5 ways to get rid of your old clothes responsibly this January

January – being a time for new beginnings – is the perfect time for a closet clear-out. While in an ideal world all of our clothes would be forever purchases that would stay in our wardrobes for a lifetime, in reality this doesn’t always happen. We grow out of them, they get worn out, or perhaps we feel like they just don’t suit us anymore.

Given that a shocking 70 per cent of our clothes end up in landfill, often in countries in the Global South like Ghana, Kenya, India and Chile, it’s crucial that we get rid of our old clothes in a responsible manner. But what’s the best way to ensure that they actually get a second life?

Although a growing number of brands are now offering take-back schemes, a 2023 investigation by the Changing Markets Foundation found that the majority of items were downcycled or destroyed, lost in limbo, or shipped to Africa. “[Take-back schemes] might give a temporary guilt relief to consumers, but in reality, these schemes are just a sticking plaster solution, perpetuating the ugly reality of fast fashion’s business model,” Nusa Urbancic, the non-profit’s CEO, tells Vogue.

Below, we asked the experts for their top tips on what we should actually do with clothes we no longer want.

One of the best ways to ensure that your clothes don’t end up in landfill is by selling them on via a second-hand resale platform like eBay, Vinted, Vestiaire Collective or Depop. “The most responsible way to ‘dispose’ of unwanted clothes is to ensure they remain in circulation and continue being worn, assuming they’re in good enough shape,” Sol Escobar, founder of Give Your Best, says.

IRL closet sales are also becoming increasingly popular, with the likes of Camille Charrière and Pixie Geldof both holding clothing sales in recent months. If photographing and posting all of your items seems like a lot of effort to you, you can still follow suit – even if it’s just setting up a stall at your local car boot sale.

In a similar vein, organising a clothing swap with friends is another great (and importantly, fun!) way to ensure your unwanted garments actually go to a new home. Alternatively, find a swap shop near you via platforms like Loanhood.

While many charity shops are overwhelmed with low-quality garments these days, clothing donations still remain an important source of income for charities. “Most charities will say they only want to receive items in good condition so please do donate things that are still good to be worn by someone else,” Sarah Gray, lead analyst for textiles at WRAP, says. It’s also worth speaking to your local charity shops about the types of clothing they’re actually looking for.

Meanwhile, online platform Give Your Best allows people to donate their unwanted garments to refugees, victims of trafficking and domestic violence survivors, meaning your clothes will definitely be put into good use. “[The clothes] can then be shopped online for free by women and children living in clothing poverty,” Escobar explains.

If you’re clearing out a lot of items from your closet, you can order a Thrift+ bag, which you fill with all your pre-loved pieces and send back. The platform will then resell the clothes that are in good enough condition, in exchange for Thrift+ points that you can spend on their site, with one of their partners (which include Farfetch and Browns), or donate to charity. Anything that they can’t sell on will be donated to charity or recycled responsibly.

Repairing or fixing any issues before you get rid of your clothes will also ensure that they don’t end up in landfill. “Making sure they are in good condition [will help] them to get another life in someone else’s wardrobe,” Gray concludes.

Related: 4 easy ways to make more sustainable choices in your wardrobe