Tips for Buying Second-Hand Clothes

Looking for second-hand items in your local area? Finding a preloved gem is easier than you think. Whether you’re looking for clothes, furniture, décor or electrical appliances you can find them in your local community. Here's a list of suggestions for finding second-hand items:

Pre-loved clothes

Depop, eBay or Vinted are great sites for second-hand clothing. Some brands use these platforms to sell new clothes as well, so make sure you check before buying. A great way of knowing if you’re dealing with an individual is to check the size range: if they offer the item in more than one size, it could be a retailer rather than an individual who is selling the item. You can also sell clothes you don’t wear anymore on these sites. Vestiaire Collective is good for luxury second-hand shopping. eBay also allows you to search using an image - use this to find similar styles.

Keeping it local

Gumtree is a great app if you need to get rid of something quickly, but also if you’re looking for a quick and inexpensive way of decorating your home. You can find pretty much anything on this site. There is also a freebies section.

Freegle and Freecycle are community-based sites where you can offer or pick up items for free.

Even more fun is sharing with your neighbours and friends. Private neighbourhood social networks like Nextdoor have a ‘free items’ section. This is a great way to extend the life of preloved items whilst also making connections.

Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is one place to find a bargain in your local area. Members will offer great priced items, sometimes even free, that can be upcycled or transformed into real gems.

Recycling or disposing of items

If you need to recycle or dispose of an item, find your closest recycling centre or type it into our A-Z of waste types. Please never leave items on the public highway as it could cause an obstruction, or might be considered fly-tipping.