Is your closet stuffed? Do you have vintage clothes you no longer need? Online clothing consignment is a great way to clear some space and bring in extra money, especially in an era when vintage clothing is popular. Here are a few tips to help you find out if your vintage clothing is valuable.
Determine if your Clothes are Vintage
Authentic garments from the 1960s or earlier may be more valuable than garments from later decades, depending on the quality and whether or not modern consumers want to wear the style. In addition to clothes from the 60s and earlier, designer clothes from any era can have value to collectors. If you bought the garment yourself and know when it was made, you can easily determine whether or not it qualifies as vintage. With garments that came into your closet later, however, you may need to do some extra examination to determine the age before you can get a clothing appraisal.
1. Build
Authentic garments from before the 1960s often include metal zippers, side-snap closures, bias hem tape, and pinked seams. If a garment has invisible zippers, it’s probably a newer reproduction.
2. Feel
There’s often a texture difference between vintage and modern clothing. While this one is difficult to master if you’re new to vintage clothing appraisal, you will be able to feel the difference with practice. If you have some clothes you know are vintage, try feeling the difference between them and modern fabrics.
3. Color
Colors that were in style decades ago are often different from the colors that are in style today. If the garment is a color that you don’t see very often, it’s more likely to be authentic vintage. Many reproductions choose modern colors with vintage styles to give the items a more contemporary look.
4. Labels
A fabric care and content label is a telltale sign of a newer garment since care instructions weren’t common before the 1970s. On the other end of the timeline, a union label tag printed in the blue text suggests that the garment is truly vintage since most recent union tags have a combination of red and blue text.
5. Country of Origin
Most older vintage garments were made in the U.S. or imported from France, Italy, or Hong Kong. If a garment was made in China, it’s probably newer.
Determine the Quality of the Garment
Most vintage clothing has been worn, and minor fabric damage is acceptable to many collectors. If the garment has stains or large holes, however, it may not be worth much in an honest clothing appraisal. If you are unsure, always check with an appraiser before donating. The more stylish the item is, the more valuable it will likely be. Unique designs can also raise the value of a garment.
Don’t Forget About Vintage Accessories!
Accessories such as purses, bags, jewelry, and shoes can also hold lots of value. Designer brands age especially well, often holding collectible value no matter the era. Just like with vintage clothes, the condition of the items matters, but don’t assume that minor wear or damage means the item can’t be valuable. An appraiser is always your best bet to finding the value of your items.
The Benefits of Online Clothing Consignment
With online consignment, you can benefit from the dealer’s network and experience selling similar items. You won’t have to worry about listing the item online, meeting buyers, or shipping. You can generally trust the dealer to get the best price for your garment since they are making a percentage of the sale. Another benefit is that you can free up space immediately by passing the item off to the dealer, rather than keeping it yourself until you can find a buyer.
Fruitcocktail offers vintage clothing consignment and related services to help you reach a broad audience of international buyers through an online marketplace. By bringing vintage and collectible items to buyers all over the world, Fruitcocktail helps you get the best price for your items. Click here to learn more about putting your vintage clothing and other items up for consignment.