The Alternatives to Black Friday: 10 Ways to Shop Smarter and Make a Difference This November

Even the stuff you return has a hidden environmental cost. Every delivery, every return journey, every bit of packaging adds to carbon emissions. And with around 80% of Black Friday products ending up in landfill, incinerated, or poorly recycled (Waste Managed), those “bargains” quickly lose their shine.

And it’s only growing. It’s predicted that us Brits will spend £3.9 billion while shopping in the 2025 Black Friday sales, £100 million more than what was predicted for 2024. (Finder). Eek.

At Reskinned we’re doing things differently.

We’ve launched Takeback Friday, our month-long campaign encouraging you to clear out before you buy. It’s all about getting intentional with your wardrobe and making space for what you actually need.

For the whole month of November, when you send us your pre-loved clothes through one of our takeback programmes, you’ll get a £15 voucher to spend on Reskinned (when you spend £35 or more).

That’s on top of your usual takeback rewards, and the best part is that there’s no rush. No midnight madness or 24-hour countdowns. Your voucher’s valid for a whole year, giving you time to find something you’ll really love.

Because let’s be honest, spending £10 on something you’ll never wear isn’t saving £10. It’s wasting £10.

Takeback Friday is our way of slowing things down, fighting fashion waste, and making circular fashion the norm.

So before you hit “add to cart,” take a moment. Sort your wardrobe. Send us your clothes. And read on for 10 sustainable ways to say no to Black Friday, and yes to something better.

10 Sustainable Alternatives to Black Friday Shopping

Here are some of our favourite ways to spend Black Friday that don’t involve mindless scrolling or impulse buys, just sustainable swaps, feel-good plans, and smarter ways to spend your time (and your money).

1. Declutter Your Wardrobe, Don’t Add to It

Don’t give us that look, you know exactly what we’re talking about. When was the last time you actually looked at what’s hiding at the back of your wardrobe? There’s probably a gem or two you’ve completely forgotten about… or, let’s be honest, a pile of clothes you’ll never wear again.

So before you shop, clear out. Send your pre-loved pieces our way this November and you’ll get your £15 voucher to spend on Reskinned (when you spend £35 or more) as well as any vouchers from our takeback brand partners. It’s the perfect one-in, one-out refresh: make space for what you really love, while knowing your old clothes are getting a second life.

We’ll restore and rehome anything that still has life in it, and responsibly recycle the rest. Your wardrobe will get lighter, your conscience will get a bit cleaner, and the planet will get a little breather.

2. Repair or Rewear Your Favourites

Your wardrobe’s already full of great pieces? Yeah, that. Before you hit checkout, take a look at what’s already yours.

Pull out that repair pile and give your clothes a little TLC. Replace a missing button, stitch up a rip, patch a mark, or take it to your local tailor if DIY isn’t your thing. Sometimes all it takes is ten minutes (and a needle and thread) to bring an old favourite back to life.

You’ll rediscover pieces you already love, save yourself the cost of something new, and keep one more item out of landfill. It’s a seemingly small act of care that makes a really big difference.

3. Host a Clothes Swap with Friends

Who says you need to shop to get that new wardrobe feeling? Turn shopping into sharing by hosting a clothes swap with your friends. You’ll still get the same buzz of trying things on, styling outfits and giving (and getting) compliments, but without spending a single penny.

Here’s how to set up a clothes swap with your pals:

Set the vibe.

Make it a cosy evening or a weekend brunch. Ask everyone to bring 5–10 pieces in good condition.

Sort & swap

Lay everything out by category so it’s easy to browse, then take turns picking items to try on. Hype each other up, naturally.

Give leftovers a new home

Anything unclaimed can go straight to us through the Reskinned Takeback Programme and you’ll get a £15 voucher when you send a parcel this November.

It’s such an underrated feel-good way to refresh your wardrobe, spend time with good friends and keep your clothes in circulation. You really can’t beat the feeling of seeing someone you love wearing something you love.

4. Support Small and Sustainable Brands

When you buy from a small or sustainable brand, your money has real power.

Independent businesses don’t have huge marketing budgets or fast-fashion production lines. They often rely on every single sale to pay fair wages, source responsibly, and keep their operations running.

While big retailers can weather heavy discount periods like Black Friday, small brands can’t compete without sacrificing their values, and they shouldn’t have to.

Choosing to shop small means investing in good craftsmanship, transparency, and creativity. It keeps your money circulating within local economies instead of disappearing into corporate profit margins. You’re helping a designer continue producing in limited batches, a maker afford ethically sourced materials, or a studio hire fairly-paid artisans.

If you’re looking for ethical fashion labels this season, start with platforms and marketplaces that curate sustainable collections, like Gather & See.

Many small designers also host pre-orders or slow drops through their own websites, giving you a chance to buy thoughtfully and avoid wasteful overproduction.

By supporting these brands, you’re supporting a slower, fairer fashion industry that values people and planet over profit.

5. Shop Pre-Loved and Vintage

Every pre-loved purchase you make is your quiet protest against waste. When you buy secondhand, you’re extending the lifespan of garments that already exist. You’re saving resources, energy and all the carbon it would take to make something new. According to WRAP, extending the lifespan of clothing by just nine months reduces carbon, water, and waste footprints by up to 20%, saving £5 billion in resources annually. Multiply that by the millions of items sold every year, and the impact becomes enormous.

When you buy pre-loved, you’re also challenging the throwaway culture that fast fashion fuels. We get to cherish the story of a piece of clothing, not just the one-off wear.

Shops like Known Source and Vintage Threads are great for picking up incredible vintage pieces that are a cut above the rest.

At Reskinned, every item you see has been expertly cleaned, restored, and quality-checked by our team before finding its way to you. And with a load of your highstreet favourites and premium brands on board, our collection gives great clothes a second chance, and you the opportunity to shop with intention.

So next time you’re craving something new, start by shopping pre-loved. You’ll find pieces with more character, lower impact, and a story worth wearing again.

6. Gift Experiences, Not Things

Black Friday is the time where lots of us bag those Christmas gifts for our loved ones and save a bit of cash.

But the best gifts don’t come wrapped in paper, we all know that.

They come in moments, memories, and shared joy with the people who we love.

When you choose to gift an experience, rather than a thing, it’s one of the most sustainable ways to celebrate the season. It cuts down on all that packaging, manufacturing and shipping and gives the gift of something far more long-lasting: connection.

Here are some experience-based presents that make a great alternative to Black Friday buys:

• A cooking class, pottery workshop, or wine tasting for two
• A weekend getaway or a spa day to fully relax
• Tickets to a concert, play, or exhibition
• A membership or subscription to something they love, like a yoga studio or a local art gallery
• A donation or sponsorship in their name for a cause they care about

Experience-based gifts mean you’re creating stories, not clutter. They are a reminder that joy doesn’t have to come from stuff, it can come from spending time together, learning something new or just being present.

It’s all about giving with intention, not buying in the heat of the moment to save some dosh.

7. Spend the Day Mindfully

What if, instead of rushing to fill your cart with things you probably don’t need, you spent the day filling your cup with the things that actually make you feel good. Like, long-lasting good.

What if you flipped the switch and decided Black Friday wasn’t about consumption at all, it was about connection? AKA. slowing down, going outside, or simply giving your time to something important. This can really do so much more good than a discount ever could.

Some ideas for a mindful Black Friday:

• Go for a long walk and leave your phone behind for an hour. Yes, really. You will survive.
• Journal about what you’re grateful for and what you actually need (not just what’s on sale).
• Volunteer locally, whether that’s at a food bank, charity shop, or community garden. A couple of hours can make a big difference.
• Start (or finish) a creative project that’s been gathering dust. Paint, write, build, make. Do something that feels good for the soul.

When you spend the day intentionally, you’re going to realise how little you actually need in order to feel good. A clear mind lasts a lot longer than the excitement of a random online bargain.

8. Start a “Conscious Wishlist” for Future Buys

Instead of impulse buying because stuff is on sale, create a wishlist of things you actually need or really want. Give yourself 30 days before buying them, to see if you still want them.

By the time the next sale rolls around (Boxing day we’re looking at you), you’ll know exactly what’s worth your money and what was just a passing phase.

9. Learn More About Circular Fashion

Shopping is on everyone’s mind on Black Friday, so why not use the time to get curious about how to shop better. Watch a documentary like The True Cost or read a book like Loved Clothes Last to get more in tune with how you can make a difference. When you understand the system, you can shop a lot smarter and you’ll value the things you own so much more.

And if you want to see circularity in action, check out our blog posts for a whole set of resources that are going to give you all the info you need to make better shopping decisions.

10. Support a Charity Instead of a Sale

What if you took all the money you were going to spend on Black Friday and donated it to a charity you care about?

Charities like Give Your Best, who provide clothing for people experiencing clothing poverty, Crisis, who support those experiencing homelessness and The Children’s Society, who support young people through life’s challenges are all doing important and vital work, and your support means a lot.

We hope we’ve sparked a few ideas for how you can make a difference this Black Friday (and beyond), and if you want to take part in Reskinned’s Takeback Friday, read on for exactly what you need to do.

How to Take Part in Takeback Friday

Here’s how to turn your Black Friday weekend into something that feels good for your wallet and the planet.

Step 1: Declutter: Gather all your pre-loved clothes

Open that wardrobe and get real with yourself. What do you actually wear, and what’s just taking up space? Pull out the pieces you’ve outgrown, fallen out of love with, or just don’t reach for anymore and pile them up. Permission to be shocked by how many there actually is.

Step 2: Select: Choose which ones to send us

Did you know we accept items in any condition, not just the ones that are still wearable? We’ll responsibly recycle anything that’s not repairable, and find a new home for everything that’s still in decent nick.

We recommend organising your stuff into piles based on the brand - if you’ve got things from our brand partners, you can get extra vouchers to spend with them, and for everything else, you can use our personal takeback programme.

Step 3: Pack & Send: Use our prepaid label

Pop your takeback pieces in a box or bag (preferably something recycled, we’re not picky about how it looks!), stick on the free prepaid label, and drop it off. It’s that simple. No waiting in post office queues and no paying for stamps.

Step 4: Get Rewarded: Receive your £15 voucher and shop consciously

Once your takeback’s received, you’ll get a £15 voucher to spend on Reskinned (when you spend £35 or more). Take your time using it, there’s no rush or countdown clock. Browse consciously, find something that really feels like you, and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing you’ve helped keep fashion circular.

This November it’s not about buying more, it’s about doing better.

Ready to join the takeback revolution?

Start your takeback here.