What to do with Clothes You Don’t Want Anymore
Have you ever wondered about the fate of your clothes once they no longer suit you? Many of us routinely drop off our unwanted garments at local donation centers, believing we’re doing our part of both decluttering and charity. While donating is great, the hidden truth lies in the vast amount of unsold or unsellable clothing, often piling up in landfills or causing environmental and economic catastrophes in neighboring lands. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for clearing your closet of clothing that is bogging down your wardrobe. Here’s how you can make a positive impact with the clothes you don’t want anymore:
Mindfully Donate
Before you drop off your donations at your local charity, it’s important to ensure your donations align with the needs of the recipients. Very often, donation centers are bombarded with clothing that cannot be put to good use and ends up going to waste. Rather than mindlessly dropping off clothes, make sure they are still in good condition and consider donating to organizations you trust. For instance, I had a great experience donating formal wear to Chrysalis. Chrysalis looked through the items before I left to ensure that they would be helpful to individuals overcoming barriers to employment. Instead of dumping these clothes in a bin and leaving, this process made me feel so much more confident about where the clothes were going and how they would be used.
Resell
If your clothes are still in good condition, consider selling them on secondhand platforms like ThredUp, eBay, Poshmark, Depop, or TheRealReal. Reselling your clothing is a great way to give your clothes a chance at a second life while also making extra cash from decluttering your closet. What's more, if your items don't sell, they do not go to waste. ThredUp even responsibly recycles unsold and unsellable clothing.
Recycle
When your clothes are no longer in donatable/sellable condition—think socks, underwear, stained, or hole-ridden items—opt for recycling. Innovative companies like For Days and Thousand Fell offer recycling programs, ensuring that even the most worn-out textiles avoid going to waste. By choosing to recycle your worn out clothing, you actively participate in keeping fabrics in circulation and reducing the environmental impact of textile waste.
Making conscious decisions about what happens to your unwanted clothing goes beyond mere decluttering; it's a step towards a more responsible approach to fashion. Whether through mindful donations, resale platforms, or recycling, each choice you make contributes to a healthier planet. So, the next time you part ways with a piece of clothing, consider the positive impact you can create with a more thoughtful approach.