How Australian women make extra money with their wardrobe

Australians spend an average of around $500 per month on discretionary items, including clothing.

But as the cost of living rises, more and more women are turning to their wardrobes to earn extra cash to support themselves.

Sydney resident Maddison Maguire uses the $350 she earns a month to pay her rent and hang out with friends.

The 22-year-old, who sells her wares through the Depop app, said she was surprised at how quickly people were buying second-hand clothes through the platform.

“I wanted a little extra cash and to be a little more sustainable with my shopping by selling something (first) then buying something — not just hoarding a lot of clothes,” she said.

“This is the way of the future. It makes sense that people don’t want to pay top dollar for a high-end item of clothing if you can get it used and still in like-new condition.

Claire Cunliffe, 40, started selling her clothes at monthly markets and stalls four years ago and now earns up to $400 a month.

The Brisbane resident says she has now bought more second-hand goods than new clothes, which she finds “more fun”.

She thinks the market is not too saturated and more people are willing to buy second-hand goods because it’s better for the environment.

“Although it’s not a full-time job yet, I would absolutely love to see it get there eventually… I love doing it,” Ms Cunliffe said.

“I always knew that there were people who realized that there was literally money in their wardrobe and they wanted to sell their clothes.

“I still have a lot of clothes in my closet for sale that are new with tags still on but run a size small.”

Kate Reddin, 43, sells some of her clothes on Facebook Marketplace with her 13-year-old son.

The Melbourne mum says the experience helps the couple bond and offers valuable lessons along the way.

“He taught them the business aspects of buying and selling and sustainability,” says Ms. Reddin.

“It’s something good that we can do together and teaches them how to communicate with people they don’t know, keeping safety in mind…and understanding in real time the value of things and how things work.” money.

“They definitely have a taste for success and their economy goals are getting a bit more ambitious – they’re already talking about their first car.”

According to the dress rental site GlamCorner, Australia is the second largest consumer of textiles in the world, with an average woman buying 27kg of new clothes, but throwing away 23kg every year. According to research by GlamCorner, they only wore 33% of their wardrobe.

Despite the ‘shameful’ statistics, Australian Retailers Association (ARA) chief Paul Zahra says more consumers have recognized the impact their discarded clothes have on the environment, so more people have embraced it. more sustainable options.

He said there had been a sea change in consumer behavior in recent years, with people becoming more values-driven in their purchases.

“Consumers resonate more strongly with brands that reflect social and environmental issues that are important to them, so issues such as sustainability are growing in importance for businesses in terms of their customer relationships,” says Zahra. .

“We are seeing more and more fashion retailers taking proactive steps towards the circular economy of the future, which is nice to see.

“Consumers are also starting to think differently about their fashion choices and repurposing items where they can, rather than buying a new outfit to wear only once and tossing it to the back of the wardrobe. “

Fashion designer Leina Broughton says more and more women are cutting back on frivolous spending, with many questioning what was essential, opting for quality pieces that last.

“The best way to get the most out of your wardrobe is with a capsule wardrobe that can take you from office to dinner and work to weekends,” she says.

Originally published as How Australian women make extra money with their wardrobe