Fashion Terms — the Apparel Search fashion terminology directory
Once clothing has been purchased and worn, it is used clothing; clothing merely tried on in a dressing room but not sold is still new. When used clothing is donated or sold it is considered secondhand clothing, and apparel, shoes or fashion accessories can all be donated, sold or traded as used products once the first owner is done with them — gently used to well-worn, everyday basics to designer fashion.
Once clothing has been purchased and worn, it would be considered used clothing. If clothing is tried on in a dressing room at a store, but not sold it would still be considered new clothing.
When used clothing is being donated or sold it is considered second hand clothing.
Apparel, shoes or fashion accessories can be donated, sold or traded as used products after the original owner wishes to dispense of the items.
Used Children's Clothing Stores - popular because growing children grow out of clothing quickly.
Used clothing refers to clothing items that have been previously owned and worn by someone before being sold or donated for reuse. These items can vary in condition, ranging from gently used to well-worn, and they encompass a wide range of clothing styles, from everyday basics to designer fashion. Buying and selling used clothing can have several positive environmental impacts:
Buying Used Clothing:
Reduces Waste: One of the most significant benefits of buying used clothing is waste reduction. The fashion industry generates a vast amount of textile waste each year, and much of it ends up in landfills. Purchasing secondhand clothing extends the lifespan of garments, reducing the need for new production and disposal.
Conserves Resources: Producing new clothing consumes valuable natural resources, including water, energy, and raw materials. Buying used clothing conserves these resources because it doesn't contribute to the production of new textiles.
Lowers Carbon Footprint: The production and transportation of new clothing have a significant carbon footprint due to factors like manufacturing processes and long-distance shipping. Buying locally sourced used clothing or shopping at thrift stores can help reduce this environmental impact.
Promotes Circular Economy: Buying used clothing is a key component of a circular economy, where products are designed to be reused and recycled rather than discarded. It supports the idea of "reduce, reuse, recycle" by extending the useful life of clothing items.
Selling Used Clothing:
Extends Product Lifespan: When you sell your used clothing, you give these items a chance to be worn and enjoyed by someone else, extending their useful lifespan.
Reduces Clutter: Decluttering your wardrobe and selling items you no longer need or wear not only creates more space but also reduces the temptation to buy new clothing unnecessarily.
Generates Income: Selling used clothing can provide extra income. Instead of throwing away or donating your gently used items, you can potentially earn money from them.
Supports Sustainable Consumption: By selling your used clothing, you contribute to a more sustainable and responsible approach to fashion consumption. Others can benefit from your preloved items, reducing the demand for new clothing production.
To maximize the environmental benefits of buying and selling used clothing:
Donate Unsellable Items: If some of your clothing items are not suitable for resale due to wear or damage, consider donating them to textile recycling programs or charities that can repurpose or recycle textiles.
Practice Mindful Consumption: When shopping for used clothing, buy only what you need and will wear. Avoid the trap of excessive or impulsive buying, even in the secondhand market.
Repair and Upcycle: If you have the skills, consider repairing or upcycling clothing to extend its life further. Simple repairs like sewing on missing buttons or fixing small tears can make a big difference.
Overall, buying and selling used clothing is a sustainable and eco-friendly way to enjoy fashion while contributing to the reduction of textile waste and the conservation of valuable resources. It's a win-win for both consumers and the environment.
Online retailers such as Etsy, eBay, and others help buyers & sellers transact for used fashion items.
Learn about consignment & thrift shops.
You may want to also learn about vintage fashion & vintage footwear which is essentially used clothing which is very old.
Some used clothes would be stylish and some used clothes will be out of fashion but still very wearable.
Condition is the currency of the used clothing trade. Resale buyers sort garments along a rough scale — like-new and gently used pieces at the top, well-worn workaday clothing below, and damaged items that belong in textile recycling rather than on a rail. Brand, fabric quality, seasonality and local demand then set the price within each grade, which is why a designer piece in good condition can hold a strong resale value while a worn fast-fashion basic may be worth more as a donation than as a listing. Sellers maximize value with the same habits the guidance on this page recommends: sell what is genuinely wearable, donate or recycle what is not, and repair the small faults — a missing button, a small tear — that separate a rejected garment from a sold one.
Clothing that has been previously owned and worn by someone before being sold or donated for reuse. Trying a garment on in a store dressing room does not make it used — purchase and wear do.
Buying used reduces textile waste, conserves the water, energy and raw materials that new production consumes, lowers the carbon footprint of getting dressed, and promotes a circular economy by extending the useful life of garments instead of discarding them.
At used clothing stores, children's used clothing stores, pre-owned luxury retailers, consignment and thrift shops, and online marketplaces such as Etsy and eBay; at trade level, used clothing wholesalers and vintage wholesale clothing dealers handle it in bulk.