Giving clothing from a deceased loved one a second life

After the death of a father, partner, grandfather or other loved one, clothing that contains memories is often left behind. A suit from a wedding, a familiar jacket, shirts that someone wore for years or a collection of ties. Then at some point the question arises: what do we do with these clothes?

For many families, throwing away feels wrong. At the same time, not everything can be preserved. At EcoGents we try to offer a practical and respectful compromise: good men's clothing is given the opportunity to be worn and appreciated again.

You don't have to decide right away

There is no correct time frame for disposing of clothing after a death. Some people want to get through it quickly; others leave the cupboard untouched for months or longer. Both are understandable.

When the time comes that you want to pass on clothing, it often helps to first set aside a few pieces that have special meaning to you or the family. What's left afterward can still have a lot of value to someone else.

Which men's clothing is interesting for EcoGents?

EcoGents specializes in second-hand and vintage men's clothing. As a result, we look at an older wardrobe differently than a general clothing collection. An old jacket, waistcoat or 1970s shirt may be something that our customers are specifically looking for.

These categories, among others, may be of interest:

• jackets and blazers;
• suits and trousers;
• waistcoats and spencers;
• shirts, including older prints and models;
• ties;
• leather and suede jackets;
• sweaters and classic knitwear;
• dress shoes and accessories.

Age alone does not determine whether something is suitable. We look at condition, quality, wearability and whether it fits within the men's collection.

For us, old does not automatically mean worn out

Some older garments are special because of their cut, material, pattern or finish. Large pointed collars, older tweed jackets, classic suits and wide vintage ties are less common in new stores.

If an exact age or material cannot be determined, we try not to speculate about it. We describe clothing as factually as possible.

What happens when clothing arrives at EcoGents?

Good clothing that we take in is first checked. She is then taken care of before going into the store. Our working method is that clothing is washed or appropriately cleaned, ironed and then sorted by size, depending on the garment and the care label.

Then each suitable piece is given a place among the rest of the collection, so that the next wearer can simply discover it as a beautiful piece of clothing.

Why size sorting is important

A second life only works if someone can actually find and try on the garment. That's why we hang clothes by size. A customer looking for a jacket in size L does not have to dig through the entire store.

That sounds practical, but it also makes a difference in appreciation: an old jacket does not become an anonymous piece in a pile of clothing, but part of a carefully presented men's collection.

A piece of clothing does not have to be a famous brand

We are regularly asked whether only well-known brands are interesting. That's not true. A brand can be relevant, but a well-made unbranded vintage jacket or a special shirt can be just as attractive.

At EcoGents we therefore look at the garment itself: fit, appearance, construction and condition.

What if you don't know what is valuable?

You don't have to figure that out yourself. Older labels or brands are often difficult for relatives to assess, and even an apparently simple item of clothing can be interesting for our collection.

You can therefore contact us first if you are unsure about a wardrobe or larger quantity. More information is on our page giving men's clothing from a deceased loved one a second life.

You can also hand in regular men's clothing

Of course, it does not have to be clothing from a deceased loved one. Customers also regularly bring clothes that they no longer wear. We have a separate explanation for this hand in and donate men's clothing at EcoGents.

What is better to keep yourself?

If a piece of clothing has a lot of emotional value, there is no reason to immediately get rid of it. Consider, for example, a wedding suit, a favorite tie or the shirt that you immediately associate with someone.

Some families keep one or two pieces as a keepsake and pass on the rest. That can help you not have the feeling that everything is disappearing at once.

Why we think this is important

EcoGents exists to make good men's clothing wearable again. This applies to a recent jacket, but just as well to a wardrobe that has been built up over decades.

We see every day that styles are returning and that younger men are looking for waistcoats, ties, classic jackets and distinctly older shirts. Clothing that has lost its function for one family can therefore be exactly the piece that someone else was looking for.

Respectful, but also practical

We don't want to make this topic bigger or more emotional than it is for you. Sometimes it is simply nice that someone can use the clothing. Sometimes there is a whole story behind it. Both are welcome.

You don't have to tell a history of every piece of clothing. If you do like that, we would of course be happy to listen.

Bring a loved one's clothes to EcoGents

Would you like to know whether the men's clothing of your partner, father, grandfather or other loved one fits EcoGents? Then first read our information page giving clothing from a deceased loved one a second life. There you will find practical information about how it works.

You can too get in touch if you want to discuss something in advance. This way, clothing that is no longer worn can be given a new purpose, without you having to find out for yourself what is interesting and what is not.