authenticators examine detailed photographs of each piece, from stitching and hardware to stamps and date codes. Once a piece is confirmed authentic, it's issued a Certificate of Authenticity with a tamper-proof QR code. You'll find them in our pre-loved luxury edit.
What our condition grades mean
| Grade | What it means |
|---|---|
| New With Tags | Never worn, with the original tags attached. |
| New Without Tags | Never worn, but the tags have been removed. |
| Excellent Condition | Worn lightly, with no visible signs of wear. |
| Very Good Condition | Worn and cared for, with minimal signs of wear. Any marks are noted in the listing. |
| Good Condition | Worn and loved, with some visible wear, such as light pilling or fading, described in full. |
| Well Loved | Clear signs of wear, priced to reflect it, with every flaw described and photographed. |
Whatever the grade, we tell you about it. If there's a mark, a pull or a missing button, it's in the listing, and usually in the photos too.
Brand Archive: new, direct from the label
Our Brand Archive is different. These are past-season and archival styles sent to us directly by labels such as Matteau, St. Agni and Peony. Every piece is new with tags and has never been worn.
Why it matters
Every pre-loved piece is one of a kind, and all sales are final, so the listing has to do the work a fitting room would. Honest grading means you can buy with confidence, and it means a well-made piece gets the second life it deserves.
“Every piece that leaves our studio has to be something we'd be proud to wear ourselves. Being honest about condition is how we earn our customers' trust, and how we make sure every piece finds someone who'll love it as much as its first owner did.”
— Vanessa Robinson, Co-Founder of The Harmonic
Ready to give your own pieces a second life?
We accept consignments of quality designer pieces. Find out how it works on our Sell With Us page, or read about our Buyback Program.