Repair, Resell or Recycle: What to do With Your Unwanted Clothes
You finally purged your closet and got rid of clothes and accessories you no longer wear.
Yay! You’ve made it past the first step. The next step is also important— deciding what to do with your unwanted items.
Most people put their discarded clothes into two categories: “donate” and “consign.” There are many more options. Here’s a quick guide to help you determine what to do with the leftovers from your closet clean out.
Does it only need some minor mending or alterations?
I’ve helped clients rediscover amazing but forgotten items in their closets. We’re talking hidden gems like grunge-era Doc Martens; a classic, knee-length, cashmere Ralph Lauren coat; an authentic Coach handbag; and more. If you have items that never go out of style but need a little TLC, I suggest you have them mended. Many dry cleaners offer easy alterations, leather handbag cleaning and Ugg boot refurbishing. Don’t want to put in the time or money to fix them up? Ask a friend or family member if they’d like them before putting them in the next category.
Does it not fit, or no longer your style?
As long as these items are not damaged beyond repair, you have a few options here:
Sell It: If your items are still in great condition, you can take them to a local consignment shop, or try a trusted online reseller like thredUP, who accepts all name brand clothes in excellent condition and less than 5-years old. They also have a “Luxe” division for items worth over $300. Think brands like Prada, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, etc. They’ll send you a bag, you just fill it and send it back. It’s super easy and they offer a lot of options for payout or you can donate your proceeds to the charity of your choice.
Swap It - Sites like Poshmark host virtual clothing swap parties through their app. Add some wine and host your own swap party and make a girls night of it! Fun! I’ll wait for my invite… These are fun and easy ways to find some great items and give someone else a chance to enjoy something you weren’t going to wear again anyway.
Donate It - Often, people think that donating to a local charity, thrift shop, homeless shelter or community center is the best place for unwanted items. I agree and I’m all for donating, but it’s more complicated than that. Most of what we donate actually ends up in a landfill, which is pretty terrible for the planet. So, before you just drop off a garbage bag at the donation bin, call to check if there is an actual need for the items you have. Their bins may already be full. Also, make sure to only donate items in good, wearable, condition. Clothing that is too damaged to wear only ends up in a landfill. Which brings me to the final category…
Is it too damaged for anyone to wear?
Globally, 80% of discarded textiles are doomed for the landfill or incineration. Only 20% are actually reused or recycled. The average U.S. citizen throws away an estimated 70 pounds of textile waste annually. That’s a lot of old clothing taking up a lot of space on our planet—especially when it can take over 200 years to decompose and emits toxic greenhouse gases as it does. Yuck!
If you have clothing that can’t or won’t be used by anyone, you should absolutely recycle it. Here are some great programs that are committed to keeping textiles out of landfills:
The Bra Recyclers: Save the Ta-Ta’s! Or at least recycle your old boulder holders.
Soles 4 Souls: A national shoe-recycling program.
Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles: An online database of local textile recycling outlets.
Donation Town: Find local clothing donation and pick-up service in your area.
Nike, Reuse-A-Shoe: Nike grinds up old athletic shoes from any brand to create tracks, courts, and playgrounds.
Patagonia, Common Threads : Turn in unwanted Patagonia clothing and accessories to any Patagonia store and they’ll recycle it and give you store credit!
The North Face, Clothes the Loop – Recycling clothing and shoes from any brand at North Face stores.
H&M – H&M will recycle any brand in any condition at most of their stores globally. Many stores participate, but I recommend a call first.
Start fresh and avoid a crowded closet.
Now that your closet is clean and your old clothes have all been properly distributed, how can you make sure you don’t end up with the same overcrowding issues in the future? It’s all about shopping smarter:
Buy fewer, higher quality pieces that will last longer—look for things that you love, made from durable fabrics, that offer a smart price-per-wear.
Shop for classic pieces vs. trendy fads with a short fashion life.
Check out services like Rent the Runway for high fashion, single-use items that won’t take up space in your closet or, eventually, a landfill.