The world could save around 449 million pounds of waste if only everybody bought one used item instead of buying it new.

We all know that one person‘s trash is another person‘s treasure. But when it comes to your old clothes, it‘s not always that easy to find someone who wants what you no longer want.

You probably have a closet or dresser full of clothes you no longer wear and getting rid of them can not only make some extra cash but also declutter your home. Heres a look at how to go about selling your old clothes for cash. There are a few different ways you can sell your clothes. One option is to have a garage sale. This is a great option if you have a lot of clothes to get rid of, as you can put them all out at once and people can come and browse through what you have. You can also check online classifieds or even Facebook Marketplace for people looking to buy secondhand clothes in your area.

In addition to the above-mentioned ways, there are quite a few companies that will take your old clothes off your hands and give them a new life. Here are a few of the many companies that recycle or make a direct sale of old clothes.

a thinking woman standing besides clothes hanging on cloth hanger

1. H&M Garment Collecting programme

H&M’s Garment Collecting programme is one of the leading programs of its kind. With no restrictions to the type and condition of clothes, simply take your old clothes or textiles to an H&M store and drop them at the cash desk. In return for your bag of old clothes, you get a Thank You voucher which can be redeemed on your next purchase at H&M. The programme claims to have collected around 18,000 tonnes of unwanted clothes or textiles by 2020.  

2. Patagonia Worn Wear

Patagonia’s Worn Wear program is yet another initiative by Patagonia towards sustainable fashion. They accept your old Patagonia clothing that is of good quality and functionally well. Any gear that you want to return can either be mailed directly to them using their trade in page or at most Patagonia retail locations. For every gear returned and which is accepted, you get the credits that can be claimed at any purchase on either Patagonia retail stores, WornWear.com, or Patagonia.com.

3. Levi’s SecondHand

Levi’s SecondHand programme is similar to that of Patagonia’s Worn Wear. Simply take your old Levi’s jeans, denim shorts, and Trucker Jackets to one of these stores and earn a gift card that can be redeemed on your next purchase at Levi’s.

4. thredUP

thredUP is an online consignment and thrift store. You can send in your clothes, and they will sell them for you. The process starts with ordering a Clean Out kit from their website. Once obtained, you simply fill in the kit and drop the kit with either FedEx or USPS. When eligible items sell, you can either make cash out or get shopping credits. They take a commission of the sale, but you don‘t have to worry about shipping or anything else.

5. Poshmark

Poshmark is another online consignment store. They work a little differently than thredUP, in that you list your clothes for sale and buyers can purchase them directly from you. The process is fairly simple. You click a picture of the item and upload it to the website. When a buyer buys the item, Poshmark takes care of the delivery, and the selling price is credited to your account. Poshmark takes a small commission for each sale.

6. The RealReal

The RealReal, similar to Thredup is a place where you send your old belongings to be sold further. The RealReal takes care of the selling and delivery of the product to the end user. You can earn up to 85% of the selling price of your item.

7. Buffalo Exchange

Buffalo Exchange is a chain of consignment stores. They have locations across the United States. You can bring in your clothes that are in excellent condition and they will either buy them from you outright or consign them and sell them for you. They take a commission for each sale. You can earn up to 25% of the selling price or 50% in their TradeCard

women discussing over clothes shopping

These are just a few of the many companies that are helping in building a circular economy. As the fashion industry continues to grow, so does the environmental impact of our clothing choices. The average American consumer spends about $1,700 on clothing and shoes every year, and most of us keep our clothes for just a few years before getting rid of them. Just a small percentage of our clothes are recycled, meaning the rest end up in landfills where they release harmful chemicals into the environment.

So, before you throw away your old clothes, be sure to check and see if any of these companies will take them off your hands. To get started, simply gather up the clothes you no longer wear and send them to one of these companies. They will inspect your clothes and determine how much theyre worth. You will then be paid based on the value of your clothes.

If you know of any other companies in your region that are working towards this goal, feel free to share these in the comments.

Check: Top 10 sustainable fashion brands