Is there an "elephant's graveyard" for damaged vintage clothes?

Ookoo

Ookoo

Registered Guest
What do you do with vintage clothes that are too damaged to wear, but too good to throw away? I don't mean couture or designer items that still have some collector value, just department store dresses from the 50's or 60's with bad stains or fades or other issues. I have some 40's dresses that were shortened to mini's. Should i just toss them? Does anyone else have this problem?
 
Nooooooo, don't toss them! :) Can they still be worn? Is the fabric still useable to be worked into a different item (skirt, apron, book cover, pillow case etc)? Are there buttons, zippers etc that could be reused? If the item is still unique enough or cute enough there are people who will wear vintage clothes that are in disrepair.

But if in the end you decide you don't want them anymore, charity shops will always take them. Or there are recycling boxes for clothing too. Just close your eyes and do it quickly! ';)
 
That's just it, these have crossed over the line into the non-wearable category. The thrift stores here don't want them. I'm not crafty enough to make them into other things, although I always save buttons.
 
I don't know if you sell vintage clothes, but maybe you could create an "As-is" lot and see if anyone would want to buy the bunch knowing what condition they were in.

It might just end up being that sad day when they're beyond redemption!
 
I've thought of trying to sell them on ebay, but cosidering the time it takes to photograph each item and all the flaws, then do the listing, packing, and shipping, it wouldn't be worth my time for just a few dollars.
 
Some uses for damaged vintage: donate to theatre groups, costume or fashion or textile courses, dress ups for children.

I find that charity shops will generally throw them away if they're stained or damaged. They get a lot of donations and it's hard to sell unwearable clothes.
 
I know that the St Vinnies near me will take clothes that they wont sell and box them up and send them to countries in Africa. But true, if they are beyond wearing at any stage, it might be time to get recycled. :)
 
Sell them in a lot as "cutters". Don't be over the top taking pictures, just take enough so those who would want to buy them for the fabric or the embellishments have an idea as to what they would be getting. There are so many talented re-purposers out there who may find a use for them.
 
Don't be over the top taking pictures, just take enough so those who would want to buy them for the fabric or the embellishments have an idea as to what they would be getting. There are so many talented re-purposers out there who may find a use for them.
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I agree.... Don't take individual shots of each item--do 2 or 3 in a single shot. And I wouldn't even show the backs of any unless they have some standout features like a big, usable bow or a watteau train or dramatic draped effect, etc. And I wouldn't point out each flaw--you could just say something like "All items have minor flaws (soil, some fabric damage, etc.); major flaws noted below."

There are people who can re-use the fabric to make handbags or other garments out of. E.g., make a blouse out of a dress with a damaged or too-short skirt, or a skirt from a dress with bad underarm staining, and so on.

Any items that are still wearable could go to a theater group. I've sold several pieces of not-so-perfect items to either professional costumers or high-school groups. Many flaws aren't so noticeable when the wearer is on a stage at a distance from the audience.

One just hates to think of these garments being re-used for rags....
 
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