The greatest clothes are the ones that never see the inside of your closet. You know the ones. The “wear all winter” cardigan. The “only take them off to sleep” jeans.
Eventually, though, they fall out of rotation. You know how it goes. You find a new sweater, a new pair of 24/7 denim—and then you have some tough decisions to make.
73% of preloved clothes are sent to a landfill or incinerated instead of being reused or recycled.*
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
When you give your clothes a second life, you reduce carbon emissions by an average of 25%.**
THAT’S WHY WE CREATED MADEWELL FOREVER WITH THREDUP.
How It Works
YOU CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSET
Say goodbye to your old faithfuls. Jeans, t-shirts, you name it.
Print out a shipping label or request a Clean Out Kit, and send in your preloved clothes. Jeans (of any brand) can be dropped off at your local Madewell store.
We’ll send you a Clean Out Kit or just a shipping label, and you’ll send in your preloved clothes. If we’re just talkin’ jeans, drop them off in-store.
THREDUP GETS TO WORK
thredUP, the experts in secondhand, assess the condition and value of the clothes you’ve sent in.
Clothes with life left in ’em will get listed on Madewell Forever—and find a home with someone new.
WE RECYCLE THE REST
Denim that has seen better days gets repurposed through Cotton’s Blue Jeans Go Green™ program or other partners.
Wearable clothes that don’t make the cut are recirculated through thredUP’s Rescue program.
Items that don’t qualify for listing or thredUP’s Rescue Program are reused or responsibly recycled by thredUP’s vetted network of US-based thrift stores and textile recyclers.
We don’t get a second chance with our planet.
We do get a second chance with our clothes.
Shop Preloved* Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation
** Source: Green Story Inc.