Have you heard about Thrift+?
Thrift+ is a resellers platform that is ideal for anyone looking to rehome their unwanted clothes, shoes or accessories. Which is probably quite a lot of us in reality. But if you lack the time, motivation or both to upload these items yourself, then Thrift+ might be the platform for you.
Let's face it, how many times have you delayed adding that pile of unworn items to your chosen platform because the process is laborious and watching something on Netflix took priority? I hear ya! In this case, Thrift+ is a great option for a hassle-free wardrobe cleanse. They are unmatched in the preloved sector (Happy to be proved wrong- hit us up with other companies offering a similar service). Thrift+' founder, Joe Metcalfe successfully pitched the idea in series 18 of Dragon's Den.
The World's 2nd Largest Polluter
Resellers platforms are often hailed as being an antedote to fast fashion. But the reality is more complex. Lets address the underlying issue of fast fashion here. Fast fashion is the world's second largest polluter after fossil fuels according to Greenpeace.
"We buy more clothes per person in the UK than any country in Europe. Around 300,000 tonnes of used clothes are burned or buried in landfill each year." Source: Greenpeace
Without fast fashion and our widespread overconsumption, there would be no resellers platforms. Some shoppers appear to apply a buy now-resell later approach to fast fashion given that the reselling world, with Vinted in particular, booming in 2026. This is called the shopppers "safety net" according to the Ellen Mac Arthur Foundation. In addition to Thrift+ you have Depop, and the OG Ebay. Reselling unwanted items with ease is undeniably tempting when having a declutter. And let's not forget you are rehoming items that no longer serve you. But does the continued popularity of these platforms suggest shoppers are feeding the problem? In theory, if reselling is booming, clothing production should be decreasing, yet figures suggest the contrary. Pointing to demand of fast and ultra fast (think Shein and Temu) going up rather than down! It's a complicated area. The Ellen Mac Arthur Foundation identified many positives to Vinted's "fashion ecosystem." Perhaps the platforms are founded with good intentions but the real battle is with the producers of the most ubiquitous brands on the high street including Primark, H&M, Primark et al, who show no signs of slowing their production to meet climate targets, reduce their climate impact and improve their treatment of people and local ecosystems in the countries producing their clothing, namely India, Bangladesh, China and Indonesia.
What is Thrift+ and how does it work?
Thirft+ was founded in 2017 by Joe Metcalfe. During Metcalfe's pitch on BBC's Dragon's Den he references a similar well established reseller platform in America - which we deduce was a source of inspiration behind establishing Thrift+.
Thrift+ is a preloved platform where you can make money or donate to charity from your unwanted fashion items. The way Thrift+ works is very simple. Firstly, when you visit their website, thrift.plus , you select "Clearout" on the homepage. Go through the T and C's to ensure you understand their clothing standards and expectations and what happens if your items don't quite make the cut. Click to pay and for just £1.50 you will receive a big yellow envelope like the one pictured. To the envelope you can add your unwanted but wearable items, including shoes and accessories. These will all be sent to the Thrift+ warehouse for sorting and uploading to their website.
What's the best part?
You might make some money in the process. If your items are accepted, they are uploaded onto their online store. When sold Thrift+ share their profits between them and you. There is also the option to receive store credit to keep it circular and buy preloved items or even donate your share to charity.
How much could you make?
£4.99 or less- 10% of payout
£5-49.99 - 20% of payout
£50+ - 40% payout
This should appeal to anyone looking for a hassle free way of offloading stuff they no longer use.
The Thrift+ Shop
A quick peruse of Thrift+' shop and you can find a wealth of preloved clothing. You have the option to refine your search, honing in on a specific item you're looking for. What surprised us was the price of some of the items. For example £70 for a "J Crew Cotton Cardigan" was steep in our opinion when comparing it to other reseller platforms such as Messina Hembry and the Depop app.
The nitty gritty
The items you include in the yellow bag need to be clean and in a wearable condition. If they're not, Thrift+ can responsibly recycle the items instead, meaning your items will still do a little good, but they won't be able to sell them. If you are hoping to earn money or donate your earning to charity ensure you read their terms for accepting items.
Are charity shops missing out?
There has been some debate of late, albeit anecdotally, on whether platforms such as Vinted mean charity shops are missing out on donations. Factor in that times are particularly hard and more people are being affected by the rising cost of living, finding ways of earning extra cash, like selling unwanted clothes, could provide some with financial respite. Ultimately, you can only do what's best for you.
Thrift+ website is thrift.plus
Sources:
Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Greenpeace