Recycling at our core.
Retold Recycling is the only take back bag program that was founded as a dedicated solution to textile recycling. Many other initiatives grew out of clothing resale or retail brands, while Retold Recycling was created with a singular purpose: to tackle the growing issue of textile waste! Founded in 2020, Retold began with recycling as its sole mission, focusing entirely on providing a sustainable solution for textiles that might otherwise end up in landfill.
Convenience with a conscience!
Retold is a mail-based bag service for recycling old and unwanted textiles (clothing, fabric scraps, and household items) straight from the home. We focus on fostering new environmentally conscious behaviour in every home, placing an emphasis on building a circular economy. With bags delivered right to your door, what could be simpler?
So, how does it work?
Take these three simple steps to start your recycling practice today!
Step One
Grab your bags!
Order your Retold bags!
Once your bags are ordered, start sorting! When your bags arrive it's time to start packing. Items like solo socks, worn out bras, t-shirts, jeans, and dresses are all accepted in our Classic Retold Bags, while scraps and other small materials should be recycled in our Fabric Scrap Bags. Yes, we take NWT through to a quilt off-cut. Stuff approx 5lbs of material, peel the adhesive strip, and stick!
Step 2
Send it off!
Fill your bag – whether it’s just one sock or packed to the brim! Our pre-labeled bags come with a shipping label already attached, so they’re good to go right away.
*For orders of Three Bags in a Box, labels can be purchased from our label generator.
Once you're all set, simply drop it off at your mailbox, mail room, or with your doorman or go straight to the post office! We'll take it from there, giving your unwanted items a whole new story to tell.
Step 3
Our turn...
Once we receive your bags, our recycling partners across the US sort the textiles based on fiber content, quality, and style. This sorting process ensures that your textiles are distributed fairly, for their best chance at a second life. This helps save textiles from going directly to the landfill, minimize waste and promote a circular economy! We do our best to keep every item #NoLandfill.
The Big Question: Where does it go?
Many items from your Classic Bags are sorted and sent to a network of thrift stores across the U.S. Here, they’re given a second chance, finding new homes and continuing their life cycle instead of ending up in landfills! If they aren't suitable for resale, items go on to other channels like rag vendors and downcyclers...
Offshore
Some items are selected for international resale markets where there is strong demand for specific styles and categories. Vintage denim, especially brands like Levi’s and Wrangler, is highly sought after in Japanese thrift stores.
Outerwear, including puffer coats and other durable cold-weather pieces, is in high demand across Eastern Europe, particularly well-made and vintage brands! Gently used bras that are still in wearable condition are often purchased by resale markets in regions like Brazil, where American brands are especially popular.
By connecting these items to global markets, we extend their lifespan and support a circular economy, ensuring clothing is reused to its fullest potential. We also leverage existing shipping and distribution networks, minimizing additional environmental impact while maximizing reuse.
Shoddy
Not every item can be reused, but we aim to make sure nothing goes to waste. Items that are too worn, stained, or damaged (such as heavily used T-shirts or undergarments) are most often down-cycled.
Through this process, textiles are transformed into new materials like insulation, industrial rags, or fiber fill. All items from your Scraps Bags are directed into these downcycling streams, ensuring that every piece is repurposed and diverted from landfill whenever possible.
Our Honest Disclosure
Items may end up in landfill due to unsuitable conditions (plastic-coated fabrics, industrial fabrics, or wet/hazardous materials are present). A very (we mean VERY) small percentage of clean and dry clothing from your bag has the chance to end up in landfill, because human error happens… To make sure you are including materials that have the best chance at their second life, please visit our FAQs.
Our Heartbeat 💚
At Retold Recycling, we're dedicated to lead the way in textile recycling by championing transparency and sustainability through our process. We are committed to providing eco-friendly solutions that empower consumers to responsibly dispose of their unwanted textiles. Our recycling process ensures that every item collected is thoughtfully sorted and redirected towards upcycling, recycling, or resale. Through open communication and ethical practices, we try to always create a circular economy that reduces waste, conserves resources, and fosters a healthier planet for future generations.
