The great wardrobe stocktake: Uber and Australian Red Cross urge Aussies to clear out their closets as 9 in 10 hold onto clothes they never wear

New research* commissioned by Uber reveals 9 in 10 Aussies (87%) admit to holding onto clothes they never wear, leaving wardrobes across the country packed with quality clothing waiting for its next chapter. Returning for its eighth year on Saturday, 17 October 2026, the Uber x Red Cross Clothing Drive is making it easier than ever to give those pre-loved clothes a second life and turn a wardrobe clear-out into community impact.

The new research reveals the scale of Australia’s wardrobe stockpile: a third (35%) admit to sitting on more than $500 worth of unworn clothing, climbing to over $1,000 for nearly 1 in 5 people (19%). And while almost half (44%) are keenly shopping for pre-loved clothing themselves, many are struggling to pass on what they no longer wear.

So, what’s stopping us from passing on the clothes already sitting in our wardrobes? For more than a third of Aussies (38%), good intentions are ending in donation limbo, with a bag of clothes sitting at home or in the car for a month or longer before it’s actually dropped off, while  one in five (20%) say they struggle to find the time to donate.

To help turn wardrobe admin into an instant feel-good win for Aussies, on Saturday 17 October 2026, between 10am and 4pm the annual Uber x Red Cross Clothing Drive serves up FREE Courier deliveries in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney, to pick up quality pre-loved clothes straight from doorsteps to Australian Red Cross.

This year’s research also uncovers Aussies’ quirky wardrobe habits and trends, from holding onto “just in case” outfits (37%), to the resurgence of cargo fashion (37%) and the 2010s ‘Tumblr’ indie style (18%). For those still holding onto clothes, colder weather layers dominate the items waiting for a second home, with jackets, jumpers and coats (43%) topping the list of clothes sitting unworn, followed closely by jeans (37%) and t-shirts (36%). 

To further encourage Aussies to embrace the feeling of letting go of their pre-loved clothes, global pop icon and this year’s campaign ambassador Melanie C - Sporty Spice herself - is opening up her personal archive and donating three memorable looks, including an iconic tracksuit, stage outfits and screen-worn pieces, to show Aussies that parting with quality clothes you love can actually feel pretty good.

Richard Wood, Head of Retail, Australian Red Cross said: ”Our Australian Red Cross Shops rely on community generosity to supply high-quality pre-loved clothing, and every item sold translated into funds for critical humanitarian responses across Australia and around the world. The annual Uber x Red Cross Clothing Drive makes it incredibly easy so we’re encouraging Australians to take stock of what’s in their wardrobes this weekend and donate clothing that’s clean, wearable and in good condition.

“We couldn’t run this program at scale without Uber. The logistics of getting thousands of bags of clothing from people’s homes to our donation centres is a huge logistical feat. By taking care of that journey, Uber makes it incredibly easy for Australians to give back and help fund our humanitarian programs.”

Emma Foley, Managing Director, Uber ANZ, said the annual clothing drive aims to turn good intentions into community impact.

“Aussies genuinely care about paying it forward, but we all lead busy lives and making a dedicated trip to drop off clothes can easily get delayed. We know that donating feels good, so each year we team up with Australian Red Cross to make it that little bit easier. By booking a free doorstep pick-up in the app, people can make room in their wardrobes, clear out their car boots and support an incredible cause, all at the same time.”

The annual drive builds on last year’s efforts where 125,000 kg of quality pre-loved clothing was collected in the Clothing Drive, generating an estimated 110,000 shop-quality items, enough to stock approx. five Australian Red Cross Shops for an entire year.

How to donate on Saturday 17 October:

Gather your pre-loved items into a bag or box, no heavier than 20 kg, so it can comfortably sit in the boot of a midsize car. Then:

1. Open the Uber or Uber Eats app
2. Scroll to the Red Cross Clothing Drive image, and tap
3. Read through instructions and hit ‘book now’ to reach the checkout screen
4. You should see ‘Red Cross Clothing Drive’ on screen, and the drop-off spot should be pre-selected for you.
5. If you’re in an eligible city, the Red Cross Clothing Drive promotion should automatically apply, so check that your Courier trip is showing as a $0 amount
6. Confirm!

If you have any issues or can’t see the tile? Head to the Uber App > Courier > type in ‘Red Cross Shop’ > Pick the first option shown > Confirm.

Keep an eye on the app and meet the delivery person at the door or kerbside for a seamless handoff. 

For more information on the Uber x Red Cross Clothing Drive, visit: Uber.com/redcross 

About the research:

*The research was conducted by PureProfile, among a nationally representative sample of 1,000 18+ respondents in Australia. The data was collected between 24.08.26 - 02.06.26.

Key findings of the research:

• 9 in 10 Aussies (87%) have unworn clothing sitting in their wardrobe, with more than 4 in 10 (40%) say more than a quarter of their wardrobe goes untouched.
• Only 1 in 8 (13%) respondents said they wear everything they own
• 1 in 5 Australians (19%) estimate they're sitting on more than $1,000 worth of clothes they never wear, and more than a third (35%) put the figure above $500
• More than a third of Aussies (38%) admit a bag of clothes for donation has sat at home or in the car for a month or longer before it's dropped off
• 1 in 5 Australians (20%) say they simply keep meaning to donate but never get around to it, the single biggest reason clothes pile up
• Nearly 4 in 10 (38%) point to emotional or value reasons as the explanation for why they hold onto clothing items: sentimental attachment, saving for a special occasion, or feeling the item was too expensive to let go of
• More than 2 in 5 Australians (40%) go op-shopping looking for a unique, one-of-a-kind piece or a designer/premium brand, and 1 in 5 (20%) love the hunt for vintage or retro finds
• More than 2 in 5 Australians (44%) already buy pre-loved clothing regularly or occasionally, while roughly 1 in 9 (10.8%) like the idea but don't know where to start
• Jackets, jumpers and coats top the list of sitting unworn, kept by more than 2 in 5 Australians (43%), closely followed by jeans (37%) and t-shirts (36%)
• Overall, Australian’s are sitting on an estimated $15 billion worth of unworn clothes***

***The research revealed Australians estimate they have an average of $719 worth of unworn clothing in their wardrobe. Multiplied by the adult Australian population of 21 million (sources here and here), this equates to a potential of over $15 billion worth of unworn clothing in the nation’s wardrobes.