Australian fashion people reveal where they sell their wardrobes
IMAGE VIA @goodbyes/INSTAGRAM
WORDS GITIKA GARG
Consignment stores, Instagram and more.
It’s safe to say that most of us probably own far more than we actually need or use. Our wardrobes house purchases that have only seen the light of day a handful of times, cramming the corners of an already over-flowing space.
An increasingly popular and efficient way of sorting through clothes and making more room has been through re-selling. The growing demand for secondhand items has not only made the process of clearing out old and unused pieces easier, it’s a great way to make some extra cash while reducing fashion waste.
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Selling pre-loved pieces gives them a second life, one with new memories and stories to cling onto. It also allows you to become a part of a fast-growing secondhand community.
But with so many secondhand stores and online platforms to choose from, selling your clothes can seem more overwhelming than convenient. To make the process a little easier, I reached out to some of my favourite local creatives in fashion, asking them about their tried and trusted destinations.
Millie Sykes, stylist
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Traditionally, I’ve used resale apps such as Poshmark and eBay but I’ve not found a huge amount of success on these platforms. I recently had a Marie Kondo lockdown moment and decided to try and sell a decent selection of my favourite pieces via my Instagram story. Way more successful!
I think as our online communities often share similar aesthetic tastes to us it makes sense that there would be plenty of interested buyers viewing your story. I put a bit of effort in to shoot the drop, working with a coloured backdrop and studio lighting. I think these little touches can make all the difference.
Carlos Mangubat, stylist
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Goodbyes have a great curated selection of clothing. Selling there is easy when you have a lot of items (even random vintage or sample sale items). I like the idea of dumping a whole lot of clothing and not having to sell it myself and just making money while I am busy working.
Mutual Muse is another I go to. They have (again) a curated range of brands fitted for their customer base. I go there with quality pieces (that can even be Uniqlo or Country Road), which, unlike Goodbyes, is an opportunity to get rid of mass market clothing (as well as high end designer). [The] bonus [is that] they give you cash up front, which is great when you don’t want to wait for a month for your items to sell. The Swop exchange, think Goodbyes but more vintage oriented. They have a bit of everything – but there is a vintage vibe in the store. I tend to go here after Goodbyes and Mutual Muse
Facebook Marketplace is another fast and easy option – if you’re home all day. There is no middle man. If you have trendy vintage furniture… this is the place for you. Ppennylane facebook group is the mecca of all Northside facebook groups (if you can get in) – prices are easy and items move quickly. High End facebook group is where I come to sell my pristine condition high-end items instead of a consignment store (who will give me half or less [than] the amount I want for my designer item). People in this group are knowledgeable and know the value of the items being sold. Plus there is also a second discussion group where people can track down an item they saw in a picture or give advice on particular brands.
Betty Liu, stylist
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I go to this consignment shop called Goodbyes in Collingwood and Brunswick whenever I have more than a couple of pieces that I am looking to clean out from my wardrobe. Goodbyes is really good for lazy people like me who cannot be bothered to list each item individually online like eBay or sell them through somewhere like Camberwell Sunday Market because I don’t have enough clothes I need to sell to rent out a stall.
Usually I clean clothes out because they either no longer fit me or I just haven’t been getting enough wear out of it. I do always feel super guilty whenever I get rid of a whole pile of clothes so I try to minimise the amount by either repurposing them into other garments or using them on shoots.
Elliot Garnaut, stylist
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I am a crazy consumer. Clothing, shoes, bags and accessories – you name it, I’ve bought it. The doorman of my apartment building claims he never has to go to the gym as he is constantly lifting delivery boxes addressed to me. Working in the fashion industry I make both seasonal and classic purchases. With such a large turnaround of clothing in my wardrobe I decided to set up my own eCommerce platform to sell my clothing – elliot garnaut.com.
Initially a hefty task, it is now the most seamless way to sell my clothes. I take a quick snap, upload the details and it’s ready to shop! For the higher price point designer items, I resell as I absolutely love seeing imagery and hearing stories of people making new memories in clothing that I’ve lived and loved in. Giving a special garment or accessory a second life is a very cool thing when you see it unfold on social media with its new owner.
Kirsty Irwin, designer
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Firstly, I must note I have so many clothes! So I’ve taken a couple avenues for those seasonal hauls. I usually do the Hunter Markets twice a year, which is a great way to get rid of ample pieces at once. I also use Depop! It’s a handy little app you can publish your unwanted goodies on. I love it as it is super easy to upload and you can follow your favourite sellers too, so you get updates when they have new pieces up for sale.
Which in theory is great, but honestly if you’re a shopaholic (like myself), you run the risk of buying as much as you’re selling. Lastly, a good tip is putting them on Instagram Close Friends. I find this is the key to selling your more special pieces to people you know have similar taste (well, good taste).
Lana Wilkinson, stylist and designer
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I sell my pre-owned clothes and accessories because I love all of these pieces so much and want others to experience the same magic when putting on something that I’ve loved. I love people loving clothes so it’s such a joy to see how other people style them in their own way.
Most of the time I give my favourites to co-workers and friends for free, however I just set up a Depop as I’ve heard that many people have had positive experiences on the platform. Selling your clothes is a great way to minimise waste and it allows customers to pick up designer clothes at an affordable price.
To discover more places to sell your clothes, read this.
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