Fashion site The Nines (2021) interviewed 1,000 women in the U.S. and shared fascinating statistics about their closets. The study reports that, on average, women own 14.1 pairs of shoes. One in ten admits to owning more than 30 pairs, while only one in 10 owns fewer than five pairs. And though numbers also vary by region, women wear only 60% of the shoes they own. Those surveyed reported that they own an average of 6.2 pairs of jeans, but only 4.7 pairs are actually worn. Women hold onto a pair for an average of 4.3 years. Clearly owning clothing items is not the same as wearing them.
When is it time to declutter your closet? Setting a schedule, such as once a year, is a good place to start, but some might prefer to review what they have each month or even each week. My Domaine suggests that it may be time to sort through the wardrobe if: there are multiples of the same item, an item doesn’t fit when tried on, items are damaged, closet doors won’t close, or some items require storage outside of an overly full closet (Montes, 2021). Clearing out the closet is a great time to put sustainable practices into play.
Klarna’s 2021 Reopening Insights Report notes that 89% of U.S. consumers want to refresh their wardrobes as pandemic restrictions lessen, and 72% will prepare by cleaning out their closets. According to ThredUp (2021), an estimated nine billion clothing items sit in consumers’ closets, hardly worn or not worn at all. Also, an estimated 36 billion items are thrown out each year, and 95% of them could be recycled or reused.
Keenan (2020) shares a number of tips to help anyone get started. First, begin by taking absolutely everything out of the closet. This signals a commitment to finish and provides a clear visual of available space. Next, separate apparel into three piles: clothing to keep, clothing to donate or sell, and clothing to recycle.
To refine the items that are in the “keep” pile, ask yourself:
If you end up with a “maybe keep” pile, make yourself wear the items. During their trial period, ask yourself if they make you feel good, if you will wear them again, and if you can style them in some way. Another helpful tip is to make sure all hangers face the same direction. Once you wear an item, turn the hanger the other way. After a month, review which items were not worn. Consider donating these (Keenan, 2020).
After determining what to keep, donate or sell the items in the second pile. There are numerous ways to do so. Lastly, make sure that the third pile does not go to the trash.
Getting rid of unneeded items feels good, but it is important to consider where they go next. With 86% of post-consumer textiles that could be diverted from landfills, 35% is “readily recyclable,” and 45% is “potentially recyclable” (Chua, 2020). Recycling decreases the need for landfill space, where fibers can damage the environment. Recycling clothes can also help those who do not have the means to purchase new items, and it also supports emerging markets, such as the ever-growing secondhand market.
Cleaning out the closet can be satisfying for you, other consumers, and the environment, when done thoughtfully.
Chua, J. M. (2020, October 16). Textile recycling provides $350B opportunity in western hemisphere: Report. Sourcing Journal. https://sourcingjournal.com/topics/sustainability/accelerating-circulaty-lenzing-nike-textile-recycling-cotton-polyester-elastane-237744/
Keenan, B. (2020, August 19). How to clean out a closet. Dumpsters.com. https://www.dumpsters.com/blog/how-to-clean-out-your-closet
Klarna. (2021, June 29). Klarna releases The State of Smoooth: 2021 Reopening Insights Report as US shoppers emerge from lockdown. https://www.klarna.com/international/press/klarna-releases-the-state-of-smoooth-2021-reopening-insights-report-as-us-shoppers-emerge-from-lockdown/
Montes, S. (2021, August 31). The ultimate guide to cleaning out your closet. My Domaine. https://www.mydomaine.com/closet-clean-out-5199518
The Nines. (2021). The closet report. https://theninesfashion.com/the-closet-report/
ThredUp. (2021). 2021 resale report. https://www.thredup.com/resale/#size-and-impact