I don’t know if you’ve ever had the experience of letting things that no longer make sense to you go. If you have, you will be familiar with the liberating feeling that comes from freeing up space, but if you haven’t yet experienced it, I extend my invitation: Try it!
Our life is made up of phases and we have to make room for every object and person that is essential to us during that phase. The point of letting go of what no longer serves us is to make room for changes and new experiences. When it comes to cleaning out closets, it sometimes feels like it can become an addiction, and from time to time, it’s necessary to breathe new life into and update it to your current phase. But what do you do with the clothes you take out of your closet? Give them away? Keep them until you come across someone who needs them? No idea?
In today’s post, we will offer 6 suggestions on what to do with the pieces you’ve thanked and let go.
1. Host a Second-Hand Bazaar
Basically, host a swap meet where you and others in your community can sell or trade clothes, accessories, shoes, and anything else you are ready to let go. You can make it fun. Team up with a few friends, set a theme, decide to donate the proceeds to a charity, make it an annual spring or fall cleaning tradition. Some tips for setting up your bazaar:
- Choose your bazaar’s theme and focus (clothes, accessories, shoes, housewares…);
- Know your target audience;
- Define where the bazaar will be held (backyard, venue, parking lot;
- Think about the structure and everything that is necessary to serve your customers (cash only, or will you offer other options?);
- Announce the bazaar in advance;
- Ask for feedback once it’s over.
2. Donate your clothes
Whenever you have the opportunity to do so, show compassion for others and make someone happy. I always remember that verse in Matthew 25: 35, 36 that says “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’”And also Proverbs 3:27 “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Donate to a non-profit (give preference to local, non-profit, second-hand shops), directly to a family who is going through hard times or could use what you have, organize a Dorcas department at your church to help take care of those in need in your community.
3. Swap Clothes
This is a really cool and super simple way to say refresh your wardrobe. We all have friends who are also letting go of some pieces from their closets, right? One idea is to trade with them. Give them something you no longer wear but would totally fit their style in exchange for that perfect piece that will help you form new outfits with the pieces you already have. Win-win!
4. Consign
If you are not too keen on holding events to sell your clothes or don’t have the time or space to do that, a quick option is to take the best pieces in your giveaway pile to a consignment store where they will sell it for you. They will choose the pieces to sell, and once they have sold the clothing, they will give you part of the profit, usually 50%, but it can vary. Other stores will buy the pieces from you to resell, but then the price you get will usually be lower.
5. Sell online
The internet has created numerous business opportunities. You can choose to sell your pieces on social networks like Instagram and Facebook or on online apps. Several apps allow you to create your own online bazaar, for example: Poshmark, eBay, Letgo.
6. Repurpose
Finally, a super fun option that requires a touch of creativity is to reuse your clothes by transforming them into something new. Anything goes! from cutting up and distressing, sewing on new fabrics, tearing, dyeing, to repurposing the fabric to make something new. Not only can this be fun, but it can help us realize that clothes are not disposable. They can still make you happy even when it’s not the joy of wearing something new but now a joy of wearing something customized by your own hands!
Equipped with these suggestions, it’s time to start letting go! What will you do with your used clothing?
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