Why we keep clothes we never wear
Just a few weeks ago, my husband brought up the idea of giving away clothes that we no longer wear. They just take up space in our closet, he said. And he was right. It was a very practical thing to do. Not only do we get to clear up space for newer clothes, but the old ones can also be more useful to someone else.
But as I started going through my closets—both at my house and at my parents’—I found myself hesitating when I came across certain pieces. Yes, they’re no longer part of my usual rotation, and I hadn’t worn some in years.
I ended up keeping them instead of adding them to the pile to be given away. And it made me wonder why.
When clothes turn into souvenirs
Asking myself why made me look more closely at the clothes that I chose to continue keeping instead of giving away. My elementary and high school uniforms are still in my closet. So are the shirts that I wore in college that my blockmates and batchmates had made.
And then, my wedding dress. Recently, I came across the option of donating my dress so that it can be included in a collection that other brides can rent. I found the idea cute, but when it came to deciding if I’m willing to let my dress go, I just couldn’t. And so, it continues to hang in my closet, undisturbed.
It was then that I realized that there are those I’m keeping because of the memories attached to them. Humans, I believe, are naturally sentimental creatures, so we hold onto things that remind us of specific people, moments, and even feelings.
It’s no different when it comes to clothes. It’s almost as if by keeping the clothes, we keep the memory that we associate them with. Or even the version of ourselves that wore them. Even if I know I won’t ever wear my wedding dress ever again, I couldn’t find it in myself to let go. It felt like letting go of a huge part of my wedding and the happy bride that I was.
The Filipino habit of keeping things “just in case”
I also noticed that there are old clothes I chose to keep despite not having any memory attached to them. Clothes my mom or sisters have borrowed from time to time. Clothes that once fit but no longer do. Clothes I barely wear—meant for specific occasions like formal events or business meetings.
I realized I keep these clothes because, well, just in case. Just in case I’ll need them for another wedding or event. Just in case my mom or sisters want to borrow them. Just in case I lose weight and I can fit in them again.
Sure, I can give them away, but… what if, right? Won’t it be a waste if I let them go, only to need them again someday? This dilemma usually arises when we’re trying to be both practical and sentimental at the same time. It feels like a tug-of-war of sorts when you’re trying to decide to let go of something, but one has to win. In my case, I usually end up keeping many of them. Just in case.
Not everything needs to be worn again
The more clothes you keep, the more you feel the pressure that you have to wear them again. Because what’s the point of keeping it all when you won’t wear them anymore? But one thing I learned as I grew older, as I outgrew sizes and styles and trends, is that some pieces I have might never be worn again—and that’s okay.
There are clothes in my closet that I know I probably won’t wear again. But I also know that I’m not ready to let them go. Some remind me of a particular period in my life, while others take me back to a place, a person, or a version of myself that no longer exists. Their value isn’t necessarily in whether they still fit or whether they are still in style, but in what they represent.
Maybe that’s why getting rid of clothes can feel surprisingly difficult. We aren’t always deciding whether to keep a piece of fabric; sometimes, we’re deciding whether we’re ready to let go of a memory or all of the “what ifs.” Perhaps not everything in our closets needs to have a practical purpose.
The closet is a record of your life
As I get older, I’ve started to see my closet less as a collection of clothes I need to use and more as a collection of memories I have accumulated along the way. I can let go of the things that no longer mean anything to me, while allowing a few others to stay simply because I’m not ready to say goodbye.
Not everything we keep needs to have a practical purpose. Some things are worth keeping simply because they remind us of who we were—and how far we’ve come.
Finally ready to let go? Here’s where you can donate your old clothes
If you’re finally ready to say goodbye to clothes you no longer use, here are some suggestions if you plan to donate. Make sure, however, that the clothes you’re willing to give up are still wearable and not heavily damaged.
• H&M: H&M’s garment recycling and collecting program accepts textiles from all brands. Simply look for the recycling boxes in their stores to make a donation.
• RE.UNIQLO: Uniqlo’s sustainability initiative accepts old Uniqlo items, which will be donated to partner communities or upcycled into new products.
• Segunda Mana: Caritas Manila’s donated goods program and social enterprise, Segunda Mana accepts clothes, footwear, and fashion accessories that are then sold in Segunda Mana Charity Outlets.
• Tzu Chi Foundation: This humanitarian NGO has recycling centers in Sta. Mesa, Manila, and Tatalon, Quezon City that accept clothing and footwear donations.
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