How I Stumbled Upon Repassa: A Reddit Rabbit Hole Adventure
It all started with a 2 a.m. Reddit deep dive into “affordable sustainable fashion brands.” Between the usual suspects (ThredUP, Depop), a comment mentioned a Brazilian site called Repassa with “insane deals on Levi’s and designer stuff.” Skeptical but curious, I clicked. Fast-forward three weeks, and I’m unboxing a barely-worn Vivienne Westwood blazer for $68. Let’s unpack this wild ride.
The Story: From “Wait, This Is in Portuguese?” to Unlikely Addiction
First Impressions:
- Language barrier chaos: The site’s entirely in Brazilian Portuguese. I became best friends with Google Translate. Pro tip: Use Chrome’s auto-translate feature.
- Layout surprises: Cleaner than eBay, less cluttered than Poshmark. Filters for brands (H&M to Hermès), categories, and sizes worked shockingly well.
- Pricing logic: Most items 70-90% off retail. A Zara dress for $8? A Tag Heuer watch listed at $250 (retail: $1,600)? Insert blinking guy meme here.
Why I Took the Plunge:
- Sustainability cred: They partner with Eu Reciclo for textile recycling
- Transparent pricing breakdown (see exactly how much goes to sellers vs. eco-projects)
- That Vivienne Westwood blazer haunting my dreams
Real-Life Usage:
- Shipping: Took 12 days to NYC via FedEx International – slower than Amazon, faster than Wish. No customs fees (prices include import taxes).
- Condition: Items ranged from “still has tags” to “gently loved” – nothing damaged. Their 1-5 quality rating system was accurate.
- Sizing: Brazilian sizes run small! My usual US Medium = BR Large. Check their conversion chart.
The Experience: When Your Midnight Shopping Habit Succeeds
Daily Use Cases:
- Workwear steals: Snagged a Massimo Dutti wool coat ($45) that’s now my WFH uniform
- Designer guinea pig: Tried a Carolina Herrera perfume (30ml for $22) risk-free
- Jeans jackpot: 3 pairs of M.O.D. jeans (huge in Brazil) for $9 each – softer than my ex’s excuses
Notable Moments:
- The Great Blazer Gamble: Holding my breath as I opened the Westwood package – pristine condition, authentic (I checked!), smelled like lavender.
- Seller Love: A Rio-based seller included a handwritten note (in Portuguese) and local coffee samples. Cue heart eyes.
Unexpected Wins:
- Hidden vintage gems: Found a 90s Coca-Cola Brazil trucker jacket collectors would drool over ($18)
- Brazilian brands > fast fashion: Discovered Farm Rio and Animale – vibrant prints, quality fabrics
- Zero-waste cred: Sold my old Zara pieces through them (they handle everything for 35% commission)
After 4 Months:
- 14 purchases, 2 sales, $387 spent
- 80% success rate (one shirt had a hidden pit stain, one dress ran comically small)
- Wardrobe now 60% Repassa – my friends think I got a raise
Let’s Break It Down: The Nitty-Gritty
✅ Pros
- Prices that make Shein blush (but ethical!)
- Actual designer finds – spotted Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch
- Eco-impact receipts: They’ve recycled 1,200+ tons of textiles since 2016
- Seller transparency: See who’s selling, their ratings, and location
- No bidding wars – fixed prices FTW
- Brazilian sizing charts included (life hack: screenshot and zoom)
❌ Cons
- Language barrier: Google Translate glitches led to buying kids’ shoes (RIP)
- Returns: You pay return shipping to Brazil (~$25)
- Inventory roulette: Popular sizes sell FAST
Workarounds:
- Use Chrome’s right-click translate
- Filter by “International Shipping” (not all items qualify)
- Follow favorite sellers for restock alerts
Real Talk: Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Bother
Perfect For:
- Sustainable fashion nerds
- Vintage/designer hunters
- Travel-sized humans (petite folks – BR sizes are YOUR JAM)
- Those who hate haggling
Skip If:
- You need items ASAP
- Prefer try-before-you-buy
- Are a strict minimalist (the deals are addictive)
Creative Uses:
- Gift sourcing: Unique Brazilian handicrafts under $20
- Theme party outfits: Found a full Carnival costume ($27)
- Reselling arbitrage: Some U.S. buyers flip Farm Rio pieces for 3x profit
Money-Saving Hacks:
- Bundle purchases to save on shipping
- Follow on Instagram for flash sales
- Buy during U.S. winters – Brazil’s summer = discounted cold-weather clothes
The Bottom Line: Worth the Translation Headaches?
After 9 orders, 3 sales, and one accidental kids’ sneaker incident – absolutely. Repassa is like if eBay and Patagonia’s worn wear boutique had a Brazilian lovechild. It’s not perfect, but where else can you:
- Shop sustainably without selling a kidney
- Discover brands you’d never find elsewhere
- Feel like a thrifting Indiana Jones?
Final Verdict: 8.5/10
Value: Imagine a Plato’s Closet curated by stylish eco-warriors. For under $50, you can feasibly overhaul your wardrobe.
Who I’d Gift This To:
- My cousin who only wears vintage
- That friend who quotes The True Cost documentary
- Anyone needing vacation outfits without fast fashion guilt
Last Thought: If you’ve ever resold clothes on Poshmark only to face lowball offers, Repassa’s fixed-price model feels revolutionary. Just maybe avoid shopping after vinho verde o’clock – turns out “camisa” means shirt, not camera. Don’t ask.
References
[1] Missing Out on Music Royalties? Here’s What You Should Know
[2] Repassa (Specialty Retail) - PitchBook
[3] What you need to know about the new 2025 ICD-10 codes for …
[4] Sleeping Bus To Sapa: All You Need To Know – Vexere.com
[5] Repassa Company Overview, Contact Details & Competitors | LeadIQ
[6] Repassa - Overview, News & Similar companies | ZoomInfo.com
[7] Brechó Online, Compra e Venda, Roupas Usadas das Melhores
[8] Repassa - Crunchbase Company Profile & Funding
[9] O impacto ambiental das suas roupas - Repassa
[10] Brechó online? Por que a Renner comprou a Repassa - StartSe …
[11] Brexit: What you need to know so far - video Dailymotion