Children grow up (too) fast, and with them the pile of outgrown clothes, which little by little ends up taking over wardrobes, attics, and cellars. It's time to make room and give these clothes a second life! In France, one in four garments is now collected for recycling or reuse. A still modest figure, but one that is growing, as since 2023, the State has put in place dedicated funds for textile repair and reuse.
The goal? To reach 50% of recycled or reused clothing by 2027.
What if we started at home?
start by sorting, with 4 boxes
For a regular sort (or a big spring clean), divide the outgrown clothes (still just as adorable) into four boxes:
• damaged – to donate
• good condition – to donate
• good condition – to sell
• good condition – to keep (just in case a little 3rd one comes along, you never know, or for your future grandchildren).
You can also repair some clothes. The easiest recycling award goes to turning a pair of trousers with holes into shorts for the youngest.
Once this sorting is done, it's time to find some takers! The goal being, as you've understood, for these clothes to be worn again.
good condition - to donate
• give to those around you!
To young cousins, friends' children, the neighbor's baby. Take advantage of family gatherings, a visit to a friend's, or neighborhood WhatsApp groups to offer the clothes that are too small. Seeing a piece of clothing come back to life on other children is a true little joy. You recognize a fabric, a pattern, a memory… and your heart goes boom boom.
• donate to a charity
The main charities for donating clothes are Emmaüs, La Croix Rouge and Secours Catholique. You will definitely find a local branch near you. Note that these charities are clear: "donating is not the same as throwing away". Clothes must be clean and in good condition. You can also give directly to individuals online at Donnons.org.
good condition - to sell
Today, we mainly think of selling clothes online, thanks to platforms like Vinted and LeBonCoin. However, this can quickly become a (very) time-consuming activity if you have a lot of clothes to resell.
In that case, we recommend:
• organizing a home sale for your neighbors and friends (which you can co-organize with other selling friends). Result: in half a day, your stock will have found a buyer. And on top of that, with a cup of coffee and a few cookies, it's a lovely moment to share!
• participating in a clothing swap or sale event: they take place all over France, throughout the year, and are mostly organized by local associations. The idea? You drop off your clothes to sell the day before or on the morning of the sale, and collect the proceeds the following day. Find clothing sales and toy sales near you here.
• sell online on specialist websites such as LeBonCoin, Vinted or Smala. You can list your items online and manage the sale from home, or, for even more convenience, send your clothes to Smala, who takes care of everything (sorting, selling, shipping) and credits your account. A guaranteed time-saver!
damaged - to donate
Do you know the famous Relais collection points? There are more than 22,000 all across France. Le Relais (which is part of the Emmaüs movement) collects your clothes, but carries out a rigorous sort. There are clothes in good condition which are redistributed in solidarity shops, and there are damaged clothes, which are not redistributed but recycled: they are turned into industrial cleaning rags or used to make insulation for buildings.
and to make your next sort easier, buy less but better
The logic is clear: the fuller the wardrobes, the more tedious the sorting. The less we accumulate, the easier the sorting. By buying only what's needed, by choosing quality pieces that will have a much longer lifespan, your pyjamas, bodysuits, and trousers will pass through siblings without hesitation!
the phrases your little ones say
"Mummy, I love you with all your heart" - Aaron, 3 years old
"Mummy, you can take off your earrings, it's not Christmas anymore" - Paul, 4 years old
"Mummy I love you you know can I watch a cartoon?" - Louise, 3.5 years old
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