Live sustainably -
Give your clothes a second life

Donate 

If you are completely tired of a piece, even though it is still in good condition, there is a fun way to pass it on: a clothing swap! This can take place in a private setting with friends or in public locations. Typically, tables and clothing racks are provided and labeled with different clothing categories. Everyone can bring clothes that are no longer worn and distribute them onto the appropriate piles. From now on, the rule is: one person's trash is another person's treasure! Everyone is free to help themselves at the tables and, with a bit of luck, find a new favorite item. Any clothing that remains at the end will be donated to clothing acceptance points or containers.  

At these contact points, you can also donate your clothes directly – but please make sure that the items are really in good condition! This will save the staff, who sort the donations, the work of sorting out the unsuitable items. 

donation collection points 

DRK Clothing Acceptance Point 
Rudolfstraße 29-33 
Clothing, household items, toys 

Oxfam Second-Hand Store 
Theaterplatz 15 
Seasonal clothing, books, and household items  

 “BANDBREITE” WabE e.V. Second-Hand Store 
Kleinkölnstraße 18 
Fashion, furniture, books, and curiosities  

Used Clothing Containers “Aachen Fairwertet” 
various locations 

Sell Clothes 

You probably don’t want to give away clothing items for which you paid a lot of money. In this case, there are online platforms where you can easily sell your treasures from the comfort of your home. Keep in mind that depending on the price and quality of the item, it may take several months for someone to show interest.  

Sell Clothes 
VINTED 
Clothing, baby clothes 

eBay Classifieds and Shpock 
Clothing, furniture, pretty much everything else 

Repair 

Broken clothes don’t have to be thrown away immediately – with a needle, thread, and some craftsmanship, or at a tailor near you, you can give beloved items a second life. A simple solution that can be implemented even without great sewing talent is “visible mending.” This involves applying noticeable, colorful, or patterned patches to the damaged area, for example, using an iron or fabric glue. This creates a small eye-catching detail that makes your garment unique! 

Upcycling 

If the old cotton t-shirt is beyond saving, it can be repurposed into cleaning rags or washable makeup remover pads or tissues. With a few simple steps, you can even sew tea bags, heat pads, or shopping bags from it. 

Event Tip: 
From June 20 to June 24, we are hosting the annual Sustainability Week together with the AStA of RWTH. There will be workshops on the topics of clothing and upcycling, as well as a clothing swap.