Looking to sell or donate your second hand clothes?

Many of us own far more clothes than we need, creating a constant cycle of buying, wearing and moving on. As fashion consumption continues to rise, Oxfam estimates that by 2050 the industry will produce 138 billion items of unworn clothing every year, enough to almost reach from the Earth to Mars and back.

Clearing out your wardrobe is an opportunity to make a positive difference. If you're motivated to support Oxfam’s mission, donating your unwanted clothes is a meaningful alternative to selling them yourself.

The need to keep clothes in use for longer has never been greater. Yet Oxfam research has found that clothing in the UK is worn for less than five days on average during its lifetime and spends around 1,500 days sitting in wardrobes. With so many pieces of clothing going unused, finding ways to extend their life has become increasingly important.

Donating unwanted clothes helps give those outfits another chance to be worn and enjoyed. Whether it's a jacket that you no longer wear or a dress that's been forgotten about at the back of a wardrobe, every donation has the potential to find a new home through Oxfam's network of shops or online.

While selling clothes can help you earn money from a single item, donating to Oxfam helps each donation have a wider impact. Funds raised through the sale of donated items support Oxfam's work tackling poverty and inequality around the world, turning a simple wardrobe clear-out into lasting change.

Both selling and donating have value, but they offer different benefits. Selling clothes online can be a great way to earn extra money, particularly for designer and vintage items.

However, it can also involve a lot of time creating listings, responding to buyers (we’ve all read a few nightmare stories!) and posting parcels.

For many people, donating offers a simpler alternative. By donating to Oxfam, you can pass on multiple items at once and leave the sorting, pricing and selling to our dedicated shop staff and volunteers.

And if you're dropping your donations off in store, there's nothing stopping you from having a quick browse to see if another pre-loved treasure catches your eye – it’s a win-win!

Whether clothes are resold or upcycled, Oxfam helps keep textiles in circulation for longer. Not every donated item ends up on the shop floor, but through partnerships with colleges, universities and other organisations, Oxfam is constantly exploring innovative ways to repair, reuse and upcycle textiles.

Oxfam has even launched Britain's first charity-backed clothing rental service, helping to build an even more circular future for fashion.

Of course, the two options don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Many people choose a combination of both, selling a few higher-value pieces and donating the rest. Ultimately, the right option depends on what works best for you and what you'd like to achieve from your clear-out.

Ready to give your unwanted clothes a second life? Donating to Oxfam is quick and easy, with several ways to pass on your pre-loved clothing and accessories.

Donate to your local Oxfam shop

Simply drop off your unwanted clothing and accessories during opening hours. If you're near Oxfam's Oxford or Manchester superstores, you can even book a donation drop-off slot and drive directly to the dedicated donation point, making it even easier to donate larger quantities.

Donate by post

If you can't get to a shop, you can donate from the comfort of your own home. Simply pack up your items and send them to Oxfam, you can even request a free bag, making it a convenient option for busy schedules or those without a local shop nearby.

Donate via clothes banks and textile banks

Oxfam donation banks provide a convenient way to donate while you're out and about. No matter what errands you’re running, you can drop off your clothes any time that suits you.