When was the last time you cleaned out your closet? It could be a few months back or a year ago. In one year, how many times did you shop for new clothes?
If you haven’t checked all the items in your wardrobe, you wouldn’t know how much money lies in there. Yes, there’s moolah in your closet, and if only you’re patient enough to take out your old clothes, you can make some decent cash from your unworn pieces.
Women, it’s time to confess. We love clothes. We find retail shopping therapeutic. We build our own style with every piece of clothing we have, which we consider as investments. True enough, we’re spending more than we should for fashion’s sake.
Unless you’re the type who goes for the classic pieces (think little black dress, plain white button down, oxford shirt), your wardrobe will never go out of style. Your OOTDs will still look chic no matter the season. But if you’re someone who likes trendy pieces, your clothing allowance could hurt. Not to mention, a barely breathing closet.
It’s time to for a long overdue wardrobe audit and earn extra cash! Ready? Here are five ways to make money from your old clothes:
Online selling
Once you’re done segregating all your pieces of clothing, pick the ones that are still in good condition, take photos, and write a short description for each of the items. Take high-resolution photos so people can zoom in on the details. Describe the material, the size, and the brand (if it can be a plus), and mention if there are certain items you’ve worn only once or never worn.
You can upload on your personal Facebook or Instagram account or create a dedicated page. Use relevant and popular hashtags to maximize visibility. List your items on online marketplaces like eBay and on websites meant for buying and selling old clothes online. Some of these websites let you set up your own virtual shop while others will pay you outright if you sell them your clothes. Read the terms and conditions of these sites first before you sign up.
Consigning
For those who don’t have the time for the nitty gritty of online selling, search for consignment stores in your area and bring your old clothes there. These stores can charge you differently but the usual can be a 50 percent commission. If all you ever wanted is to get rid of your unused clothes, this is the fastest way to go.
But hey, don’t just dump your clothes in one giant box when you bring them for consignment. Fold the items and put the nice ones on top to make a good impression right away, so the store owner won’t think twice about accepting you and giving you a great deal.
Upcycling or recycling
All you DIY queens out there, upcycling old clothes or recycling worn out ones is a fun way to give your artsy soul a little workout. Pinterest is heaven-sent for anyone who would like to give creative reuse a try.
Have you been contemplating on what to do with that denim jacket your favorite aunt gave you? That’s one of the struggles whenever we try to ditch old clothes — we hold on to them because of their sentimental value. You don’t wear that jacket anymore because the sleeves look chunky on your now toned arms. But you can’t let go of it because it’s still pretty special for you. Maybe you can transform your jacket into a vest like this one:
Photo: collegefashion.net
Upcycling gives old clothes a second chance at being fashionable. Those that were once your favorite wardrobe items can look nice and pretty again if you let your creativity flow.
There are tons of ideas to try, and maybe you can invite your friends to come over for a day of upcycling! You can sell all your pieces online afterward and if all goes well, you’ve got an instant business idea to pursue.
Swapping
You won’t always make money with clothing swaps but you will discard all of your unused clothes in exchange for “new” ones, store coupons, or some other stuff you’d like. Just think of the money you can still save — you’ve got new stuff to boast making no purchase. Lucky if you find a swapping site that will pay you directly for your best pieces.
Stop mindless shopping
You may not be selling old clothes to make money, but the money you make from your work or business will go to other important things than shopping for your wardrobe. If you’re a hundred percent shopaholic, you have to change your mindset and stay away from everything that lures you to buy clothes every payday. Follow these tips:
- Uninstall fashion and shopping apps.
- Unsubscribe to newsletters of your well-loved fashion brands.
- Stop saying you don’t have enough clothes to wear because that’s total nonsense if you can’t even move the hangers in your closet.
Takeaways
In fashion and many other aspects of life, less is more. Admit it, even if you have a closet full of clothes, you have only a few of them you wear often. You won’t even remember having some of the trendier stuff because once they go out of style, you don’t wear them anymore.
The best thing you can do is to build a capsule wardrobe, try the minimalist version if you must. A capsule wardrobe contains your favorite clothes that fit your current lifestyle and body. By mixing and matching these items regularly, you realize that there’s no need to shop as often as before because you have enough of what you need to build a month’s worth of OOTDs.
Do an inventory of all your clothes, shoes, bags, and accessories. See which ones to keep, to donate, to swap, and to sell. When deciding which items to keep, remember the capsule wardrobe you plan to build.
Everything else that must go, should go. You will be surprised at how much money you can make with your old clothes.
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