The average person in the UK has almost £800 worth of unworn clothes in their wardrobes, and 43% admit that they hold on to clothes that they have bought but don’t even like.
- With clothing accounting for nearly a quarter of all second-hand purchases made in the UK in 2022, there’s money to be made from turning pre-loved items into new-found fits, says a Samsung UK study.
The Numbers that Came up: Almost half (48%) would prefer to recycle or re-sell their clothes than throw them away, yet a fifth find it too much effort.
- Over a third (39%) have given up on the selling process altogether because they found it too hard to do the clothes justice through photos.
- Yet, more than half of UK adults (55%) admit they have thrown wearable clothing in the bin, with a third (34%) feeling guilty about doing so.
- A third of young adults who have sold pre-loved clothing online, have made an average of £350 from their efforts, with 20% bringing in £500 or more.
- What's Holding Back: Unclear descriptions, poor quality pictures, and price top the list of things that put off buyers when browsing second-hand sites and making purchasing decisions.
- Other reasons: Thinking no one would want their old clothes (25%) and not being bothered (26%) add to the reasons that people are not giving their unworn items a second life.
Teaming Up: Samsung UK has teamed up with celebrity influencer Tasha Ghouri, an advocate for pre-loved clothing, to promote second-hand selling.
What They Said:
People are clearly wanting to find alternatives to throwing away their unwanted clothes, but many are feeling held back by the thought and process of reselling. We want to arm everyone with the tools to get better quality pictures and videos that do their pre-loved garments justice.
— Ashrita Seshadri
Head of Brand Marketing
Samsung UK
When I shop second-hand, I always want to see what it looks like with someone wearing it, so make sure you capture pictures with you in it to drive more interest. With Samsung’s Z Flip4, I like how I can take pictures hands-free at any angle with Flex Mode, so even if no one’s in to take my pictures, I know I can still capture the items looking their best.
— Tashi Ghouri
Celebrity Influencer
