The Right Way To Donate Your Clothes To Charity Shops

Wash your clothes before donating

With the rise of fast fashion and the popularity of online resale platforms, receiving an increasing number of inappropriate and unsellable items is a growing challenge for charity shops,explains Rachel Cosgrove-Pearce, retail director at Oxfam, in an interview with Vogue. This increases the time and resources needed to sort donations, which can reduce both the volume and value of what we manage to sell. Although online resale keeps items in circulation and out of landfills, the impact on charities is undeniable. A recent study shows that 38 percent of charity leaders state donation quality has dropped due to the resale boom. Meanwhile, 19 percent of donors admit the clothes they now offer are of significantly lower quality because they reserve the best pieces for digital sales platforms.

We must remember these shops are run by volunteers who deal directly with bags of poor-quality clothing left outside. Venetia La Manna, a sustainable fashion activist and charity shop volunteer, has witnessed shocking donations firsthand. Black bin bags left outside the shop, which is not permitted, fill me with dread,she says. Think of moldy jackets covered in dog hair, smelly school uniforms, patched shirts, and foul-smelling bras. In reality, only an estimated 25 percent of donated clothes are actually sold by charity shops. The rest is typically shipped to countries like Ghana, Chile, India, and Pakistan, where up to 40 percent eventually end up in landfills because they cannot be reused. Even if you think your unwanted clothes are going to a noble cause, they may still contribute to the fashion industry's massive waste problem. Therefore, being conscious of what you donate is more important than ever.

Perform necessary repairs

Experts share their advice for responsible donating below.

Think seasonally

It sounds obvious, but many people fail to check if clothes are clean before giving them away. „Most charity shops do not have room for washing machines,”notes La Manna. If an item is stained, its chances of finding a new owner are low, states Cosgrove-Pearce. Put those items in a textile recycling bin instead.

Similarly, damaged items are impossible to sell. „If it needs a button sewn or a zipper fixed, do that first, because a small home repair often determines whether a piece gets worn again or goes in the trash,”explains Sol Escobar, founder and CEO of Give Your Best. If you cannot make the repair yourself, organizations like Traid organize free repair workshops, or you can visit a local volunteer-run repair cafe.

Ask charity shops what they need

If it is not the time people are buying summer clothes, others are unlikely to look for them. Seasonal donations are therefore essential, argues Escobar. „Jackets and boots donated in autumn, when people are actually looking for them, have a much higher chance of selling than those brought out in June,”she explains.

Do not ignore unique and vintage pieces

If you are unsure whether your local shop accepts your items, it is worth writing to ask. „My best advice is to check beforehand if the charity shop in your area accepts clothing donations and ask what types of items they need,”says La Manna. It is helpful to tailor donations to what the organization actually requires. Give Your Best's online platform, for instance, provides clothes directly to women and children who cannot afford them. The organization receives „practical clothes for daily life like warm jackets, comfortable shoes, job interview outfits,”explains Escobar, as well as children's clothing and plus-size items.

Amid a sea of fast fashion, do not underestimate unusual pieces in your wardrobe. „Second-hand is often at its best when you discover something you do not see on everyone else,”says Cosgrove-Pearce. „Unique and vintage pieces are always in demand; your old retro find can become someone else's treasure.” Donate only what you would be proud to gift a friend What is the golden rule? „Do not donate anything you wouldn't be proud to gift a friend,”states La Manna. „We want wearable pieces that people are excited to discover, alongside everyday basics,”adds Cosgrove-Pearce. „Any item in good condition that someone else can discover, wear, and love.”