Chances are you haven't implemented a capsule wardrobe and you are going to be going through cycles of clothing. It's natural in college to get rid of clothing from high school and from a changing style. Since you landed on this blog I'm assuming that you are trying to make some sort of switch. Whether that is just trying to KonMari your closet and get rid of some junk or you are trying to build a more sustainable wardrobe, you're going to find some pieces that just aren't going to work anymore. So what do you do with those clothes? Nobody expects you to stay 100% environmental from the start so you're going to be getting rid of some things. However, it's important that when you do get rid of clothing that it doesn't end up in a landfill.
Typically when we go through our closets the typical response is, "Oh I'll just bring it to Goodwill (or another donation site)". However, it is estimated that only 10% of the clothing in these stores ends up being bought. When you think about it do you really think that someone wants to buy your old high school band t-shirt for $4? In reality, 80% of textiles that will leave your hands will end up in landfills or burned and only 20% gets donated. The textiles that end up in landfills take hundreds of years to decompose while releasing toxic methane. So let's think a little more critically when we grow out of our jeans or decide that shirt is so last season.
One huge way of taking the clothing that you would have otherwise donated is giving them a second life. First consider if you are able to mend the item, alter it, or DIY it in a fashion that will make it wearable for you. At the end of the day you should feel joy in what you wear. Still not doing it for you? Selling your clothing is a perfect solution, and hey you'll even be making some money in the meantime. Selling clothing is a great way to help the earth and so is buying second hand because each purchase second hand saves 500 gallons of water. It also prevents your clothing from the doom of sitting in a landfill for 200 years until it decomposes.
Selling your clothing can seem like a daunting task and yes it is harder than just driving them to a donation center, but the payoff is worth it. Not only will you gain good environmental karma but you will also be able to make a little cash.
Before you sell your clothing make sure that it is in good condition. Any brand name or clothing still in good condition are perfect candidates for turning into cash! So what selling platform should you use? Below is a brief overview of different ways to sell and different options. Depending on what you are selling different platforms may be different options for you than they were for me.
Social Selling Platforms
Mercari Best for: Anything and everything This online selling app allows for you to post your listing. You have the option to pay for the shipping on your own or have Mercari take care of it. You will even have the decision of what shipping service you would like to use like Fedex or USPS. The platform does take 10% of your sales earnings. I have been able to sell everything from American Eagle jeans to Croc Jibits on this platform. It's really a catch all!
Poshmark Best for: Name brand clothing This platform in similar to Mercari, but is a more social platform. You are able to share your and other's listings. Additionally, people will host Posh Parties with themes that you can share your clothing into. Because of this, selling on the platform does require some work. I learned that when I wasn't really playing the "Poshmark game" I wasn't getting many sales. One nice thing about the platform is that Poshmark will send you a shipping label once the item is sold since the buyer pays $6.95 for the shipping of the item. You are even able to ship your items in USPS Priority boxes which you can get for free from the post office. The downside, this platform takes 20% of your sales earnings.
Depop Best for: Instagramable clothing Depop is like the Instagram of reselling clothing. Lots of YouTube stars take to this platform when cleaning out their closet. The app is founded on aesthetic photos and a follower base. If you're in the New York area they even have a studio where you are able to take photos for free. Their fees include a 10% Depop fee and PayPal transaction fee of 3.4% + £0.20 in the UK and 2.9% + $0.30 in the USA. You then have the option of how to ship the items. This platform is great for any non name brand clothing that you have that is still stylish or in a niche category.
Relovv Best for: Trendy items (check out their guide here) Relovv is like the Instagram of selling clothing AND it has a great mission- #ReduceReuseRelovv. It is a community of sellers that are encouraged to repost other's items. Users are suggested to take trendy photos with great lighting to show off their unique items. Best part, the app takes no commission! The only downside is it has a small audience base and only accepts a very particular selection of clothing items. Sign up with my code @ameals12 and get $5 off your first purchase!
Ebay Best for: A catch all Selling on eBay can be daunting if you never have. They have lots of options that can make it very intimidating. If you do not set up your listing right you may be hit with shipping fees that you did not expect. Make sure to watch lots of tutorials and read up before starting your journey. Despite the learning curve, many people have vast success with eBay due to the fast paced nature of the platform. As for fees, according to their site "eBay final valie fees are 10% of the amount you were PAID, including item cost AND shipping. PayPal charges 2.9% of the payment received plus a 30 cent transaction fee."
Online Consignment
ThredUp Best for: Name brand professional clothing ThredUp is one of the easiest ways to sell your clothing that requires no work of you. You don't have to worry about taking photos or listing items. Instead you will just ship off your clothing in a box to the company. This company accepts name brand clothing in perfect condition. You can order your free kit here (it is $1.99 if you would like them to ship you a label and box). However, they will take $10 out of your earnings as a processing fee. The downside, the clothing that the company does not take you will have to pay $10.99 to get back if you decide you'd like it back otherwise it will be donated. Need some more information? Check out all you need to know here.
In Person Consignment Options
Platos Closet Best for: Trendy name brand clothing purchased in the last year I shop at Platos Closet all the time because of their trendy pieces that are name brand and sold at half the price and their inventory is always new. I love going there as a college student because it is perfectly catered to my age group. On a selling side, it is not always the best. People are able to walk out with hundreds of dollars of cash in hand from selling, but they will also bring in multiple bags of items. The payout is kind of small. Platos Closet is very particular with what they take. They will not take any stained or torn items. Additionally they run their items through a program so they will really only accept name brand items that are relatively recent. Once they are done with your clothing they will give you the option of taking back the clothing that they did not buy back. Platos Closet is a great solution if you do not have the time to sell it on your own and would like some cash for your items.
Other Consignment Stores Best for: Depends on the store Of course there are other consignment stores. These will vary in the area that you are in in what they accept and their payouts. Do some research into what is around you and maybe you'll even find your next go to store.
For more information on how to sell on these platforms simply google for different blog posts and videos. That's how I got started off! Some platforms do require a learning curve but once you make your first sale it is more than worth it!
If all else fails and you are unable to sell your items or they are just too heavily loved you can bring your clothing to donation centers like Goodwill or find a location that will recycle the clothing into material such as cushions. So get to it, start cleaning out your life and keep the clothing cycle going. Once you're done clearing out the old, commit to buying less and taking care of your clothing so it lasts longer to make an even bigger impact.
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