If you’re anything like me, you probably have way more clothes than you probably need. You pick up a shirt from your drawer, ponder if you’re ever going to wear it again, decide you probably won’t, but then throw it right back in the drawer because you think well what if I want to wear it someday. Odds are you will probably never end up wearing it again, and you keep buying new clothes, and eventually your drawers are over full. If you’ve never tried selling your clothes online- I highly recommend you start now. I mean, who doesn’t want money to buy a whole new wardrobe. I have made just over $600 selling my clothes online and I have found what sells and what doesn’t, how to sell items faster, and much more.
I use this app called Curtsy, which I have found works better than other clothes-selling apps because of its target towards high school and college aged women. It’s really simple to use. All I do is take a few pictures of the item, noting any flaws, set a price for the item, describe it and then list it. The most important thing I have noticed while selling my clothes is to take a picture of the item and make it look at least a little aesthetically pleasing. It’s also important to model the item to show buyers what it looks like on your body. It’s probably not a good idea to take a picture of your wrinkled pair of pants on your bedroom floor with bad lighting. The item will be less likely to sell. Another really important thing is setting a fair price for your buyer. The wear and tear, how new or old an item is, and whether or not the item is out of stock or not, are all factors that affect pricing. I have found that big brands are likely to sell faster than smaller or less popular brand names. The most items I have sold from a single brand is Lululemon. Buyers know that Lululemon is a popular and expensive brand, so they jump on the opportunity to buy like-new items for much cheaper.
Selling clothes online is also a good opportunity to get rid of things that you wore once and are still in great condition. For example, I have sold three prom dresses and two homecoming dresses online for a fair profit. Just like the popular brands, buyers will jump on special occasion items because they know that what they are paying is much cheaper than shopping at a boutique or in a store.
If the benefit of making a profit off your old clothes wasn’t good enough, shopping for and selling used clothing items is a sustainable practice. The textile industry is one of the largest contributors to the downfall of our environment. The industry releases toxic gasses and chemicals into our water and soil. Also, the practice of washing new clothing releases many microplastics into the ocean. Shopping sustainably is good for the environment and good for your bank account. By using apps like Curtsy or Poshmark, you are promoting sustainable fashion. If you have not already, get your phone out and start cleaning out your closet. You might just sell enough items to vamp up your wardrobe just in time for summer. And don’t forget to also shop sustainably- it’s cheaper!