You've got a closet full of clothing you're trying to get rid of but you don't know exactly what qualifies for a consignment shop. This is a common question that we, at Diversity Consignment, get asked, "What types of things do you take?"
In this article, I'm going to try my best to cover what types of clothing to bring to a consignment shop. Many of these principles will apply to a broader range of consignment shops in general.
Condition
Generally speaking, most consignment shops will take a heavy consideration into the condition of the clothing being brought in. Consignment shops like to have an assortment of new or gently worn pieces. Clothing with holes, stains, or odors will almost certainly be denied from a consignment shop.
What does the term gently used mean? That is a good question! I know that this can be a subjective topic but I will clarify. Gently used, in terms of clothing or accessories, would mean that the items in question do not have obvious signs of wear. Some consignment shops prefer things to look new, but typically the level of gently used should be fine and accepted.
For us at Diversity Consignment, we use this general rule to apply to most modern or more common items that we see come through. The exception to the rule for us would be things that are very valuable, vintage, or rare. Of course, vintage items can come with all types of wear from the years of wear and tear that add a patina or extra character to the piece.
If you want to know what constitutes as a vintage item, feel free to check out our previous article titled; What Qualifies as Vintage?
What Kinds of Brands do Consignment Shops Look For?
This particular chapter on brands is truly where things get a little tricky. The general answer to what types of brands consignment shops take is that it depends on the store in question.
Some consignment shops pride themselves on only taking "luxury" items. A quick review of the store's website should give you an idea of the type of consignment shop in question. Another way to see if the brand fits in with the store's selection is to go to the shop itself! Take a look around at the racks and get an idea of the type of vibe.
It can be a waste of time and effort to try to get your clothes into a consignment shop that simply doesn't carry those types of brands. From a consignment shop's perspective, it can be a bit awkward having that conversation. It's best to just avoid it in the first place by doing a little research.
Here at Diversity Consignment, the only brands we absolutely exclude are fast-fashion brands. Forever 21, Primark, Shein to name a few. We go more by what the next chapter will cover; style.
What Types of Styles do Consignment Shops Take?
Consignment shops, unlike charity thrift stores, will be looking for more current or selective styles. This also depends on the store in question but it is almost guaranteed that an unbranded, basic tee with no pattern is not going to be accepted at a consignment shop.
The vast majority of consignment shops will be looking for current styles. This can be difficult when it comes to second-hand clothing. If you have some stuff that you were gifted or purchased and you later decided, "It's really not my style", then a consignment shop may be the perfect place to bring it.
Here at Diversity Consignment, we tend to do things a little differently. We like to look ahead towards the future; analyzing what is on-trend for the upcoming season and do our best to try to recreate those styles. We focus on vintage and contemporary styles and a lot of times we can recreate future styles based on mixing and matching past styles of a similar nature.
What Types of Things Will Consignment Shops Deny?
Right off the bat, here is a list of things that a consignment shop is guaranteed to deny:
- Shoes that show major signs of wear
- Clothing with stains
- Clothing with holes
- Stretched out fabric that compromises the original shape of the garment
- Snags/pulls
- Clothing with body odor
- Discoloration from sun damage or fading
- Missing buttons
- Faulty zippers
Use this as a guide for your closet when determining what would certainly be denied from a consignment shop.
Conclusion
Consignment shops are amazing sustainable place to sell your clothing. It is always a good feeling when your clothing makes the cut at your local consignment shop! At the same time, it can be pretty discouraging when they aren't accepted; I understand that.
I would urge that you don't take these types of denials personally. Most consignment shops understand their demographics and need to curate their stores based on what they think they can sell. Do your research into the exact type of place that you're thinking about bringing your stuff as they can differ significantly.
-Much love, Ian Drake - Diversity Consignment