Follow our expert's 8 golden rules and you too could make as much as 700 euro in a SINGLE weekend and join pre-loved clothing giant Vinted's minted rich list

Published: 23:17, 22 July 2026 | Updated: 23:17, 22 July 2026 Buying and selling old clothes wasn’t always seen as the most lucrative profession. Think musty charity shops and, if you’re old enough, that Seventies TV classic Steptoe and Son.  Grimey ‘rag and bone’ man Albert constantly bickered with pretentious offspring Harold, who aspired to ‘better things.’ The older Steptoe, played by Dubliner Wilfred Brambell, would’ve been tickled pink to see how his career choice could pay dividends, as he often reminded his son. Dealing in old clothes has proven more financially successful than the stock market while knocking the socks off the newest money-making fad on the block: cryptocurrency. The only thing that came close to it in short-term gains in this ongoing money-making competition is buying and selling antiques, another string to the Steptoes’ bow. A vintage clothes dealer is winning the Money Mail’s Race to 10k challenge, where five experts are challenged to multiply an initial outlay of 500 quid. So far, vintage clothes seller Jess Morton has doubled her money, which places her ahead of the shares investor, crypto trader and sports better. Flogging old clothes, as old Albert knew, is a far more sensible way to make money. More people are cottoning onto the fact that vintage clothes made from natural fibres are of far higher quality than polyester tat sold on Temu. Another nail in the coffin of ‘fast fashion’ sold on Temu is the new €3 per item charge now levied by the Revenue Commissioners on incoming packages from outside the EU. Accordingly, sales on second hand clothes in outlets led by Vinted surged 197 per cent in the year to May in Ireland, according to figures from AIB.  Over the same period, spending on new clothes fell by six per cent, signalling that the trend of buying cheap throwaway clothes may be going out of fashion. Instead buyers can save money, avoid added charges, get better quality clothes – and save the planet – through clothes-selling platforms. So far, vintage clothes seller Jess Morton has doubled her money, which places her ahead of the shares investor, crypto trader and sports better Lithuanian-based Vinted, now worth €8bn, claims to be saving users €21.6bn a year globally compared to if they had bought new.  It requires some expertise to make a regular income, buying and selling clothes. Jess Morton, for example, started off selling clothes that no longer fitted after she lost weight. The 37-year-old mum of three made over €700 in one weekend, selling items across second-hand platforms Vinted, Depop and eBay. She was so successful she quit her job as a primary school teacher to focus on reselling vintage clothes full time.  In May alone, she made over €13k from reselling clothes, mainly on Vinted. Plenty of Irish people are also well on their way to getting ‘minted’ through Vinted. One Irish seller in her thirties, speaking to us anonymously, has earned extra income buying and selling vintage clothes since her early twenties.  In the past, she trawled through charity shops in well-off areas for cast-off couture which she then sold in a market stall on occasion or through online platforms. Now most of her ‘business’ is done through Vinted. ‘I do still shop in charity shops but I’ve kind of switched to Vinted now.  'It’s a charity shop in your pocket,’ she says. A highly-paid professional when in her normal working life, she loves her “side hustle” as she has always had an interest in vintage fashion. It produces a small added income for doing something she enjoys and would do anyway for pleasure. ‘I try to make it that I’m always getting in more money than any going out.  'I’ve made about €1,000 (in profits) up to June this year,’ she says. Sensibly, she uses the money to pay down debts. ‘I’ve reduced my debt hugely in the last few months.  'I make sure that I only pay myself whenever I make a profit.’ During our interview, she showed us a picture of a floral-patterned dress as an example of what she sells.  ‘I bought this for €6, not to resell but for myself.  If you want to flog clobber online, here are eight tricks of the trade: Images are the best way to showcase the item so, the first step to flogging them is taking great photographs Images are the best way to showcase the item so, the first step to flogging them is taking great photographs – and the more the merrier. Stick to the specialist sites for clothes such as Vinted, Depop and Vestiaire. The first two are pretty similar although the latter is more to the fore in Ireland. For designer clothes, Vestiaire can provide higher prices to sellers. However, while this platform is sometimes used by our Irish vintage clothes seller, she prefers Vinted for its lower fees. She also likes that EU-based Vinted links the Irish market to France rather than to Britain, thus avoiding Brexit shipment headaches while adding the ‘ooh la la’ factor of access to iconic French brands. ‘They joined us with the French to make it a bigger and more successful market as Ireland is so small. ‘All you have to do is add French hashtags as well as English ones to your ads,’ she explains, adding that she regularly deals with French buyers and sellers. Fashion is all about trends – even for vintage clothes The latest trend is Y2K, i.e. clothes dating back to around the ‘turn of the century’. ‘Everyone wants Y2K even if they don’t really know what Y2K is!  'It’s like something the Spice Girls or Britney Spears would have worn back then,’ she says. ‘Include as many words as you can think your buyer will be searching for,’ says Jess. Think about the seasons too and what events the clothes might be useful for, and include these in the description. She adds: ‘I put summer holiday in the description, because people might be looking for their holiday clothes right now.’ Other key words that do really well include ‘Y2K’ and ‘cottagecore’ which describes vintage rural-inspired clothing. It sounds like a given but it is vital to research the item you are selling before you list it.  Or you could end up kicking yourself after selling a valuable collectible or couture item for far less than it’s worth. Jess says her secret weapon is making something known as ‘bundles’.  This is grouping several items together to sell them in one go. Jess says her secret weapon is making something known as ‘bundles’ For example, group items that are the same size together, such as a ‘size small bundle’. Jess suggests picking your own niche.  In her case, she specialises in Y2K jeans, flirty skirts, jean shorts, ladies’ high street fashion items from brands such as Zara, M&S and Monsoon and a few men’s hoodies.  Give as much information as you can – not just whether it’s the small, medium and large. ‘Even if someone buys a €3 top they’ll want to know how much it measures in many ways (not just the overall size),’ says our Irish vintage expert. ‘Include anything on the front of the item, such as “blue graphic T-shirt”, she advises. ‘Keep it short and sweet. It really doesn’t need to be very detailed.’ Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.