Selling fleeces in winter: timing, sorting, prep and Vinted listings

A The North Face Denali, a Columbia half-zip, a Carhartt sherpa: with the first cold spell, branded fleeces come back into buyers' searches, and they stay there until February. They are also among the easiest winter pieces to prepare: machine washable, quick to dry, no ironing, and around half a kilo each. To sell them at the right price, it all comes down to timing, sorting and the listing. Here is the method, from receiving your stock to the end of the season.

Why fleece resells well in winter

Invented in the late 1970s in Massachusetts, fleece is a brushed polyester fabric: light, warm, quick to dry and machine washable. Outdoor brands adopted it first, streetwear followed. For a reseller, those qualities turn into concrete selling points:

• A long season: demand starts in late August, settles in with the first cold spells, peaks from October to December and stays active until February.
• A piece that reads on screen: the embroidered logo, the zip, the colourway and the fabric are visible at a glance.
• Light prep: on a Grade A piece, a 30 °C wash and a quick brush are enough, with no ironing.
• A light parcel: at around 500 g, it ships in a small parcel, which keeps the total price reasonable for the buyer.
• Several kinds of buyers: outdoor (Columbia, Helly Hansen, Timberland, The North Face) for an everyday warm layer, sportswear (Nike, Adidas, Champion, Fila) for streetwear, workwear (Carhartt, Dickies) for a utility look, American casual (Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger) for a smarter style, and vintage fans for 90s pattern fleeces.

The fleece calendar

• August and September, stocking up: raw material is bought ahead of the season. A box or a bale takes several sessions of sorting, washing and photographing: allow a few weeks between delivery and having everything listed.
• October to December, the peak: this is when your whole stock should be online. Strong brands and technical models sell one at a time.
• January and February, the end of the season: demand holds, especially during cold snaps. Group the remaining pieces into small bundles and adjust your prices.
• March to August, the off-season: keep strong-brand pieces for next autumn. Washed, fully dry and stored without being squashed (sherpas on hangers), they lose nothing over a few months.

If you start in the middle of the season, go for a box: less sorting, faster listing, and you catch the peak. The same logic applies to jackets, covered in our guide to branded jacket bales.

Which fleeces to push

Silhouettes

• Full zip: the most versatile style, worn as a light jacket or under a coat.
• Half-zip and quarter-zip with a stand collar: close to a technical sweatshirt, widely worn in streetwear.
• Hooded: more casual, popular with younger buyers.
• Sherpa and teddy: long pile, very visible in photos, more fashion than outdoor.
• Two-fabric pieces: fleece combined with nylon, like The North Face Denali, the model that carries the most value for that brand.

The details that set the price

• The inner label: a technical reference (Polartec, or TKA and WindWall at The North Face) is worth highlighting in the listing.
• An embroidered logo rather than a printed one, well centred.
• Colours: colour-blocking and bold 90s and 2000s colours are sought after in vintage; neutral shades (black, grey, navy) are easy to place.
• Size: American sizes run larger than European ones. A piece marked L often fits larger than its European equivalent: measurements make the difference.

Pattern fleeces

Vintage pattern fleeces, the 90s "crazy fleeces", are a market of their own: colour-blocking, geometric or aztec-inspired motifs, multicoloured grounds. Often with no identified brand, they sell on the print: the bolder and more contrasted it is, the faster the piece goes, one at a time, to buyers looking for the pattern rather than the label. The boldest prints also find buyers out of season.

Sort before you wash

Don't wash anything before sorting: you would lose time on pieces that will end up in a bundle. On a fleece, sorting comes down to a few checks:

• The surface: pilling under the arms and on the sides, matted or flattened pile on sherpas.
• The zip: slider, pull tab, teeth that catch.
• The finishing: stretched elastic cuffs and hems, hood drawcord, pockets.
• Stains and heat marks: polyester keeps the mark of an iron or any heat source, and a shiny patch does not come out.

Then make three piles: Grade A, which resells after washing; Grade B, to repair (pilling to shave, a zip to free, a seam to fix) or to sell for less, with flaws shown; and the rest, to clear in low-priced bundles. In a TAGZ box, the Grade A share is around 80%. In a bale, sold as received, it is around 70%, an average that varies from one bale to the next. For what each grade means, read our guide Grade A, B, C: everything you need to know about vintage clothing quality.

Wash and restore without damage

• Washing: inside out, at 30 °C, on a gentle cycle, zips closed so they don't snag the pile. Never use fabric softener: it clogs the pile and causes pilling.
• Drying: air-dry, or tumble dry on low heat. Heat mats the fleece and flattens sherpa for good.
• No iron: polyester goes shiny or melts on contact. If a piece is creased, steam held at a distance is enough.
• Pilling: a fabric shaver, used flat and without pressing, removes it in a few minutes. It is often what moves a piece from Grade B to Grade A.
• Sherpa: once dry, a soft brush in one direction brings the pile back up.
• A sticking zip: rub the teeth with a pencil lead, then run the slider up and down a few times.
• Before the photo: a lint roller. Fleece attracts lint and pet hair.

Polyester releases microfibres in the wash: a washing bag designed for synthetics holds back part of them, with no difference to the result on the garment.

Photograph and write the listing

• Flat or on a hanger, zip closed then open, on a plain background and in daylight.
• Close-ups: the logo, the brand label, the fabric label and the pockets.
• Pattern fleeces: show the whole print, front-on and flat, with no fold cutting through the pattern, then a close-up of the most colourful part.
• Flat measurements: armpit to armpit, back length, sleeve length. With American sizing, they are what prevents returns.
• The title: brand, type and size: "Columbia full-zip fleece L", "Helly Hansen half-zip M", "Carhartt sherpa XL". Add "vintage" on pieces from the 90s and 2000s, and the model or fabric name when it is on the label (Denali, Polartec). For a pattern fleece, add the terms buyers in other countries type too: "vintage crazy pattern fleece L".
• The description: the real condition, with visible flaws shown in photos. A buyer who saw the pilling in the photo doesn't discover it on delivery.
• The parcel: choose the smallest size that fits. A folded fleece fits in a small parcel.

Set your prices and manage the end of the season

On our product pages we give indicative resale ranges: a Grade A branded fleece usually resells for between €15 and €45, more for the most sought-after models such as the Denali. These figures depend on the brand, the model, the condition and your market: adjust them with your own sales.

• One at a time: strong brands, technical models and branded sherpas.
• In small bundles: fleeces without a big brand and Grade B, in twos or threes, at a round price.
• Steadily: list a few pieces every day rather than your whole stock at once. Your shop keeps coming back in the newest listings.
• In February: gradually lower the price of the remaining pieces, offer bundles, and keep strong brands for next autumn.

Box or bale: which format for your fleece stock

• The box: selected pieces, around 80% Grade A, a capped share of Grade B. The right format to start the category or top up stock mid-season: box of 20 branded fleeces.
• The bale: 80 fleeces sold as received, unsorted and unwashed, around 70% Grade A on average: the lowest price per piece within the same category, in exchange for the sorting. With mixed brands, The North Face or vintage patterns.

All our winter fleeces, jackets and knitwear are gathered in the Q4 stock collection. If you are new to the category, start with a box: you see what sells for you, and at what price, before committing more cash.

Fleeces: frequently asked questions

When should I list my fleeces?

The first pieces from late August, and your whole stock online from October to December, when demand peaks. The season stays active until February.

Do I need to wash a fleece before reselling it?

Yes. Wash it inside out at 30 °C, without fabric softener, and let it air-dry. Washing is part of the prep, like sorting and photos.

How do I remove pilling from a fleece?

With a fabric shaver, used flat and without pressing. Then avoid fabric softener and hot washes, which bring it back.

Can you iron a fleece?

No. An iron makes polyester shiny or melts it. If the piece is creased, steam held at a distance is enough.

Fleece box or bale: which should I choose?

The box to start quickly with little sorting: around 80% Grade A. The bale for the lowest price per piece within the same category, if you have time to sort: around 70% Grade A on average.

Does an unbranded fleece resell?

Yes, when the pattern makes the difference. 90s vintage pattern fleeces sell on the print: show it in full in your photos and add "crazy fleece" to the title.

Can I choose the brands, patterns or sizes?

No. The brands mentioned are possible brands, and patterns and sizes are assorted according to each arrival.

Your fleece stock starts here: the box of 20 branded fleeces and the bales of 80 fleeces, mixed brands, The North Face or vintage patterns, shipped within 24/72 h from France.