Let me start with the honest answer, because it's more useful than marketing talk: yes, a lot of secondhand clothing is dirty.
Anyone who's ever dug through a charity shop bin or received something from a marketplace seller knows it. That musty smell. Stains that didn't show up in the photo. A collar that's clearly never been washed. That's a real experience, and it's exactly why most people avoid secondhand altogether.
It's also exactly why Hazendonk Vintage exists. I didn't start this because secondhand was great — I started it because it was so badly handled.
The problem: nobody does the work in between
On most secondhand platforms, someone buys clothing, takes a photo of it, and puts it online. Done. Everything that should happen in between — checking, cleaning, measuring — simply doesn't, because it costs time and money.
The result gets passed on to you: you get to hope it's genuine, you get to wash it, and you find out the size doesn't fit.
What actually happens to every garment we sell
Every piece we sell goes through the same seven steps. No exceptions, not even for a twenty-euro T-shirt.
1. Authentication
Before anything else happens, we check whether it's genuine. We work with LegitApp, one of the world's leading authentication platforms, and I personally assess every piece myself on top of that: labels, stitching, hardware, fabric and production codes against the correct era. If a piece doesn't pass, it doesn't go into the shop. That's not a promise — it's just how the process works.
2. Professional cleaning
Everything is professionally cleaned. Not a quick spin in a home washing machine, but the treatment appropriate to the material — wool, cotton, nylon, wax and leather all need something different. This is the step where that secondhand smell disappears, and that smell is the biggest barrier for most people.
3. Steaming
After cleaning, every piece is steamed. Crease-free, in shape, ready to wear. When you open your package, there's nothing crumpled inside.
4. Individual photography
Every piece is photographed individually — no stock photos, no "similar item". You see exactly the piece you'll receive, including any signs of wear. We don't hide those: with vintage, they come with the territory, and you should see them beforehand.
5. Exact measurements
We measure every garment ourselves. That matters more than people think, because vintage sizing rarely matches modern sizing. A 90s vintage L often wears like a modern XL. Ordering on centimetres instead of a size tag means you're comparing against something already in your wardrobe — and that eliminates most returns.
6. On-model photography
Where possible, we also photograph on a model, so you can see how the fit actually falls rather than how it lies flat on a table.
7. Careful packaging and shipping
Packed neatly and out the door. Order before 15:00, and it's on your doorstep the next day.
"But doesn't that make it more expensive?"
True — slightly more than the cheapest listing on a marketplace. But still up to 80% below retail — with the certainty that it's genuine, clean and fits.
And if it doesn't work out: 30-day returns on everything, no hassle. That removes the third barrier. Dirty, fake, or hassle — those were the three reasons not to buy secondhand. Once all three are gone, there's really no good argument left for paying full price new.
Have a look around: designer, workwear, outdoor, or the full collection.
Frequently asked questions
Is all the clothing actually washed?
Yes, every piece is professionally cleaned and steamed before it goes live — even the cheaper items.
Doesn't vintage clothing always smell a bit?
Untreated vintage often does. Not after professional cleaning — that's exactly why we don't skip that step.
What if there's still a stain or flaw?
Any signs of wear are photographed and described beforehand. See something you didn't expect? Return it within 30 days.
Why does it cost more than on Vinted?
Because authentication, cleaning, measuring and photography take time. You're paying for the work that doesn't get done there.