Since 2019, we've been offering a used clothes collection service.
We’re not the only ones—many fashion brands do it, from ethical labels to fast fashion, under the name take back. So why add more used clothing drop-off points? For three key reasons:
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Because we wanted this initiative to focus on textile recycling, the foundation of our circular fashion production.
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Because we wanted to create a truly transparent service, with a tracked and local supply chain we can monitor and document—so people know exactly what happens to the clothes they donate.
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Because we aim to engage and educate people: not all garments can be recycled, which is why circular fashion starts with conscious purchasing decisions.
Over the years, we've expanded this project by partnering with new collaborators, enabling us to work with the following materials:
• Cashmere sweater recycling – since 2019
• Old jeans recycling – since 2020
• Wool sweater recycling – since 2023
• Cotton sweater recycling – starting June 2025
Expanding the range of recyclable materials and garments has been key to encouraging public participation. One crucial rule defines whether textile recycling is possible:
Only garments made of pure fibers or blends containing 95–100% of the same material can be recycled into high-quality yarn.
To help you check if your garments are recyclable, we’ve created a quick recyclability test—you can take it here.
How our used clothes Take-back and Recycling Service works
Where
There are two main ways to donate your used clothes:
At one of our 250+ physical used clothes drop-off points, available in Italy, Germany, and Austria.
Or via free home pickup, available across Europe. Simply schedule a courier pickup from your home with a minimum donation of five items.
Wondering, "Where can I drop off used clothes near me?" Check our map here.
Our circular service is especially active in cities like:
MILAN → Find drop-off points or book a home pick-up
ROME → Find drop-off points or book a home pick-up
BOLOGNA → Find drop-off points or book a home pick-up
TURIN → Find drop-off points or book a home pick-up
GENOA → Find drop-off points or book a home pick-up
FLORENCE → Find drop-off points or book a home pick-up
Most drop-off points are stores that carry our products, but also include public spaces and community centers supporting the project.
Unfortunately, we don’t yet have collection points in the UK or the US. However, we’re working to expand and make more drop-off locations available in the future. In the meantime, our home pick-up service is available across Europe.
What to Do
Joining is simple—and to thank you for supporting the circular economy, you’ll receive a 20% discount code for our sustainable fashion collections, valid on our online shop, or in our Milan, Prato, and pop-up stores. Just:
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Check that your garments (only sweaters, except for jeans) are made of at least 95% of a single material (see the composition label).
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Whether you use home pickup or drop-off, you’ll be asked to fill out a form.
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Once complete, you’ll receive your Rifò discount code via email.
What happens to the clothes after collection
Transparency and traceability matter to us...
Collected garments are sent to Recooper, a cooperative in Emilia that pre-sorts all items:
If the garments are in good condition, they are sent to second-hand shops like And Circular, because reuse always has a lower impact than recycling.
If they are not wearable anymore, they are recycled. In Prato, local artisans sort them by material and color, shred them back into fibers, and turn them into new recycled yarns—without re-dyeing, saving water and avoiding toxic dyes.
Clothes that can’t be recycled due to their fiber mix, or reused, are sent for downcycling—recycled into industrial materials. For example, we use this type of material to create our Fluffypack, our reusable packaging option at checkout.
Why you should join our used clothes collection
At Rifò, we do sustainable fashion a little differently. Our dream is to balance what we collect with the recycled materials we use to make our circular clothing.
With your help, we can become a brand that doesn’t consume new materials—but rather reintroduces them into the circular economy.
Dreams aside, why does recycling matter? Because by joining the collection, you benefit from:
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20% off your next Rifò purchase
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More space in your wardrobe
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Peace of mind knowing your clothes become real new resources
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Pride in supporting a 100-year-old Italian textile tradition
This textile recycling tradition has thrived in our hometown, Prato, for over a century—long before sustainability became trendy. It was once common sense and smart economics: recycling a wool coat was cheaper than making a new one.
This remains our mission: turn waste into new resources, strengthen textile recycling, repair, and reuse, all through a transparent and concrete service.
