LA is big on reselling used clothes. Here’s how to make a buck off your closet

Los Angeles is known for having a large market for reselling used clothing with shops peppered across the region, which means you could be making a dollar off your closet.

From independent shops like Wasteland to nationwide chains like Crossroads, L.A. is home to resellers who frequent the dozens of shops to make a living off of used-clothing, and know a thing or two about selling pre-loved clothes. Here are their tips.

Places to check out

National chains that have locations throughout Los Angeles like Crossroads Trading and Buffalo Exchange are more style-based, said Justin Goeller, the SoCal area manager for Buffalo Exchange. According to Goeller, these businesses prefer trendy clothing, and are more likely to buy your fast fashion.

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On the other hand, stores like Wasteland (with operations in neighborhoods like Melrose and Silver Lake) and 2nd Street (with locations spanning L.A. and Orange County) typically prefer certain luxury or name brands. Workers there said they’re always buying items like Prada or Gaultier, but only just started paying for items from Marc Jacobs because of the brand’s recent comeback. 

Staff there said that doesn’t mean they won’t buy your clothes from Zara or Princess Polly — but if they’re stocked up on them, they’ll prioritize name-brand items.

“If everyone's had skinny jeans for the last eight years, like, that pair that's a little bit worn from, like, H&M, is it gonna sell fast right now?” Goeller asked. “Probably not. But there's still always, like, a classic pair of vintage Levi's, like a really nice brand, really nice quality where, even if it's not exactly what is on trend, there's a pretty good chance that someone is still interested in it.”

How to get paid

If you're reselling in-store rather than online yourself, expect to earn less than the clothes are worth. Thrift stores will buy the item off you instantly — but for less. The reselling process is different from consignment, which requires you wait until the thrift sells the item before you get your cut.

Pay-out policies can vary by the thrift, but reselling is consistent at most places. Thrift stores will present the option to turn your earnings into store credit or cash out for a smaller sum.

“Any clothes that I resell, that money goes towards other clothes,” said Joanna Downing, who works at the H.Lorenzo in West Hollywood.

Staff process clothes being resold at a Buffalo Exchange in Pasadena where people bring their pieces for cash.

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Sabrina Farooq

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LAist

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Wasteland, for instance, doesn't do consignment. No matter how exclusive the designer is, the store will pay out on the spot in full. Crossroads Trading will instead do consignment for higher end pieces, and similar stores cap how much they'll pay for anything.

Don’t take it personally

Resale shops reject clothes all the time so “don’t get butthurt,” said Regina Harris, manager at Wasteland.

“No one’s ever not taking stuff you sell because they don’t like you, it’s just a matter of the trends and the times,” Harris said. “It's so oversaturated right now and so many people are trying to do it.”

A lot of what they accept and reject from the public can depend on trends and those tastes can fluctuate, Harris explained. If you’re serious about reselling, keep an eye on what the fashion world is doing and what people are looking for. She said watching social media is helpful and can improve your odds.

For example, the buzz around Charli XCX’s “Brat” or a Gossip Girl resurgence can tell you something about what people want to wear.

‘Old’ doesn’t mean ‘dirty’

To help with reselling, resale shop workers told LAist they're inclined to reject your clothes if they're dirty or disorganized. They suggested washing and neatly folding the clothes prior to bringing them in, ideally in something like a reusable tote rather than a trash bag.

What about trends vs. fashion?

Trends and fashion are two separate things, according to Downing.

"Trends are just so much more temporary," she said. "Fashion is all encompassing."

Some designer and vintage clothes retain their value and desirability over time, which can signal that it falls under fashion rather than a trend, Downing explained.

“I would rather hold off to find the original of something than buy the remake of a remake of a remake,” Downing said.

To evaluate your closet this way, Harris suggested people find what their clothes are worth through online resale markets and compare those prices. You can also check a retailer’s website so you know how much the brand is generally going for and how much your piece might be worth new.

Then take that item to different thrifts for their bids.

Keep equity in mind

Reselling is a helpful part of recycling clothes by keeping some stuff out of landfills in exchange for some cash, but there are things to consider.

Some criticize fashion flippers for gentrifying thrift shopping, alienating the low-income people who they were initially meant to serve. That means being mindful that how you price your clothes, especially online, can help prevent price gauges.