Ben Gallagher – The Visionary Behind Luxe Collective and Fashionphile UK’s Rise in Luxury Resale
Who is Ben Gallagher?
Ben Gallagher is a young British entrepreneur whose name has become synonymous with innovation, resilience, and digital transformation in the luxury resale industry. At just 24 years old, Gallagher has already built, scaled, and successfully exited one of the United Kingdom’s most recognised pre-owned fashion brands — Luxe Collective. Today, he serves as the Director of Brand Marketing for Fashionphile UK, the European arm of the American luxury recommerce giant Fashionphile. His journey from a teenage start-up founder to a global industry leader showcases a rare blend of creativity, determination, and strategic foresight.
Early Life and Entrepreneurial Beginnings of Ben Gallagher
Ben Gallagher Age
Born around 2000 (making him approximately 25 years old in 2025) in the United Kingdom, Ben Gallagher displayed a strong entrepreneurial spirit from a young age. Alongside his brother Joe Gallagher, he was constantly exploring business opportunities — from selling candles and air fresheners to books and caps. This early exposure to small-scale trading planted the seeds for a future in commerce.
The defining moment came one Christmas when his sister requested an expensive pair of trainers costing £400. Their mother revealed that the shoes were purchased second-hand from a resale platform, Vestiaire Collective. This revelation introduced Ben to the potential of the pre-loved luxury market. Recognising an opportunity to simplify and improve the experience for sellers, he conceived the idea of offering instant prices for luxury items — a “WeBuyAnyCar” style model for designer goods.
Founding Luxe Collective – The Start of a Revolution
The Birth of Luxe Collective
In 2018, at the age of 17, Ben Gallagher co-founded Luxe Collective Fashion with his brother Joe in Liverpool. The brothers started with only £1,200 in combined funds — £1,000 from Joe’s unused car loan and £200 in Ben’s savings. Their spare bedroom served as the first office, and they initially bought and resold pre-owned designer items from eBay and Depop.
TikTok – The Game Changer
The turning point came when Gallagher embraced social media marketing. In 2019, he began posting consistently on TikTok after hearing advice from entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk. He uploaded three to five videos daily for two years, using storytelling and education to engage audiences. The result was staggering — Luxe Collective amassed over 1.9 million followers and reached 60 million monthly views.
This content-led approach positioned Luxe Collective as a transparent, trustworthy, and community-driven brand. Gallagher’s digital marketing expertise transformed what began as a small resale operation into a household name for luxury enthusiasts across the UK.
Luxe Collective’s Growth and Success
From Bedroom Start-up to Million-Pound Enterprise
Under Ben Gallagher’s leadership, Luxe Collective grew rapidly. By 2023, the company employed 23 people and reported a turnover of £7.5 million. The business specialised in authenticated resale of high-end items such as handbags, shoes, jewellery, and accessories from brands like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Hermès.
Gallagher’s focus on authenticity and transparency set Luxe Collective apart in an industry often clouded by counterfeits. His team invested in rigorous product verification systems, clear pricing strategies, and exceptional customer service. These measures built trust among clients and established Luxe Collective as a benchmark for professional resale services in the luxury sector.
Media Recognition and Investment Interest
The company’s success attracted widespread media attention. Luxe Collective gained further exposure after appearing on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den, where their professionalism and market insight impressed investors. Although they did not secure investment on the show itself, the pitch caught the attention of entrepreneur Steven Bartlett, who later invested in the business privately.
Challenges and Turning Points for Ben Gallagher
The 2024 Warehouse Break-In
In mid-2024, Luxe Collective suffered a devastating setback when its warehouse was broken into, and approximately £500,000 worth of inventory was stolen. This event dealt a major financial and emotional blow to the company. Gallagher described it as one of the most difficult periods of his life, admitting that the stress and operational strain made it impossible to sustain the business long term.
The End of Luxe Collective and a New Beginning
In early 2025, after seven years in operation, Luxe Collective officially closed. Gallagher took full accountability, stating that while the burglary was a significant factor, the mental and physical exhaustion that followed made continuing unsustainable. Despite the closure, his transparent handling of the crisis earned public respect and reinforced his reputation for integrity.
Fashionphile Acquisition and Ben Gallagher’s New Role
Acquisition by Fashionphile
In mid-2025, Fashionphile, the American luxury resale leader founded in 1999, acquired Luxe Collective. Fashionphile is renowned for its advanced recommerce technology, proprietary pricing algorithm, and trusted authentication systems. The acquisition marked Fashionphile’s first international expansion outside North America, using Luxe Collective’s infrastructure and community as a foundation for its UK presence.
Director of Brand Marketing UK
Following the acquisition, Ben Gallagher was appointed Director of Brand Marketing UK at Fashionphile. In this role, he is responsible for launching and expanding Fashionphile’s operations in London — overseeing digital marketing, brand strategy, and community engagement. Gallagher’s extensive experience with content creation and social commerce makes him uniquely suited to lead the company’s UK division.
Vision for Fashionphile UK
Gallagher’s focus is on replicating Luxe Collective’s community-driven ethos within a global framework. Fashionphile UK plans to open a London flagship location in 2026, combining authentication, warehousing, and luxury retail experiences under one roof. The brand will also continue leveraging social media storytelling — a field where Gallagher has proven expertise — to humanise luxury resale and promote sustainability.
Ben Gallagher’s Leadership Style and Values
Ben Gallagher’s leadership is defined by authenticity, humility, and transparency. Despite achieving early success, he frequently acknowledges the struggles and setbacks that shaped his journey. His public reflections on stress, mental health, and business failure have inspired many young entrepreneurs.
He believes in learning from adversity and using social media not only for sales but for storytelling — to share lessons, build trust, and connect with audiences. His career demonstrates how purpose-driven entrepreneurship can transform a niche idea into a globally recognised brand.
Personal Life and Public Image
Ben Gallagher maintains a low profile when it comes to his personal life. He is not publicly known to be in a relationship, and his social media accounts focus primarily on business, fashion, and entrepreneurship. Based in London, he continues to lead Fashionphile’s UK marketing division while running his online community project “Bagspottiing”, a social group for luxury fashion enthusiasts.
FAQs
1. How old is Ben Gallagher?
Ben Gallagher was born around the year 2000, making him approximately 25 years old in 2025. He began his entrepreneurial journey as a teenager and co-founded Luxe Collective at just 17 years old.
2. What is Fashionphile UK and what is Ben Gallagher’s role there?
Fashionphile UK is the British division of the American luxury resale leader, Fashionphile. After the company acquired Luxe Collective in 2025, Ben Gallagher was appointed as Director of Brand Marketing UK. He is responsible for launching and expanding Fashionphile’s presence across the United Kingdom, combining digital marketing, community engagement, and luxury retail innovation.
3. What was Luxe Collective and why was it so popular?
Luxe Collective was a Liverpool-based fashion resale company founded by Ben and Joe Gallagher in 2018. The business specialised in buying and selling authenticated pre-owned luxury goods, including handbags, jewellery, and accessories. Its massive popularity came from social media success — particularly on TikTok — where the brand gained over 1.9 million followers and 60 million monthly views.
4. Who are Ben and Joe Gallagher?
Ben and Joe Gallagher are entrepreneurial brothers from the United Kingdom who co-founded Luxe Collective. Ben led the company’s marketing and branding, while Joe focused on operations and logistics. Together, they built the business from a £1,200 start-up in their spare bedroom into a multi-million-pound enterprise later acquired by Fashionphile.
5. What are Ben Gallagher’s future plans?
Ben Gallagher continues to grow Fashionphile UK, aiming to establish it as the country’s leading luxury resale platform. With plans for a London flagship store in 2026, he is focused on blending authenticity, sustainability, and digital storytelling to transform the luxury recommerce landscape in Britain and beyond.
Legacy and Future of Ben Gallagher
At just 25, Ben Gallagher represents the next generation of British entrepreneurs who are reshaping the global luxury landscape through innovation and digital engagement. From building Luxe Collective with £1,200 to directing Fashionphile’s European expansion, his story illustrates what vision, adaptability, and courage can achieve.
Gallagher’s trajectory suggests an even brighter future ahead — one where sustainability, circular fashion, and digital authenticity define the luxury market. His ability to connect business acumen with cultural awareness ensures that both he and Fashionphile UK will remain at the forefront of luxury recommerce innovation.
