Closet Clean Up done? Check. What now? What do you do with unwanted Christmas presents, clothing which doesn’t fit or you simply don’t like anymore? For once it’s not the time to acquire but detox. The lack of going outdoors in bars, clubs or restaurants has resulted in less need for high heels, party outfits or crazy expensive bags. More and more people scream for the development of sustainable ways to get their fashion, start to think before they buy and resell unwanted items. We all agree, most of us realise we don’t need that much. On the contrary, it’s stressful, feels messy and prevents us from focussing on what’s important. Buy less but better or just buy used is it for now. I personally consider this trend as extremely positive. I always hated fast fashion, you’ll never see me recommending a dress for 10 EUR, produced in a third world factory under horrible circumstances. Before buying fast and cheap, I recommend buying used. Always.

Within the next ten years the second-hand market is expected to triple, according to Forbes. Giving unwanted items a second life at another home does not only make you and someone else happy, but also your bank account.

While I was still living in Brooklyn, I sold a great amount of clothing at The RealReal. Once I arrived in Germany, I had to figure out new ways. While I think my reselling services are an excellent opportunity to save time and energy after a closet cleanup, it’s always an option to take care of the reselling yourself. Therefore, I created a list of my favourite sources online. Enjoy browsing.

YESTERDAY DOMANI
My favorite German site to resell and buy. Yesterday Domani belongs to Anita Hass, the legendary boutique in Hamburg/Eppendorf. They have a strict list of brands and labels for reselling. Should your item be part of their list, text them, get a free label and they’ll have a close look.

Commission: 40% of selling price via direct bank transfer the moment Yesterday Domani accepts your article. Optional you can get a 50% voucher via Anita Hass.

VINTED
Whenever I find pieces which are hard so sell via designer focussed sites, I use VINTED. It’s great for classic, non trending clothing of great quality and good quality high street brands, think &other Stories, COS etc. I’m also selling my children’s wardrobe there. You have to take care of your own pictures, but you get 100% percent of the selling price. Not too bad.

Commission: Zero selling fees, so what you earn is yours to keep. You’ll be paid as soon as the buyer confirms everything’s OK.

VESTIAIRE COLLECTIVE
I’d say Vestiaire Collective invented designer second hand selling in Europe and they are one of the few sites who cover menswear.

Commission: Vestiaire Collective receives a 20% commission.

REBELLE
The German answer to Vestaire Collective. You have two options, sell yourself or use REBELLE’s Concierge Service (15 EUR). You send it your articles and their team takes care of the pictures, description and shipment. In case you’re located in Hamburg, Munich or Berlin, the REBELLE team can come to your home for a direct consultation.

Commission: Depending on the price of your item, you’ll earn up to 80% of the selling price.

DEPOP
Very fashion oriented and easy to use via App. Fashion Influencers and Digital Creators like Marie von Behrens (mvb) sell here.

Commission: No fees to list an item – just pay 10% when it sells.

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Should you be overwhelmed by all of the efforts reselling may cause, let me know. It will for sure cost you some time and energy. I offer a post clean up reselling service with a 20% commission. You hand over your sorted out items and I take care of the selling. Happy wardrobe cleaning!

Several friends and clients told me that during lock downs and quarantine, their motivation to buy clothing was really low. Many people took the chance, cleaned up their closet, resold, donated and felt some sort of relief afterwards. Before the nightmare happened, I always asked myself “How can I, as a stylist contribute in order end this nightmare of massive consumption which leads to no point at all”. Being a natural optimist, I think COVID-19 may have some positive side effects. It might change the way we live and consume forever. As a stylist I obviously I like clothes, but I like people more. Wrong buying manners are not only a problem for our vulnerable environment, but also for our mental health. I recommend to take your time and reflect on the following questions ALWAYS before you buy:

• Do you often find yourself buying more then you need?

• Do you see shopping as sort of entertainment?

• Do you use shopping as substitution because your missing out on something else, not feeling fulfilled?

• I know, it’s not always easy to be that honest with yourself. If you answered at least one of these three questions with “yes”, you really need to stop and rethink your cravings. Now review the following questions:

• “Do I really need it?”

• “Do I have other items which go with it?”

• “Does color and cut suit my skin andbody type”

Cheap clothes are everywhere. You find T-Shirts or sweaters for 5 EUR, cities are filled with discounters (not only related to clothing but also services and food, but that’s another story). All of these items are produced by workers who are being paid close to nothing and the production of mass quantities has major impacts on the environment. Well, we all know, but tend to ignore. Of course, everybody has a different budget related to income and and personal situation. But with sites like Vinted, Yesterday Domani or Depop, high quality garments are accessible for most of us. From a young age, I’d rather give items a second life, than compromising design and quality. The ideal consequence of mindful shopping is to buy less and better. If you do so, it will have an impact living a fuller and happier life. Only items that bring real honest joy should have a place in your wardrobe. How do you feel about it? Would you agree?