To achieve a minimalist closet, you need to regularly check which clothes to give as a hand-me-down, to donate, and to sell.
When I was in grade school, I usually borrowed clothes and shoes from my eldest sister. We, my elder brother, and our youngest sister do not usually wear shoes when we go to school, we wear “tsinelas”, the durable colorful spartan rubber slippers. Only our eldest sister wears shoes, every day when going to school. She is studying in a private school unlike us. I borrow her Kung Fu shoes (which are quite popular during that time) whenever there is a program in our school. I also use them during class picture taking where all students are required to be presentable and wear black shoes.
Hand-Me-Down
Of all the clothes I had, one of the most unforgettable was the white dress that I wore during the class awardee recognition day. I am not comfortable wearing the dress because of the laced sleeves. Unfortunately, it is the only available dress that I can use. There were two. There are two pieces of the same white dress. They belong to the twin sisters of my mother. It was one of their dresses when they were teenagers during the era of 1960. My mother kept them for more than twenty years. It was handed down to me. Not only the laced sleeves which made me hesitant to wear it but also the shiny, glittery designs. It did look fancy to me. But for a twenty-year-old dress, it was not outmoded, not at all during my grade school time in the 1980s. I have considered it an heirloom, however, I can no longer remember to whom it was passed down.
When my daughter became a toddler, she inherited lots of her eldest cousin’s dresses.
Then from my daughter’s closet, some were handed down to her youngest cousin.
From what I experienced when I was young, long before Mima’s Homey journey started, I have continued to share (as well as receive) hand-me-down clothes. I am still borrowing clothes from my eldest sister, and office dresses, and am lending/giving her as well.
Donate or Sell
I have donated (and tried to sell once) some of our pre-loved clothes. We didn’t have to buy so many clothes for our newborn until she became a toddler. Our neighbor, my childhood friend, with two daughters older than mine, gave us a bag full of their semi-used lovely baby clothing.
Regular weeding of Mima’s Homey closet became a habit, for donations, hand-me-downs, and recycling. I find it uncomfortable seeing pile of clothes untouched for years while it can be very useful to others.
Renell Pacrin
Donating clothes can be done as an opportunity to extend help not only to the victims of natural calamities but also to the homeless and less fortunate fellows. It also teaches our children to be compassionate. I was so happy when my daughter immediately said “yes!” that I could give some of her pre-loved clothes to a homeless woman in our barangay. And she was also glad when she shared some with one of her dear friends who spent the recent semestral vacation with her. While hand-me-downs to or from someone, friends, or relatives, provide humility in giving and receiving. In recycling, it helps us practice frugality and somehow conserve natural resources and our environment.
About the Author:
Renell A. Dela Cruz has been a development worker (support staff) for seventeen years and loves to cook and bake. She earned a degree in Secretarial Administration and passed the NC II (National Certificate) in Bread and Pastry Production. During her free time, she bakes cookies, cakes, and pastries, mostly for her lovely daughter’s packed snacks, family occasions, and sometimes made to order. Currently self-employed, she focuses more on her spouse’s van rental business, home duties, exploring handicrafts, and taking care of the homey.
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This! Realidad natin mga pinoy kaya nga ako sa twing nag rereorganize ako sa mga damit ko, siniset aside k n yung mha damit na d ko talaga gagamitin para ipamigay kasi lagi ko tinatanong sa sarili ko “Susuotin ko ba ito?” and if its a no, (kasi may mga damit tayo na kahit di natin gagamitin kinikeep parin natin ?) kaya tinatabi ko ang di gagamitin pra ibigay, kasi in the end puno na closet ko at magulo pa ?
Thank you for sharing tips Ms.Karla ako po kasi bihira lang din gumala kaya kunting damit lang din nagagamit ko madalas tambak na lang sa bahay pwede din pala sya donate or ibenta pag maganda pa naman.Madalas kasi pinapamigay ko na lang sa relatives ko .
Isa ito sa mga gawain ng mga matatanda lalo na sa mga nasa Asian countries especially sating mga pinoy na naipasa hanggang sa henerasyon natin ngayon. Kasi laging nandyan yung salitang “sayang”. Kesa naman masira lang dahil nakatambak or nakatago lang mas mabuting ipamigay, ipamana, or ibenta na lang. Lalo na kung maayos pa naman kasi ganyan tayo eh, hanggat pwede sige lang.
I love this, I better practice this tips to avoid too much clothes in my closet. Yung iba naman kasi di nagagamit especially yung mga mejo masisikip na. I love that hand-me-downs provides humility in giving and receiving while recycling practice frugality and conserve natural resources and our environment. Anyway, cute po ng picture nyo nung bata pa kayo ms karla.
Ayy wow ito pla ung mga tips . Na pwedeng pwede gawin .. ganito dn ako tamng hiram hiram lang ng damit ? and tlgang my damit din na fave natin suotin .. thank you for sharing this po . Dpt tlga i donate or i sell ang iba pra mabawas bawasan ❤️?