After The Clutter: Practical Solutions for Your Used Clothes

Mountains and mountains of used clothes lie scattered all over the garage after completing our 30-day decluttering challenge or your mission of tidying up your closet! Your wardrobe, like Mike’s, is now looking super neat, fresh, and light, and you’re probably feeling great about it.

Then the monster mountain lurks like a shadow from beyond the grave peeking out its ugly head to remind you that for now, all you’ve done is shift the clutter to a new location. The burning question is what the hell do you do with that massive pile of used clothes?

Bag it, bin it. Toss it in the trash! Get it out of here!

The instinctive response of most of our collective brains to the monster mountain. Fast and effective that would be. It’s a thought that most people on the planet have when faced with a mountain of unwanted clothes. In part, this response is ignorance, created by the convenience of the throwaway culture that permeates modern society. Our waste collection system is so convenient and efficient that it makes our trash just go away.

You put it out, bin guys come, and on you go living in your clean domain. Honestly, I cannot blame you for not thinking about what actually happened to the old clothes you tossed. Nor for not pondering the potential environmental impact of that simple moment of disposal.

From a young age, we have been taught this preprogrammed action of getting rid of unwanted items. The other part of the story is a lack of awareness and knowledge of the alternative options that one has for disposal.

Coupled with this is the time, effort, and energy required to execute these alternatives versus just binning the unwanted clothes. For some it’s not about knowledge or awareness but simply the accessibility and ease of the other options that prevent them from executing a better option.

A sobering statistic on the disposal of clothing in the trash is that Globally a staggering 92 million tonnes of clothes end up in landfills every year with 1.2 million tonnes of that in the UK alone. Another crazy statistic is that the average garment is worn just seven times before being thrown away.

Sorry, hang on. You mean that most of us bought something, wore it 7 times or less, and threw it away? That’s just bonkers if you think about it. The energy, resources, and impact of the creation of that item cannot be justified for such low usage.

Fast fashion and their super rapid releases of new fashion lines have created a throwaway fashion culture that is slowly killing our planet. The environmental impact of fast fashion is no longer deniable and while this article will not go into the details, we will return to it as a story for another day.

Take a closer look at your pile of discarded items, you may find that some of the items have not even been worn or have only been worn once or twice. Statistically, this study estimated that 50 percent of clothes in people’s closets are not worn.

Hopefully, the above stats will serve as a motivator for you to begin the process to change your binning habit and rethink your purchasing and consumption patterns. If you would like to gain some more insight watch this 1-minute video.

Part of our mission at WeKurate is to live a more sustainable, meaningful life and reduce our overall environmental impact. We draw inspiration from minimalism and seek to find more responsible, sustainable, and ethical ways to dispose of our old used clothes. In this article, we will provide you with some of these alternatives as well as how to avoid the beast of fast fashion moving forward.

Knowledge tied to action is a powerful agent of change!

WeKurate.com

Option 1: Donating Your Old Clothes

Why Donate Old Clothes?

There are several reasons why you should consider donating your old clothes besides enabling the space they vacate in your house.

1. Donating clothes can help those in need by providing them with clothing that they may not have been able to afford otherwise. This can be particularly helpful for individuals and families who are experiencing financial difficulties, homelessness, or natural disasters.
2. Secondly, donating clothes can help reduce waste by extending the life of clothes that would otherwise end up in landfills. Textile waste is a significant contributor to environmental pollution, so donating clothes can be a sustainable option for reducing the impact of fashion on the environment.
3. Finally, donating clothes can also be a way to give back to the community and contribute to charitable organizations that support causes that you care about.

Not only will you make a positive impact on the environment by reducing waste, but you will be helping those in need, and extending the useful lifecycle of these clothing items.

What To Do Before Donating Old Clothes

Before donating or selling your clothes, make sure to check the guidelines for each organization or platform. Some may have specific requirements for the types of clothes they accept or how to prepare your clothes for donation.

It’s also a good idea to wash your clothes before donating them to ensure they’re clean and in good condition. Oh, by the way, donating your second-hand underwear is a no-no.

Organize your clothes beforehand as this will make the donation process easier. Separate your clothes by category (e.g., shirts, pants, dresses) and by condition (e.g., gently used, like new).

Where To Donate Old Clothes

If you’re looking to donate your clothes, there are plenty of organizations that accept donations. Listed below are just a few organisations that you can consider from a list of thousands. We have selected these organisations as they make the process easier and the donated items will be used properly.

UK Donation Options

1. Clothes Aid – their mission is to do good things for great UK charities and the planet. No matter where you live, work, or play, you can trust them to recycle your preloved clothing items like frocks, tops, sports kits, and tutus into charitable funds by filling one of our collection bags. They collect and smooth the process – visit Clothes Aid today!
2. Collection 4 Clothes – They offer a free and efficient way for you to donate your unwanted clothes to the charity of your choice. Simply select a charity on their website, book a collection, bag your clothes, and leave the bag outside! They will do the rest.
3. The Salvation Army – runs around 8,000 clothing banks, located all over the country. Everything that you donate to them is re-sold, reused, or recycled, helping us to lessen our impact on the environment while raising money to support their projects throughout the UK. 
4. Donate Clothes UK – provides a hassle-free way for you to donate your clothes and raise funds for the charity of your choice. You pick your preferred charity, book a collection and pack up your clothes. They handle the rest. Find out more about DonateClothesUK.
5. Red Cross – your second-hand and vintage clothes could be just what someone else needs and is looking for. Almost anything you give them finds a new home through their shops. At the same time, your donations will help them to raise money to support people in crisis in the UK and overseas.
6. Baby clothes – if you need to donate baby clothes, check out Mother and baby’s useful list of organisations that you can donate to.

South Africa

1. The Salvation Army SA – as with the UK, they operate in SA. Visit their website today.
2. Clothes to Good – not only recycles clothes, but they also have a unique approach to ensure that donated clothes that are in good condition are put to the best possible use. These items are sold to their micro-businesses, which include 56 mothers of children with disabilities. These micro-businesses resell the clothes to their communities to generate income for their families. For clothing items that require repairs or are not of ‘sell-quality,’ they are donated to their non-profit partners. Through this approach, Clothes to Good can maximize the positive impact of each donated item.
3. Taking Care of Business (the Clothing Bank) – will recycle or ensure your old clothes are put to good use and turn them into small business opportunities. They have partnerships with top retail brands and a strong network. Click here for more info on Taking Care of Business.
4. Islamic Relief – will put your old clothes to good use. They accept clothing, footwear, towels, sheets, blankets, and curtains. The items must be of sufficient quality to be processed. Visit Islamic Relief to find your nearest clothing bank.
5. Roberts Recycling – is a family-run textile recycling business that has won numerous awards for its dedication to purchasing, collecting, and exporting unwanted clothing. While their primary goal is to keep waste out of landfills, they also take pride in providing affordable clothing to economically disadvantaged areas beyond the UK. Visit their website.

Option 2: Sell Your Old Clothes

There are literally hundreds of ways to sell your old used clothes online and so we shall list a few that we know work and that have a good reputation. These are also places to find great used clothes for sale to freshen up your wardrobe.

1. Depop – whether you are looking to sell a few items once-off or regularly sell items on the platform, Depop makes it easy to create your storefront, populate your products and get to selling your items. No matter what your style is, there’s always a buyer looking for items like yours.
2. Yaga – provides a marketplace where South Africans to safely, securely, and transparently buy and sell preloved fashion. They have partnered with retail brands to raise awareness about the need for a more circular economy in order to keep clothes out of landfills.
3. thredUP – is on a mission to encourage a new generation of consumers to prioritize secondhand items. They are revolutionizing the resale industry. As one of the world’s largest resale platforms for women’s and kids’ clothing, shoes, and accessories, they simplify the buying and selling process. You send in your clothes using their prepaid bag or mailing label, and their team takes care of everything from photography to descriptions. Sit back and relax while they help you sell your pre-loved items.
4. Poshmark – is a popular social marketplace where users can buy and sell new and gently used items in various categories, including fashion for women, men, and kids, as well as home decor and pet accessories. Their focus is on putting people at the forefront of commerce, empowering buyers and sellers alike to flourish in the world of online retail. People use Poshmark in order to get deals, something to bear in mind when selling on the platform.
5. eBay – the grand old master of resale sites, eBay provides a great place to sell your unwanted clothing items. Easy to use, you upload an image of your item along with a description, set a starting price, and wait for potential buyers to place bids. Alternatively, you can also opt for the “Buy It Now” option to sell your item at a fixed price. Once your item is sold, a commission fee will be charged, which is 15% for items sold under $2,000 and 9% for items sold over $2,000.
6. Etsy – is a renowned e-commerce platform that specializes in handmade and vintage products, and is an ideal platform to sell your preloved clothing, including women’s, men’s, and kids’ clothing, as well as bags and purses. However, according to Etsy’s policies, the items sold on the platform must be vintage, which is defined as clothing that is at least 20 years old.

Option 3: Recycle Your Unwanted Clothes

Another way to dispose of your unwanted clothes is by recycling them. Currently, it is estimated that just 1% of clothing is recycled worldwide.  Textile recycling programs are becoming more popular and can be found in many cities. These programs take old clothes and turn them into new items such as insulation or rags.

When recycling clothes, it’s important to research your options and choose a reputable program or project. Make sure the program/project aligns with your values and that your clothes will be disposed of in an ethical and sustainable way.

Here are some options:

1. Rewoven – is a Cape Town based innovation project that recycles used clothing to create new items. They currently recycle Natural fibres, Denim, Acrylic jersey, Fleece, 100% polyester, and Polycotton blends.
2. H&M – started a Garment Collecting programme in 2013, and it is the world’s biggest of its kind. Their aim was to reduce the impact of discarded clothing on the environment and increase the recycling volume. They accept clothing from all brands at their stores (all garments and textiles). They are so serious about it that they will reward you when you help them recycle. Hand in your bag of old clothes and you will receive a thank you voucher to use towards your next purchase.
3. Wastecrete – takes non-recyclable waste products and transforms them into designer building blocks, paving stones, and other decorative items, providing a practical and stylish solution to the global problem of waste being sent to landfills. Recently, Wastecrete collaborated with Ackermans to produce building blocks and other items from textile industry waste products like fabric off-cuts, clothing and shoe samples, plastic hangers, cardboard, and other materials.
4. The First Mile – helps over 25,000 UK businesses with zero-to-landfill waste collection. All clothing received is sorted, useable items are shipped for reuse by those in need, and items that cannot be reused are sent to a recycling facility where they’re separated, shredded, and turned into new materials.
5. River Island – if a £5 gift voucher for your old clothes sounds good to you, then you may want to bookmark River Island. You need a minimum of three items up to 10kg maximum in weight, hand them, and they will give you a £5 gift voucher that you can redeem on a minimum £40 order at River Island stores or online. The Takeback vouchers are valid for one month once issued.

These are just a few of many companies that will directly recycle your old used clothes to create new garments. It is important that we start to change how we consume and what we do with what we no longer need. Consider recycling items that can no longer be used or sold. In some cases, you are even rewarded for doing so.

Option 4: Host a Clothing Swap

If you’re looking to get rid of clothes that are in good condition but no longer fit your style or needs, and you don’t want to donate or sell them, then consider hosting a clothing swap. Clothing swaps are a fun way to socialize with friends while also reducing waste.

To host a clothing swap, invite a group of friends and set some ground rules. For example, you may want to specify the types of clothes that can be swapped (e.g., women’s clothing only), or the maximum number of items each person can bring. Make an event out of it and provide refreshments and snacks to make the event more enjoyable.

Hosting a clothing swap is a great way to give your clothes a second life while also adding some new pieces to your wardrobe all while reducing your environmental impact.

Keep it Tidy and Minimalist Moving Forward

You’ve done the hard work or so you think. While trimming down your bloated cupboard might have caused you a headache or two, the real challenge begins afterward. Keeping your closet in order and preventing the monster mountain from returning is the next important step. Avoid fast fashion and keep your wardrobe minimal

While it’s important to dispose of your unwanted clothes responsibly, it’s equally important to make sustainable fashion choices moving forward. The fast fashion industry has a significant impact on the environment, from the excessive use of water to the toxic chemicals used in production. By opting for sustainable and ethical fashion choices, you can help reduce this impact.

One way to make sustainable fashion choices is by keeping your wardrobe minimal. A minimalist wardrobe, also known as a capsule wardrobe, consists of a few high-quality, versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched to create multiple outfits. By investing in high-quality pieces, you’ll be able to wear them for longer and reduce the need for frequent replacements.

Another way to make sustainable fashion choices is by supporting sustainable and ethical fashion brands. Look for brands that prioritize sustainable and ethical production practices, such as using environmentally friendly materials or ensuring fair labor practices.

Join the Challenge and Get Started Today!

30-Day Decluttering Challenge: Tips to Transform Your Wardrobe for Minimalist Living

Make the Change and Declutter Today

In conclusion, the aftermath of a wardrobe declutter can be overwhelming, but it’s important to dispose of your unwanted clothes in an ethical and sustainable way. By donating or selling your clothes, recycling or upcycling them, hosting a clothing swap, or disposing of them responsibly, you can help reduce waste and give your clothes a second life.

And by making sustainable fashion choices moving forward, you can help reduce the negative impact of the fast fashion industry on the environment. Remember, a decluttered wardrobe can lead to a more organized and sustainable life.

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