The Truth Behind Clothing Returns

Do you actually know what happens when you return clothes? We’re here to discuss it because the reality is shocking.

The truth about clothing returns isn’t pretty, and most people have no idea.

If you’ve ever shopped online, you know the drill: Click. Add to cart. Try it on at home. Return what doesn’t fit. Easy, right? Not exactly.

Globally, around one in five clothing items bought online gets returned. And while that feels like a normal part of shopping, it comes at a real cost, not just for brands, but for the planet. We like to think those returns are resold. Maybe they get steamed, re-tagged, and sent back out. But the reality?

According to the European Environmental Agency, between 22% and 43% of returned clothing ends up in landfill or is incinerated. 

Yes, even the brand new ones.

Why? Because reverse logistics is rarely a priority. For most brands, especially in fast fashion, it’s cheaper to throw something out than to inspect, repackage, and restock it. If a return takes 30 days to reach a sorting facility, it’s already off-trend or no longer on the site. Even if timing wasn’t an issue, there’s the reality that most people don’t want to pay full price for something that’s already been worn.

And here’s the kicker, most returns aren’t faulty. They just don’t fit.

Sizing is all over the place. A size 12 in one brand might be a 16 in another, or a completely different shape altogether. For busy women the guesswork is exhausting. 

At Know My Fit, we’re building a better way to shop. You input your measurements, and we show you only the clothes that are likely to fit. No more endless scrolling. No more returns roulette. It’s not perfect yet, but we believe that with better tools and better information, women could waste less time, less money, and send far fewer clothes to landfill.

Shopping shouldn’t feel like a gamble. And your clothes shouldn’t end up in the bin.

Most people don’t realise what actually happens when something is returned, did you?