My wardrobe situation has reached a tipping point recently. With one large, one medium, and a creatively repurposed third wardrobe turned storage space, they are now fully packed. Upon closer inspection, I realised that many of these garments hadn’t seen the light of day for years. This is not surprising, according to WRAP, the average UK adult keeps upwards of 118 items of clothes in their wardrobes, but one quarter (26% – 31 items) have not been worn for at least a year.
What to do with old clothes we no longer wear? Rather than relegating them to the back of the closet or sending them to landfills, I decided to adopt sustainable practices. In this comprehensive guide, we explore various sustainable alternatives to dispose of old clothes responsibly, providing them with a new purpose and minimising their environmental impact.
1. Give Away: Start with Your Social Circle
One of the most sustainable and personal ways to part with your old clothes is by giving them away to family, friends, or your social circle. This option not only ensures that your garments find new homes but also adds a touch of sentimental value. Your pre-loved pieces can become treasured items for someone else, sparking joy and creating lasting memories. The act of sharing within your close-knit community fosters a sense of camaraderie and sustainability. Whether it’s a cosy sweater that your sibling has had their eye on or a dress that perfectly suits your friend’s style, giving away your old clothes is a beautiful expression of generosity and connection.
A great tip to enhance your clothing giveaway experience is to take a nice photo of each piece and share it within your WhatsApp group or Facebook community, signalling your search for a new owner for your pre-loved fashion. Having personally tried it, I can attest to the surprising speed at which responses pour in.
Another stellar idea to expand your giving reach is leveraging Sharing and Zero Waste App Olio. This innovative platform lets you pass on what you no longer need to people who live nearby.
Giving your old clothes to your social circle is a win-win scenario, it allows you to declutter your wardrobe in a fast and sustainable way, generating zero waste and carbon footprint, while simultaneously strengthening the bonds with those you care about.
2. Donate to Charity
Donating probably remains the most popular and effortless option to get rid of your old clothes. You can bring your old and clean clothes to your local charities, charity shops or opt for the convenience of free door-to-door collections offered by various charities.
However, despite its widespread acceptance, the practice of clothing donation has sparked controversy. Reports indicate that charity stores grapple with significant challenges, receiving items that are soiled, torn, or otherwise unsuitable for resale or distribution. This has led to a considerable financial burden on charities, as they are compelled to spend resources sorting and disposing of such materials, with an estimated 25% ultimately ending up in landfills. Moreover, a substantial 40-50% is exported into the global second-hand clothing trade, creating complications for local textile markets in countries like Ghana. Some exported textile donations even face disposal through burial or burning in recipient nations.
To mitigate these issues, it is crucial to exercise care and consideration when donating. I recently noticed a children’s charity donation bin at my local library, labelled with clear instructions on accepted items, proving immensely helpful. Therefore, it’s advisable to check with charities about their specific guidelines before making any donations to ensure a positive impact.
3. Sell Old Clothes
Give your old clothes a second life and pad your wallet in the process – selling them for cash is easier than you think. While it involves a bit of effort, including snapping photos, creating listings, and handling shipping, the satisfaction of a successful sale might just make you a fan!
By reselling your unwanted clothes, you’re actively contributing to the circular economy to reduce waste and promote sustainability. A study by WRAP also shows when people buy preloved and second-hand vintage, they tend to keep these items longer than those they purchase new. Nearly a year and a half longer at 5.4 years for vintage and preloved clothes, compared to 4 years for off-the-peg.
Having recently dipped my toes into the world of selling old clothes, I can vouch for the simplicity of platforms like Vinted. It’s incredibly intuitive and user-friendly, plus the cherry on top – no fees for sellers. Alternatives like Depop, eBay, and Facebook Marketplaces offer similar opportunities to turn your closet cleanout into cash without breaking a sweat.
4. Rent Out Your Clothes
I find myself holding onto pieces in my wardrobe, like formal dresses, suits, and designer bags, that I only wear on rare occasions. The truth is, saying goodbye to these items, even if they’ve been sitting untouched for years, is a tough feat. The inspiration to repurpose them struck me during my research on what to do with old clothes. Renting out these rarely worn treasures emerges as a progressive and sustainable solution to decluttering the wardrobe. Rather than letting our once-adored garments languish in storage, we can inject new vitality into them by offering them for rent. This not only gives a second life to our clothing but also actively contributes to a circular fashion economy, curbing the need for fresh production. Dedicated fashion rental platforms such as Hurr and By Rotation simplify the process of listing your wardrobe for potential renters. To further minimise the environmental impact of packing, shipping, and garment cleaning, consider using reusable paper packaging and eco-friendly detergents.
5. Upcycle Old Clothes
Upcycling is a creative and environmentally friendly approach to breathe new life into old garments, repurposing or transforming them into fresh and unique pieces. Unlike traditional recycling, which often involves breaking down materials to create something completely new, upcycling focuses on enhancing the original item or materials in a way that adds aesthetic or functional value. Upcycling old clothes can range from simple alterations and embellishments to more intricate reconstructions, allowing individuals to tailor their wardrobes to their evolving styles.
Upcycling old clothes doesn’t necessarily require professional intervention; plenty of tutorials and ideas on platforms like YouTube enable enthusiasts to mend their old clothes independently. Alternatively, third-party alteration services, such as local dry cleaners or apps like Sojo offer collection and delivery services for clothes alterations and repairs in just a few clicks. I used my local dry cleaner alteration service to turn a pair of wool trousers into crop wide-leg trousers. I was asked by people where I bought them from!
6. Textile Recycle
Last but not least, if none of the above options quite fit your situation, it’s worth checking out textile recycling programs in your local area. I’ve found that many of these programs warmly welcome old clothes, giving them a chance for a new beginning. It’s fascinating to think about the process – watching fabrics being broken down into reusable fibres that find purpose in various new products, for example, furniture padding and artists’ painting paper. Not only does this effort reduce the demand for new materials in clothing production, but it also feels like a small, personal contribution to minimising environmental impact and conserving resources. Plus, knowing that our old clothes aren’t ending up in a landfill but are part of a circular economy, where their life cycle is extended through responsible recycling, gives us a sense of satisfaction in the efforts toward a more sustainable lifestyle.
To simplify the choices around handling old clothes and help you make more informed decisions aligned with your values, I’ve put together a handy table. It assesses the sustainability impact and personal effort involved in these methods. Notably, options like giving away or donating to charity offer a high sustainability impact with minimal personal effort – perfect for those wanting to make a positive change without diving deep. On the flip side, approaches like selling, renting out, and upcycling old clothes bring a higher sustainability impact but may require a bit more personal effort. Positioned in the middle ground is textile recycling, presenting a moderate sustainability impact with relatively low individual effort. This chart is my way of simplifying the journey to conscious choices in managing our old clothes, making it accessible and tailored to your unique preferences.
| Method | Sustainability Impact | Personal Effort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Give Away | High | Low |
| 2 | Donate to Charity | Medium to High | Low |
| 3 | Sell Old Clothes | High | Medium |
| 4 | Rent Out Clothes | High | Medium |
| 5 | Upcycle Old Clothes | High | Medium to High |
| 6 | Textile Recycle | Medium | Low |
As we navigate the choices to get rid of our old clothes, let’s embrace a simple yet impactful mantra: buy less, consume better. Each decision to give, donate, sell, rent, upcycle, or recycle is a step towards a more mindful wardrobe. By cherishing quality over quantity, we shape a sustainable future—one where our choices as consumers echo a personal commitment to lasting, meaningful fashion.
