Shoes
Why recycle clothes
95% of the textile we make can be recycled into new textile, but we recycle only 1%.
The fast fashion market has been flooded with low cost, low quality, low durability clothing. The rapid obsolescence of inventories with each new fashion wave, seasonal or otherwise triggered, has made the industry the 5th largest contributor of green house gases. 6% of ALL green house gases human kind emits.
"What is the point of any individual action? What dent will it make?" One might conclude it is so insignificant, that it is not worth the effort. But the outcome of collective inaction is not in doubt. Somewhat like voting in a democracy.
How to recycle clothes
Our extended definition of "Recycle" includes the idea of keeping clothes in circulation longer, through repair, reuse, donation or reselling. Recycling garments is inefficient and inadequate even in the most conducive of circumstances, and it is very difficult to parse corporate greenwashing from facts. Instead, extending the life of our clothes is as good as or better than recycling, at least in the short term. It keeps them from landfills for longer and also allows time for the recycling ecosystem to get their act together.
Make money by reselling your gently used clothes, donate to those who desperately need them, prevent them from ending up in landfills.
Check out the curated list of options here. For more options see the Directory links below. Recycling options are rapidly evolving. Revisit us to the stay in touch with the latest.
Clothes By The Numbers
BY THE NUMBERS
...
70 lbs
Annual average purchase of clothes by an individual American
1%
Estimated percentage of textiles recycled into new textile globally
73%
Percentage of clothes that end up in Landfills
95%
Percentage of textiles that can be recycled into new textile globally
6%
Garnents as a percentage of Municipal solid waste in the US
20%
Textile industries contribution to total industrial pollution
2.5 years
Years a human can survive on the water required to produce one cotton shirt (2700 litres or 713 gallons)
6%
% of total global Green House Gases contributed by the Apparel industry
Ready?
Regardless how to choose to sell your clothes, ensure they are laundered or dry-cleaned and as well presented as you can make them. “Button buttons, zip zippers and fold them like a store would”.
Local initiatives and neighborhood donation drives might be an effective and convenient way of donating your garments. The lists below gives you some control over the cause you want to support. Several names under the Returns listing on this page also end up donating what you return. We have removed several interesting listings that shut down during Covid.
If you go for manufacturer take back programs, there is some level of greenwashing, but these and other companies are making the right moves. Most of them over produce, no declared plans of what they do to clothes taken back and also not everything is Ok for takeback. If clothes get wet during shipping they are discarded for fear of mildew.
Click on the company logos to get to their websites
Other Options
Local initiatives everywhere. Shelters, churches, and children’s homes or other foundations.
Find local organizations near you like: Room to Grow in Boston and New York, or Clothes for Kids in Lynnwood, WA
Pay it forward. Keep your clothes from Landfills.
Plato’s closet
#1 Ranked Teen Resale Franchise as per Entrepreneur Magazine. Gently used teen and young adult clothes, shoes and accessories. Current fashion sells best. No appointment necessary.
Tradesy
Online peer-to-peer resale marketplace for buying and selling women's fashion. Free shipping kit. Plus, they process returns and pay for shipping so you don't have to.
Earn up to 80% when your item sells.
Salvation Army
Donate your clothes for responsible distribution to the most needy. Find a drop off location or thrift store near you, or schedule a free pick-up
Pay it forward. Keep your clothes from Landfills.
Kid to Kid
This chain based in Rockville, operates in multiple states and four countries and takes children’s clothing, toys and equipment
Cash on a case-by-case basis or 20 percent more in trade.
Depop
“The home of circular fashion” for clothes, accessories and other household items as well. App designed for the mobile phones and tablets.
90% of final selling price, minus small Paypal fee.
Buffalo Exchange
Used-clothing chain with stores in 17 states. Walk in and a Buffalo Exchange employee will price your items on the spot.
50% of the anticipated selling price in trade or 25% in cash.
Other options
Mom and pop consignment stores.
Consignment stores could pay upto 50% of sale value.
eBay
One stop shop auction center for almost anything, including clothes. Vast market, therefore more competitive. No listing fee for up to 200 items per month.
88-98% of the final selling price.
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