It’s hard to keep track of all the advice out there: donate, recycle, repair, and so on. It can feel overwhelming. So, here’s a simple guide to help you figure out what to do with those clothes you’re ready to part with. The goal is simple: keep as much out of the landfill as possible.

Step 1: Can It Be Reused As-Is?

Before tossing anything out, ask yourself if it could still be useful to someone else.

• Donate or Resell: If it’s in good condition, consider donating to local charities or selling through apps like Depop, Offset Fashion, or Facebook Marketplace. Charity shops are also great options.

NB: Before donating anything, ask yourself, would I give this to a friend (which is also an option). You don't want to transfer the burden of clothes in poor condition to the charities.

Step 2: Can It Be Repaired?

A small rip or a missing button isn’t the end of the world.

• Get it Fixed: Simple repairs can breathe new life into your favorite pieces. If you’re not into DIY, look for local tailors or repair services.
• Upcycle: If you’re crafty, think about turning that worn-out shirt into a crop top, or using old jeans to make a tote bag. There are endless tutorials online.

Step 3: Get Creative with Repurposing

Sometimes, a piece just isn’t wearable anymore, but that doesn’t mean it’s trash.

• DIY Projects: Use old fabrics in craft projects, as stuffing for pillows, or even to make a cozy rug out of small textile scraps.
• Cleaning Rags: Torn T-shirts and towels make great rags for cleaning around the house. They’re absorbent and can save you from buying paper towels.

Step 4: When It Really Has to Go

There’s no denying that some clothes are beyond saving. But before you throw them out, consider the options—and the challenges.

• Avoid General and recycling Bins: Textiles don’t belong in your regular bin. And when it comes to composting? Unfortunately, most clothes are not suitable for compost because they contain synthetic materials or chemical finishes. So unless you know for sure your clothing is 100% natural and untreated, it’s better to avoid this route.
• Textile Recycling Bins: You’ve probably seen those bins in parking lots or near grocery stores. While they seem like a great option, be aware that most collected textiles end up being exported to other countries, where they often become a burden rather than a solution. This practice creates serious environmental and social problems.

What's left then ? We're not going to lie to you, there is currently no perfect answer.

The truth is that we can't and won't be able to solve the clothing waste problem just by recycling or reusing. Most textiles are still ending up in landfills or being burned—73% to be exact. And less than 1% of old clothes get recycled into new garments.

Why? The technology isn’t fully there and hardly scalable to the billions of garments discarded of every year.

Moreover, transparency in the industry is a big issue, making itimpossible to trace and establish the destination and faith of clothes when it leaves the country.

It's not entirely hopeless

Progress is finally being made at European level, with new legislation pushing member states to finally collect textile waste separately and developp new strategies to reuse, sort and dispose of it more ethically. Exports are also bound to be more regulated to limit current excesses and loopholes.

We can hope to have a better collection and sorting system in coming years.

The Bigger Picture: Why Reducing Is Key

Although some progress is made, we still believe in the virtue of seeing issues at the end of the line as being better treated by changes at the very start of it. That’s why the real answer resided in producing and consuming less. The best thing you can do now that you know the difficulties of getting rid of your clothes ethically is be mindful before you even get to the point of decluttering. Try to avoid the endless cycle of constantly buying and discarding half of your wardrobe every 6 months. Clothes are being used between 35 and 50% less than 15 years ago. That shows how much clothes have been made to be seen as disposable. Yet, that shouldn't be the case, and now you know why: we don't know how to deal with it.

Good thing this whole website is about helping you make better choices for yourself and transmit a new idea of what fashion is and could be. By slowing down and making sure pieces you buy actually fill a need and a list of standards you have for what you wear, you won't feel the need to get rid of it as quickly.

Circularity calls for circularity

It’s up to all of us—brands and consumers alike—to push for change. All fashion brands alike need to invest in better materials and circular designs, while consumers can demand higher standards and make thoughtful choices. To make circular economy happen you need products that are circular. All actors in the reuse, upcycling or recycling sector would tell you the same thing: that you can't work with badly made products like we see everywhere today. There's nothing to be done with those. Only garments and products made with circularity in mind will be circulated longer. Until that happens, managing clothing waste will continue to be a challenge.

So, next time you’re ready to clear out your closet, think twice before tossing anything out. There’s often a better way—and even if the solutions aren’t perfect, every little effort counts in keeping waste out of our landfills.

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