Germany represents Europe’s largest fashion eCommerce market, but it is also one of the most competitive, with high expectations for quality, returns, and localization. For independent fashion brands and third-party sellers (3P), success means prioritizing vertical specialists that focus intensely on apparel, footwear, and accessories.
We have compiled the top genuine third-party seller marketplaces in Germany (DE) where you can sell your apparel and lifestyle products directly to a high-intent audience, including monthly site visitor data.
The German Landscape: Generalists and Category Killers
The German market is led by fashion-only vertical specialists like Zalando and ABOUT YOU, but generalists like Amazon and OTTO also offer immense scale, provided you can meet their strict data and service demands.
1. Zalando
Zalando is the leading online fashion destination in Europe, and its German site is the core of its success, receiving over 24-28 million site visits every month from Germany alone. Zalando operates its 3P model via the Zalando Partner Program.
- Best For: Fashion-forward apparel, footwear, and accessories. Zalando targets a style-conscious, younger demographic and offers a highly curated platform. Commission fees range widely, typically from 7% to 25% depending on the product category and price, and often includes a platform base fee.
- Key Consideration: Sellers must maintain exceptional product data quality and high standards for logistics. Utilizing Zalando’s fulfillment options (Zalando Fulfillment Solutions – ZFS) is highly recommended to meet customer expectations for fast shipping and easy returns.
2. OTTO Marketplace
As Germany’s second-largest eCommerce player, OTTO has a historically strong focus on the Home & Living and Fashion categories. The marketplace receives an average of 3 million qualified visits per day (over 90 million per month), reaching over 12 million active German customers.
- Best For: Premium mid-market and established fashion brands. OTTO’s audience is highly loyal and trusts the brand for quality. This is a curated marketplace, meaning sellers must apply and meet high operational standards.
- Key Consideration: Joining requires a small monthly basic fee (currently around €99.90/month) plus a product-specific commission. OTTO is excellent for increasing visibility among mid-to-older, brand-loyal German demographics.
3. Amazon Germany
Amazon is the dominant generalist, with Amazon.de receiving over 450 million site visits every month. Its immense traffic makes it impossible to ignore, even for fashion.
- Best For: High-volume basics, commodity accessories, and entry-level fashion. It is crucial for brands that need to leverage FBA for fast, convenient fulfillment. The referral fee for Apparel is typically 15% for the portion of the sale price up to €45.00, and 8% for any portion above €45.00.
- Key Consideration: Fashion on Amazon is highly competitive and often price-driven. Sellers must manage size variations and high return rates efficiently.
4. ABOUT YOU
ABOUT YOU is one of the fastest-growing fashion platforms in Europe, appealing heavily to younger, mobile-first shoppers. While visitor numbers are dynamic, the platform drives millions of visits monthly from its highly engaged European customer base, with Germany being a core market.
- Best For: Young, trend-driven fashion, social media-savvy brands, and influencer-aligned products. ABOUT YOU is known for its personalized, storytelling approach to selling. They operate via a highly curated Partner Program.
- Key Consideration: Success is driven by excellent content, alignment with current trends, and a mobile-optimized shopping experience.
5. eBay Germany
eBay remains a powerhouse in the German market, recording around 18 million active German buyers per month. It maintains a strong position across all categories, including fashion.
- Best For: Used clothing, refurbished designer items, long-tail inventory, and unique vintage pieces. eBay’s mixed C2C and B2C model allows sellers flexibility for different inventory types that are unsuitable for highly curated sites like Zalando.
- Key Consideration: Ideal for liquidating returns, selling clearance stock, or dealing in collector/vintage items. Sellers must invest time in product photography and detailed condition descriptions.
6. Etsy
Etsy is a global marketplace focused on the unique and the creative. The German domain sees approximately 13 million visits per month, largely driven by buyers seeking handmade and vintage goods.
- Best For: Handmade jewelry, customized accessories, bespoke apparel, and unique upcycled fashion. This platform commands higher margins for specialized, artisan work.
- Key Consideration: Limited to unique or artisan items. The pricing must account for the platform’s 6.5% transaction fee plus a listing fee. Best for small, independent creators rather than bulk distributors.
7. Limango
Limango is a leading online shopping club for families and young parents, and a proud member of the Otto Group. The platform boasts over 1.9 million active customers and sees well over 2 million unique users per month. Since 2017, they have offered a dedicated open marketplace for selected partners.
- Best For: Kidswear, maternity fashion, family apparel, and accessories. This platform offers direct access to a high-intent, loyal family audience, often at attractive prices.
- Key Consideration: Limango is a curated marketplace that requires alignment with their family-focused categories. They offer a commission-driven model with no basic monthly fee, making them attractive for specialized sellers who can meet their quality standards.
8. Vinted (Second-Hand Specialist)
Vinted is a massive European platform specializing in second-hand fashion, with its German platform driving millions of monthly transactions. While heavily C2C, the platform also accommodates professional sellers and small businesses dealing in vintage or upcycled apparel. The European network sees approximately 28 million monthly visits.
- Best For: Sustainable fashion, selling pre-loved designer pieces, and unique vintage sourcing. Taps into the booming second-hand and sustainable clothing market.
- Key Consideration: Sales are often price-sensitive, and the platform’s community focus requires quick and clear communication regarding garment condition.
Choosing Your Platform: Strategy by Objective
| Objective | Recommended Marketplaces (Germany) | Key Strategy Note |
| Maximum New Inventory Volume | Amazon.de, Zalando | Focus on flawless product data, high inventory levels, and fast fulfillment (FBA or ZFS) to capture the Buy Box. |
| Mid-Market Brand Building & Trust | OTTO Marketplace | Prioritize operational excellence and German-specific localization to leverage OTTO’s strong reputation among loyal, quality-focused buyers. |
| Young, Trend-Driven & Mobile | ABOUT YOU | Invest in high-quality lifestyle photography, video content, and align your marketing with current social media trends. |
| Used, Vintage, Unique & Clearance | eBay Germany, Etsy, Vinted | Use eBay/Vinted for volume clearance; use Etsy for high-margin, bespoke, or unique vintage pieces. Focus on detailed condition reports. |
| Family, Maternity & Kidswear | Limango | Leverage this highly targeted platform to reach a high-intent audience (mothers and parents) with family-focused apparel and accessories. |
Need help managing your online fashion orders or customer support across multiple marketplaces? Book a demo with eDesk today and discover how we can help you centralize messages, streamline operations, and grow your business with less effort.