“We really believe in where we’re going and the value of the company,” Ms. Wainwright said in an interview on Friday, adding that she and her investors did not sell any shares in the offering. “It’s just the beginning and hopefully, it’s a great branding event.”

The RealReal has carved out a lucrative niche by employing more than 100 experts, including gemologists and horologists, to authenticate the luxury goods it carries, to reassure buyers worried about counterfeits. The company, which has three stores and mostly trades in women’s goods, has also made it seamless to sell items and even conducts “white glove” home visits for certain sellers. It says it has paid consignors $988 million since its inception.

The company claims it is on the vanguard of changing consumer habits. The argument goes that younger shoppers want luxury goods but do not want to pay full retail prices — and they want to be environmentally responsible. Such consumers are increasingly opting to buy used items or rent apparel and accessories. More than 75 percent of the RealReal’s buyers and sellers have annual household incomes of $50,000 or more.

Thrift stores and even eBay have been around for a long time, of course. But the current crop of start-ups that specialize in secondhand apparel and accessories have offered a more advanced shopping experience, drawing notice from venture capital firms and traditional retailers.

Earlier this year, Neiman Marcus invested in the site Fashionphile that sells pre-owned luxury handbags and jewelry. As part of the deal, customers can receive payment at some Neiman Marcus stores for their used luxury goods, which can in turn be spent on new merchandise at the chain.