The cost of clothes can seriously add up over time whether you’re purchasing items for yourself or your whole family. Taking advantage of discounts and sales events is helpful but can require a lot of research, time, and planning to get the savings.
You may be wondering if there’s a way to get free clothing from companies. There are ways to get free clothes from companies, but these tips and strategies require a little effort and time on your part. Here are some of the best-proven ways to get free clothing from companies.
1. Join referral programs
Many brands offer refer-a-friend programs where you can get free clothing by referring friends. The best part is that you don’t have to spend a dime to join; all you have to do to earn points is share referral links through email or social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
Gymboree has an excellent referral program that gives both you and your referred friend a $10 off coupon for a purchase totaling $40 or more.
Some retailers like H&M and Adidas also have loyalty programs where you can earn points and refer a friend to receive free or discounted clothing items.
With the Stitch Fix referral program, your friend gets $25 credit, and so do you when they make their first purchase!
2. Sign up For free clothing giveaways
It’s also possible to get free clothing by participating in a giveaway. Many clothing companies host giveaways often, and the prizes are usually their latest pieces. All you need to do is follow the company’s social media pages and watch for their giveaway announcements. Once a giveaway is announced, follow the entry rules, and you can get free clothing.
Check social media for hashtags like #sweepstakes #giveaway and #clothinggiveaway to find current contests hosted by different companies. Woman’s World is a popular sweepstakes website that has given out more than $1 million in prizes since 2013. They regularly host giveaways for various items and offer gift cards ranging from $50 to $100 to retailers like Kohl’s, Macy’s, and Sephora.
When signing up for clothing giveaways, remember that legitimate giveaways will likely only ask for your email address and name. You shouldn’t share specific financial details or pay a fee to enter.
3. Sell or trade your unwanted clothes
Many clothing stores allow you to sell gently used clothes in exchange for store credit. The store credit can then be used to purchase new clothing items. This is a great way to get rid of any old clothes you no longer wear while getting new clothes for free.
Some consignment stores, like Plato’s Closet, offer instant cash upfront for your clothes, while others, like Buffalo Exchange, offer a unique exchange program for clothes. This is not an exhaustive list, but in addition to Plato’s Closet, these stores may also buy back your gently-used clothing:
4. Start a fashion blog
Starting a fashion blog is an excellent opportunity to collaborate with fashion brands and receive some new clothes for free. Many fashion companies seek collaborations with fashion bloggers to promote their clothes.
Free clothes are a standard feature of brand collaborations. To get started, you’ll need to set up your own self-hosted blog and narrow down your target audience:
- Do you want to feature high-end clothing?
- Best thrift store finds?
- Or are you into vintage clothing?
You can also focus on building a lifestyle brand based on your personal situation, whether you’re a busy professional, a work from home mom, or a student exploring their own personal sense of style. Start building an email list to better engage with your audience. Then, you can join different affiliate networks and outreach agencies that hire bloggers to write about their products. Or, pitch brands you love to see if they’d send you free clothing to review.
5. Become an influencer
Becoming an influencer can be a lucrative opportunity that offers many benefits, including free clothing from brands. Fashion brands want influencers who can communicate the benefits of their fashion line to their followers. Build a loyal following on social media and reach out to brands for collaborations that provide free clothing or will pay you to share about their company.
This post shows you how to start earning paid sponsorships as an influencer. Influencer Marketing Hub is another excellent resource that can show you how to set up and optimize your social media profiles, engage with your audience, and let brands know you’re available for partnerships.
6. Cash in your loyalty rewards and credit card points
Subscribing to a good rewards program that offers points for purchases is an excellent way to accumulate rewards over time. You can redeem those points for free clothing from the rewards portal. Many fashion stores also offer loyalty rewards, and if you are a loyal customer, you can use those rewards for free clothes.
Nordstrom’s loyalty program, Nordy Club, allows you to earn one point per every dollar spent; 1,000 points is equivalent to $10 to spend in the store. Kohl’s is another popular retailer that is known for its loyalty rewards program and Kohl’s cash rewards. You need to make a purchase first to earn Kohl’s cash, but it’s a voucher that can be added to your future purchases as a cash credit.
Don’t forget about rewards credit cards that pay cashback on your everyday purchases. If you already have a credit card that rewards via points or cash back, you can use those rewards to purchase new clothes. Some cards have a rewards portal where you can shop and order items directly from your cardholder’s website at a discount as well.
7. Visit a community clothes closet
Local clothing closets give away clothes to people in need. Many people donate their old clothes, which are in good condition, to these organizations. Check your local clothing closets, and you might be able to get clothes for free.
Start with churches and charitable organizations that take clothing donations. Check online for a phone number or email address so you can ask which days they allow people to come in and pick out clothes. There may be a specific day of the week when people can come and grab what they like up to the designated item limit.
Other free clothing programs also offer household items. Some may have more rules and require that you demonstrate financial hardship or need before visiting a clothes closet. Ask ahead to see if you need to bring proof of residency, proof of ID, or check stubs since these places may be geared toward people with limited incomes.
Also, realize that it’s probably not the best idea to stop by a free clothes closet without confirming the hours of operation. If you stop by on a Tuesday, but the store is only open on Wednesday and Thursday each week, there may not be anyone there to assist you.
8. Attend or host a clothing swap party
Clothing swaps are also a great way to trade clothes with friends. Some community organizations host clothing swaps and drives throughout the year to help people get new clothes, a pair of shoes, or a warm coat at no cost.
If you can’t find any clothing swaps in your area, you can always host your own. Consider hosting at a park shelter or the library, or simply set up some tables in your driveway. Promote the clothing swap on social media and in local Facebook groups. Invite family and friends to participate and spread the word.
You can also post flyers around town or preview the clothes you want to swap with your online event details to gain interest.
When organized well, clothing swaps can be a great way to declutter and get new clothing without spending a dime.
9. Get free clothes online from a buy nothing group
On platforms like Facebook and Nextdoor, there are local groups where individuals can post items they no longer need, and others can score them for free. These community-based groups allow people to give their items to people who need and want them. Many of these groups allow users to make need-based requests, making it an excellent place to get free apparel. Just be sure to read the rules of engagement before jumping in. You can easily find these groups online or check out the nonprofit organization, the BuyNothing Project.
Another place to search for free clothing is Facebook Marketplace. While Facebook Marketplace is generally used to sell items, there are lots of people who post items that they are giving away for free. Just select the correct filters for your location and the category of the item, and add the keyword “free” to the search bar to pull up the free listings.
10. Sign up for product testing opportunities
One fun way to get name-brand clothes for free is through product testing gigs. There are basically three different ways to get started, and I explain each of them below.
There are many name-brand companies like New Balance, Adidas, and Nike that use product testers to give honest feedback on their products, like running shoes. While these programs are legit, you generally test unreleased products for durability and have to send them back to the company for inspection. Some companies may offer participants remuneration for their participation, but the terms are not totally clear when reading them.
Other companies like Influenster, Survey Junkie, Toluna, and User Interviews have product testing gigs where you’ll get free products and sometimes even payment, but they may not have many testing opportunities for clothing.
The third way to get free clothing to review is by becoming a TikTok shop affiliate, an Amazon influencer, or a Flip creator. If you decide to go this route, take some time to determine your niche, sign up for an account, and start creating content. Each platform has its own terms and qualifications to get started, but all three let you connect with brands who will give you free clothes or products to create review videos. If your videos perform well, you can also make extra money as an affiliate, which is a win-win!
11. Contact Dress for Success
If you have a job interview coming up and need a professional-looking outfit to wear, check out the nonprofit organization Dress for Success. Once an interview is scheduled, make an appointment with your local chapter, and they will give you an interview outfit and accessories to wear. Women can also return another time to get the clothing they’ll need to start working.
Get free clothing summary
Getting free clothing from companies is possible, but it requires a little effort. Joining rewards and loyalty programs is a good start, but you may have to spend a little money to earn points. Or, you can slowly start building a blog or social media following to partner with brands for freebies.
Remember to reach out to local organizations and groups in your area if you are struggling financially and need clothing items fast. The bottom line is that clothing doesn’t have to take up a huge chunk of your budget, and there are plenty of options to trade, borrow, or win new clothing to add to your closet.
Wondering what else you can get for free? Check out this post and find out how you can get free Amazon gift cards!
Originally published February 12, 2024. Content updated February 2025.