If you have too many clothes cluttering up your closet, don’t worry. Tokyo has lots of eco-friendly places to sell, donate or recycle old clothing!
Tokyo is a hub for fashion, there are always new and creative styles in the shops. And, if you’re like me and enjoy clothing from all kinds of styles, from lolita to visual kei to trendy Shibuya 109 styles, you’re constantly mixing up your wardrobe. It’s fun to keep up with the latest trends, but how do you get rid of your old clothes sustainably? Here are 11 places to sell or donate your clothing, so that instead of a landfill, the dress you loved but was a little too short can find a better home with someone who loves it even more.
1. Mode Off
What they take: Anything in wearable condition, but only if it’s in season (no winter coats in summer, etc.)
Website: www.hardoff.co.jp/modeoff
Mode off is the clothing branch of the amusingly named and ubiquitous “Hard off” recycle store chain. You can drop your clothing off at the store, and they will give you a (probably low) price for your bags of clothes.
2. 2nd Street
What they take: Japanese and foreign brand clothing. They will take other clothing off your hands, but will not pay you for it, and it will likely end up thrown away.
Website: www.2ndstreet.jp
This shop specializes in trendy Japanese fashion from higher-end Japanese brands sold in department stores, as well as pieces from foreign brand name stores. If you have nicer pieces you would like to sell, 2nd Street is a reasonable option.
3. Bazzstore
What they take: Most used clothes in good quality, particularly from Japanese and foreign brands, but also from Japanese high-street brands.
Website: www.bazzstore.com
Bazz store is less exclusive than Rag Tag and 2nd Street, which take exclusively brand name clothing. They take everything from H&M to Comme des Garcons, so it can be a good one-stop store to sell all your used clothing.
4. RagTag
What they take: High-end labels, Designer clothing, Streetwear brands
Website: www.ragtag.jp
RagTag is like 2nd Street, but even more, exclusive, this store focuses on designer and brand clothing. They have a large street style collection with brands like Yeezy and Supreme.
5. Closet Child
What they take: Japanese and Chinese lolita, visual kei, goth, cyberpunk, and other alternative fashion brands (check their website for a complete list of brands they accept)
Website: www.closetchildonlineshop.com
If you wear J-fashion you can sell your extra clothing to Closet Child. They have branches in Harajuku, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro and Yokohama. Closet Child is also a great place to go to find used J-fashion brands at a discount, so you might just end up buying more than you’ve sold…
6. Tanpopo House/たんぽぽハウス
What they take: Anything in decent, wearable condition
This store is usually filled with “oba-san” looking to score a good deal. They take clothes from pretty much every brand, as long as there is no damage or stains, however, don’t get expect to get a lot for your clothing, as they resell things for very cheap as well.
7. Salvation Army
What they take: Anything that’s in good condition
Website: www.salvationarmy.or.jp
You can donate your old clothes to the Salvation Army’s location in Nakano-Fujimicho. Even more convenient, they will come to pick up your old clothes straight from your door, as long as you schedule with them in advance.
8. Mottainai Flea market
What they take: Anything in decent, wearable shape
Website: www.mottainai.info/jp/event/fleama
If you donate clothes to the Mottainai Flea Market, then you’ll get a coupon to buy clothes for just 100 yen next time they hold a market. The proceeds from donated clothes will go to helping Tohoku’s restoration, and the Green Belt Movement, an organization that plants trees in Kenya.
9. H&M
What they take: Anything
Website: www2.hm.com
You get a 500 yen coupon per bag of old clothes you bring in to H&M, so it’s a great place to bring clothes you probably wouldn’t get much for at thrift shops. Even better, the clothes will either be donated or recycled, so they go to a good cause.
10. Uniqlo
What they take: Anything
Website: www.uniqlo.com/en/re-uniqlo
Uniqlo stores have a clothing donation box where you can leave old clothes. Uniqlo doesn’t give out coupons, but the clothes go to people in need in each country. This includes refugees and victims of natural disasters. You can see the list of places they donate clothing here.
11. Mercari
What they take: Anything you can sell
Website: www.mercari.com/jp
If you want to sell your old clothes for a decent price, and are willing to put in the effort, you can put your clothes up for sale on the Japanese Mercari website. It will probably be the best price you can get for re-selling any nice, brand-name clothes.
Bonus: Why not whip out a needle and try recycling some old clothes on your own? Old cloth can make great material for masks, bags, and other useful items. You can follow these easy mask tutorials here.