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Donating in right or wrong "season"

unfrumped

Veteran

Do you only donate clothing in its correct "selling season" for your climate?
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I don't. I used to have that concern when for a few years I tried taking things to re-sale shops. But over time that proved so draining that I have given it up and now only take things to a friend who sells (for herself) or to charities.

The reasons include, as above, I'm no longer having to hear, "Oh, we are not taking any more winter things", plus not sure all the destinations have a tight window on what might be used by whom.
But mostly, it's that I just don't have enough bandwidth to struggle through the editing decisions and then also stop and think, do I need to save this in a closet for 3 months ( or how long? since I don't really know) ?

I do some seasonal edits, but may be at beginning--try-ons in fall, for examle; or at end when packing away; or may do "category edits" similar to lisa p--might be putting on some shoes and have some spare time and just get the bug to go through some or all of one type of thing. Or, may notice something does or doesn't work well and go through similar items because now I have a vision of what it is I like or want to achieve.

A lot of my editing is random, when getting dressed and have an "aha" moment--this just does not fit! , or , this color looks awful, or, this is too hard to launder. So then one item goes into the donate bag.
I do tend to accumulate at least a bag (like a shopping bag, not a garbage bag) or box of items before taking, just for efficiency, but mostly I want things gone, once I make the decision.

Over to you--do you make an effort, or worry about, the potential seasonal issues of donated clothing?

24 replies

Latest reply was from Liesbeth

rachylou

Veteran

Well, that’s one of the reasons I can’t be bothered with consignment. It’s not the main reason. The main reason is I worked in consignment and now cannot stand my local consignment community, lol. I don’t care that is been so long that it’s probably not the same people anymore, lol.

But anyways, I don’t worry about it. I don’t feel it’s that much of an issue here in Northern California esp. Charity shops like Goodwill or Salvation Army can resell, if not consignment. There is always a need for winter clothing here in summer(!)

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I don’t. I pass on out of season too. But never sell anything. I donate.

Anonymous

I don't have the bandwidth either, and nor do I have the space for bags of stuff sitting around until next year for donation. I just go ahead and do it - and I suppose that's me not being very thoughtful and considerate of the needs of the thrift store. I have never seen any formal statement made by the organization I donate to not to do it, though.

There's only so much one can be perfect at

Anonymous

I definitely donate out of season stuff. I never wait until the (I guess) ‘appropriate’ time, lol. My donations are like myself, all over the place. Scattered!

Anonymous

Like Angie, no matter what it is, I don’t sell it. I also don’t use anything for tax credit.

JAileen

Veteran

I volunteer in a thrift store. Ideally, we would get donations at the beginning of the right season. That doesn’t happen, of course, so we have a backroom where we store out of season clothes. I don’t know if all thrift stores have extra space like we do,

Anonymous

At the end of the season I might donate a few things knowing I won't wear them again but most of my donating is at the start of the season the following year. Most of what I give away is in season because I will have bought new things and no longer need the things I held over from last year.

But I think this works for me because I wear only a few things per season over and over so the storage is easy to manage.

Minaminu

Veteran

If they are in good conditions, I either sell or donate the clothes that no longer fit or that I don't like anymore. Charity shops are still closed, at least my favourite charitys shop.

Old and damaged items are given to H&M or &OtherStories, they recycle the material and in return I get a small voucher .

SarahD8

Veteran

I don't worry about it. As a thrifter, I buy out of season clothes all the time.

Brooklyn

Veteran

Yes, I try to donate only in season, since I’m donating to charity stores with limited space. If I have a closet edit at the end of season I put the unwanted items in my holding zone and donate them at the beginning of the next season. It’s probably only an issue in winter here since summer is our dominant season. Warm weather items could probably be donated and on-sold for about 9 months of the year.

Joy

Veteran

Our charity shops are not open to shop or take donations except food. I fill a donate bag then drop it off, seasonal or not. Consignment shops usually only take what is in season. So I may hold a few things that are out of season, especially coats or boots or the more expensive brands.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I donate all weather items all year long. Although winter coats don't sell as quickly in the summer, a good one will still go. I have picked up some of my favorite winter clothes in the summer actually.
Selling is a completely other matter. Consignment shops will not usually take out of season clothing. Online platforms are a bit different, if they are international they cater to a wide weather range all year long. But in season for your target buyers is definitely best.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

The charity shop where I donate my better items only takes in season items. They primarily cloth people and have a small front area where they sell some items. I’ll hold on to something like a nice coat until the right time. But I will donate the nicer items along with the average ones to other places if I strongly feel the urge to unload right then.

cindysmith

Veteran

Seasonality is why I just donate rather than consign. The charity shop takes what I drop off, and brings it out at the appropriate time. Simple.

nemosmom

Veteran

I don't sell much online anymore; it's usually things that are NWT or never worn and I hope to recoup a buck or two. Shevia is right - I just shipped a coat to Tennessee this week via Poshmark. For the nice-but-not-new pieces I will donate them regardless of season. I DO try to be mindful about gear, like kids' coats and boots, and I edit my kids' things just ahead of the coming season when I can.

Preppy Pear

Veteran

I donate in season whenever possible. The organization I donate to gently asks for this, though they will take anything at any time, as far as I know. But I still wouldn’t drop off coats and boots here in July. The downside is that I’m not always on it right at the beginning of a season.
Admittedly, I don’t have much of my own stuff at this point, so it’s no sacrifice to wait - it’s my daughter’s outgrown clothing that fills a bag. Her stuff tends to be pretty seasonless, too - no sweaters, no blazers, wool skirts, etc. in her 5 year old wardrobe! She’s totally unprofessional, hee.

Style Fan

Veteran

I try to donate at the beginning of the season. If I lived in my old community, which was a large urban centre, I would donate winter items all year round. Those were the things that were most needed by that particular place.

Anonymous

I tend to donate near the middle-end of the season, when I know what I didn't want to wear that year. Our seasons are long, so something donated in August for example, will still have 2 months of wearability.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

I only donate, so I don't worry about making sure everything is of that season.

On my Thrifting/ Shopping Strategies thread, I mentioned that most of the chain charity shops (like the Salvation Army) already move things around across stores as they see fit, so I trust them to move things to where they're most needed anyway (& not just for seasons - they seem to have a good eye for which items would be the most popular with which demographic).

Sal

Veteran

I don't often sell but the consignment shop only takes in season (and is very picky right now given high volumes)

I have sold a handful of items online for small prices and hoping they go to someone who really wants them.

I do donate to the thrift shop in season and also cut up clothes for rags for our workshop. They need a supply of rags and old gym gear or tees are good for that use.

I have volunteered at the Dress for Success Sales here where they sell pieces that are not suited to their programmes. I have had some great additions to my closet from these sales too!!

Carley.J - Unzipped

(website)

Member

I guess naturally you 'cull' items in your wardrobe at the end of the season when you've realised you haven't worn them for 6 months.

I will always take them to my local charity shops, spread the load over a few stores for fairness.

I would say though that not often do you see charity shops selling just summer clothes for example. They always offer a cross-section, that's what makes them great!

Staysfit

Veteran

Our local consignment shops operate as you describe. They often fill their quota for seasonal merchandise more quickly than I am able to organize my edit, plus they require making an appointment to review the items, etc. I have little time or patience for that so I bundle all seasons together. I give to an organization that holds a “garage sale” and they use any funds raised to support local charities (like our food bank, and homeless shelter, etc.). Anything they do not sell is given to families in need, or to organizations like DFS.

The Cat

Veteran

What Angie said.

Liesbeth

Veteran

I worry a bit, but like you can't stand having to organise around that. I don't resell myself either cause I find the money not worth the bother. As I mainly donate to clothing containers and charity pick-ups (who sort into recycling - reselling - rags I think) I think/hope they're mainly glad to receive any clothes ...