Spring has sprung! And it’s out with the c-old and in with the new. Now’s the perfect time of year to do a closet clean out, but as you amass piles of clothes, you may be wondering, “What should I do with these clothes?”
Many brands you know and love now have buyback options where you can return old clothes back to their original homes and give them a second life (in exchange for a little cash or store credit). We’re rounding up some of our favorites that stand out from the rest thanks to the innovative ways they recycle and repurpose what has already been created.
Oscar de la Renta is taking decades-old gowns and renewing them, Levi’s has brought denim fully full circle by designing the classic 501’s to be recyclable through organic cotton and pre-loved recycled denim. Innovators like Swedish Stockings are taking your old pantyhose and turning them into tables (yes, tables), while Kent has designed completely compostable underwear.
From luxe to contemporary, we rounded up the best buyback programs and alternative ways to shop sustainably.
Luxe Buyback Programs
With consignment shops like The Real Real and Vestiaire as a source for gently-used designer pieces, two brand, Oscar de la Renta and Coach, have created their own sites specifically for repurposing and reselling their vintage designs.
Last year, Oscar de la Renta announced its buyback program called Encore, which pays homage to the iconic pieces from decades past by giving them a second life. Each of the items are authenticated by in-house specialists and are reworked to not only extend the life of the product, but to also give a “like new” feeling. Customers can sell their ODLR pieces with the option of payment in the form of cash or store credit.
OLDR also gives customers the chance to donate a portion of their sales to charity. The list of places to donate includes: Habitat for Humanity, Dress for Success, World Central Kitchen, and the Colleagues of Los Angeles.
For Coach bag collectors, this is a must. Coach (Re)Loved is a program that allows customers to bring any Coach bag, from any decade, in any condition, to any US Coach store to be refurbished, recycled, or reimagined. The bag is then evaluated by the team to determine the next steps. Customers can receive credit ranging from $10 to $200 to be redeemed online or in stores. If for some reason the item isn’t eligible, it can still be eligible for repairs, leather care, and customization for a fresh new look.
Denim
Denim is something we all have in our closets, and Levi’s, Boyish and Mud have created a more circular way to shop for and recycle denim. What makes their processes so circular is by using denim that was already made in addition to organic materials and recycled textiles.
Tried and true, Levi’s are made to last, but when you’re finally ready to part with a pair, the brand created Levi’s Second Hand. The program allows customers to bring in their denim, both vintage and modern, to be evaluated by Levi’s team. The denim will then be cleaned or repurposed and listed on the site where other shoppers can purchase the pre-loved denim. Customers will receive a gift card towards a future purchase.
For any new pieces, Levi’s Spring 2022 collection features items that are made of organic cotton, previously recycled denim, and have been dyed with natural and plant based materials. The denim is also made with natural indigo dyes that reduce both chemicals and water in the dyeing and finishing process. (In addition, the brand’s six-piece Earth Day Capsule is made from organic cotton that has been grown without chemicals, pesticides, or fertilizers which improves waterways and farm land, including the T-shirt, shown at the top of the page.)
Boyish denim is known for its sustainable pieces and has its own Consignment Shop on its website where customers can buy and sell their Boyish jeans. To sell your denim, create an account and post images of your item along with necessary information. From there the Boyish team will evaluate and adjust details as needed and then the listing will be live on the website. The customers have a choice to be paid out in cash, with a 20% fee (sell denim for $100 receive $80 in cash) or store credit (sell denim for $100 receive $100 credit).
The creation process of each Boyish jean is thoughtful and environmentally-friendly. Every pair of Boyish denim uses a natural, plant-based dye and made with either certified organic cotton, recycled cotton, recycled or deadstock fabrics, as well as Tencel, which is a fabric that is made of sustainable wood pulp from eucalyptus trees.
Eco-conscious brand, Mud Jeans, has a unique program. Based in Amsterdam, Mud Jeans are designed to be completely circular, with the makeup of 40% recycled denim and 60% organic cotton.
The limited stock can be leased for up to 12 months for about $10 a month, with the opportunity to purchase at the end. The leasing program allows customers to wear the denim for as long as they want in addition to free repairs during the year. When customers are finished renting their denim, they can send it back to receive a credit for a new purchase.
For our US shoppers, this program is available with a $45 shipping fee as well as return fee at the end of the year. If you decide to exchange your denim at any point in the year, Mud will cover those costs. You can also shop to purchase Mud Jeans from Brooklyn based retailer, Ooloop.
Alternative Undergarments
If you’re looking to shop sustainable undergarments, Swedish Stockings and Kent both provide avant-garde way to repurpose your the items when it’s time to restock.
Swedish Stockings, based in Sweden, aims to turn old stockings into new objects through its recycle program. As they build up the technology to create new stockings from old stockings, they are collecting thousands of pairs of tights, grinding them up, combining them with fiberglass and turning them into molded tables, as seen above. Anyone can recycle through the brand’s program, just send three or more pairs of nylon stockings (can be any brand) to their address.
Plant-based, all-natural, zero-chemicals underwear brand, Kent, has produced the first-ever verified compostable underwear. Yes, you read that correctly! Kent underwear is designed to be composted and will be broken down in about 90 days, as Kent’s website states.
Now, if you do not have access to composting, you can join Kent’s Compost Club and Kent will compost your old briefs on your behalf. By joining and participating in the Compost Club, you will get $10 towards your next pair of underwear.
Perhaps some of your clothes have overstayed their welcome in your closet, now you know how pieces can find a new life in someone else’s closet… or be made into a table!
