"We’re back": Luxe Collective returns after Fashionphile acquisition
Just six months after announcing its closure, Luxe Collective has made a dramatic return, this time under new ownership. The Liverpool-based luxury resale platform, founded by brothers Ben and Joe Gallagher, has been acquired by US resale giant Fashionphile, one of the world’s biggest and most established luxury re-commerce companies.
The company announced the news on Instagram, writing: "We’re back. Bigger and better than before. 😎
We can officially announce that Luxe Collective has now been acquired by @fashionphile - the biggest pre-loved company in the world 🌎 We are so excited for the next chapter of our journey with you 💗."
The comeback follows what Ben Gallagher called "one of the hardest decisions of [his] life." In May 2025, Luxe Collective announced it was shutting down after a devastating £500,000 warehouse robbery, which wiped out nearly half its inventory and pushed the business beyond recovery.
Gallagher told followers at the time: "After fighting daily just to keep the lights on it became so tough that we thought there was no other choice.
"The criminals who broke in haven’t just ruined the company. They ruined the livelihoods of not just me and my brother, but all the amazing staff that we’ve had to make redundant."
The decision to close came as the UK’s luxury resale sector faced a spate of targeted thefts. In September, London’s Break Archive suffered a second robbery at its showroom, while Phoenix Style was hit by two raids in 24 hours earlier this year, losing around £15,000 in handbags.
Experts warn the wave of organised crime targeting luxury resale is threatening one of fashion’s fastest-growing sectors. Unlike traditional retail, resale businesses tend to hold high-value stock in concentrated spaces, making them more vulnerable.
For Luxe Collective, the attack was catastrophic, not only financially, but emotionally. Gallagher admitted that the stress of the aftermath clouded his decision-making and leadership. But in his announcement this week, he revealed that support from the brand’s loyal community reignited his determination:
"When we announced we were closing, the amount of support we received was unbelievable… The comments, the messages, and people stopping me in the streets were overwhelming. After a difficult 12 months, we forgot what we had achieved, what we had built and the people we had helped and inspired along the way."
In the same post, Gallagher shared that Luxe Collective’s connection to Fashionphile stretches back years:
"Six years ago, about one year into building Luxe Collective, I came across a company based in the USA doing exactly what we were doing (buying and selling luxury) except it looked way more professional, and they had 20,000 pieces in stock compared to our maybe 80 at the time.
"It turned out that company had been around for 20 years, was founded by a woman and her brother-in-law, and they did over $500 million in revenue. I would like to introduce to you… Fashionphile Collective. The UK division of the biggest company in the pre-loved industry in the world. The boys are back in town. We are now open for business."
Founded in 1999, Fashionphile is widely recognised as one of the pioneers of authenticated luxury resale, specialising in handbags and accessories from brands like Hermès, Chanel and Louis Vuitton. The acquisition gives the US giant an immediate foothold in the UK.
For Luxe Collective, the move marks both survival and reinvention. Under Fashionphile’s ownership, the brand gains access to global logistics, authentication expertise and capital.
As Gallagher concluded: "The boys are back in town. We are now open for business."
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