Giving Clothes a New Opportunity: Resources Once You've Simplified Your Closet
Pre-loved, pre-owned, second hand, used… There are a lot of synonyms for places to find previously owned clothes. A lot of these options involve consignment or thrift stores, which in many other countries are known as “opp shops.”
But what does “opp shop” mean?
Opportunity.
And how lovely is that! My goodness! Instead of focusing on the diminished life of a clothing item (ie: pre, used, etc.), how about we focus on how much life it has left? The opportunity and possibilities of a clothing item after it’s spent a year wallowing in the back of your chest-of-drawers?
So! Seeing as an aspect of BU Style is focused on decluttering closets and simplifying what you own for maximum impact, we wanted to offer some lesser-known resources so that you can find new opportunities for your clothes in their next life.
Pro-Tip: Launder your clothes before donating or selling. Make sure they’re in good condition. Focus on the “loved” part of “pre-loved.”
Here’s where to start looking:
—Buy Nothing or Mutual Aid Groups: These are large collectives (often organized on Facebook) in which people post items they’d like to either acquire or give away for free. Mutual Aid groups do a good job of providing resources to the neighborhood.
—Hospitals: Ask your local hospital if they’re looking for clothes. A lot of patients come in needing more clothes than they have!
—Legal Aid Societies: This is a great option if you have some snazzier clothes looking for a home. You’ll be providing court-appropriate attire for clients who have trials and job interviews coming up.
—Dress for Success: They empower women by providing attire and the development tools to thrive professionally. https://dressforsuccess.org/
—Housing Works: a NYC-based non-profit that provides servcies to the most vulnerable New Yorkers. https://www.housingworks.org/donate/store-drop-offs
—References: https://references.nyc/ A concierge for your resellable fashion & your proxy for quality local donations and transparent fabric recycling.
—True Fashionistas selling and consignment: https://www.bu.style/resources/community-spotlight-true-fashionistas A special shout-out to True Fashionistas! They’re a partner of ours and we love their mission. They also do home goods.
—If you’re in New York City and still stuck for options, try. . . https://www.nyc.gov/assets/donate
And that should give you a place to start looking for greater opportunities for your clothes!