Anyone who has purchased military uniforms recently has probably noticed the same thing: prices keep going up. From service coats and trousers to shirts and accessories, the cost of maintaining a complete uniform can add up quickly. What once felt like a routine purchase now often comes with a much higher price tag, especially for dress uniforms and officer items.
Several factors are driving these increases. The cost of materials such as wool blends, certified twills, and specialty uniform fabrics has risen in recent years. Manufacturing and labor costs have also increased, particularly for garments that require precise tailoring and strict regulation specifications. Add in higher shipping and logistics costs, and the result is a steady rise in retail uniform prices across the board.
For many service members, these increases come at the same time as other career transitions—promotions, duty station changes, or uniform updates. Often, uniforms are only worn occasionally for inspections, ceremonies, or formal events. As a result, many perfectly good uniform items end up sitting in closets long after they’re needed.
That’s where consignment and resale shops like Second Tour Uniforms come in.
Consignment creates a win-win for both sellers and buyers. Service members who no longer need certain uniform items can consign them instead of letting them sit unused. Those items are then made available to other service members who need them—often at a fraction of the cost of buying new. It’s a practical way to keep high-quality, regulation uniforms circulating within the military community.
For buyers, consignment offers significant savings. Many uniforms that come through resale shops have been worn only a handful of times and remain in excellent condition. Dress coats, trousers, shirts, and accessories that might cost hundreds of dollars new can often be found for much less through resale. This makes it easier for service members to stay within regulations without overspending.
Consignment shops also tend to carry a wide variety of sizes, uniform types, and components that may not always be readily available through traditional retail channels. Whether someone needs a replacement piece, a hard-to-find size, or an extra uniform for inspections or travel, resale inventory can often provide options that are difficult to locate elsewhere.
There’s also an environmental benefit. Extending the life of uniform garments helps reduce textile waste and decreases the demand for new manufacturing. Instead of uniforms sitting unused or being discarded, they continue serving the military community.
As uniform prices continue to rise, consignment and resale are becoming a smarter and more practical option for many service members. By buying and selling through Second Tour Uniforms, members of the military community can save money, keep quality uniforms in circulation, and help others stay properly outfitted without paying full retail prices.
In today’s environment, resale isn’t just a budget-friendly alternative—it’s a community-driven solution. For more information about consigning with Second Tour Uniforms, please contact us at info@secondtouruniforms.com.