Can you sell a denim shirt that is damaged?
Yes. Damaged stock has its own buyers: people who repair and restore, people who want the material rather than the object, and people who want a cheaper one and do not mind a flaw. Nobody should be surprised when it arrives.
The damage buyers look for on denim shirts
These are the flaws that move a denim shirt down the grades, and the ones a buyer will check first:
- Fraying at the collar points and cuffs
- Replaced buttons or snaps
- Artificial distressing
- Thin, lightweight modern chambray sold as denim
Grading it honestly
Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £4 to £14. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £2 to £8. Grades are seller-declared and nobody inspects them for you, so grading up does not raise what you get — it produces a buyer who arrives expecting something else. All five grades explained.
Working out what you actually have
Establish the flaw properly rather than guessing at it:
- Check the side seam or placket for a selvedge line
- Inspect the collar points and cuffs
- Photograph the buttons or snaps close up
Photographing the flaw
Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:
- The shirt flat, front, whole, in daylight
- The back and the yoke, where fading shows most
- The collar points and cuffs
- The label with brand and size, plus any fray, hole or repair
What to state in the listing
Alongside the flaw itself, buyers of damaged denim shirts want these confirmed:
- Chest and length measured flat, plus label size
- Wash depth — light, mid, dark or black
- Whether the fastenings are buttons or press studs
- Fabric weight and whether it has any stretch
Brand, wash and size: “Levi’s Denim Shirt, Light Wash, Size M, Western Snaps”. Wash depth is a real search and photographs misrepresent denim colour badly, so state it. Western press studs versus plain buttons is a genuine style distinction.
What buyers will ask
Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:
Shoot in daylight and describe it in words as well. Screens render denim inconsistently and colour is the most common source of disappointment.
Check the collar points and elbows and photograph any thinning. Buyers accept honest wear on denim readily; they resent finding it.
Say which. A heavy shirt-jacket weight and a soft lightweight shirt suit completely different buyers.
Is it worth repairing first?
Only where it is cheap and visibly well done — a clumsy repair costs more than the flaw it hides. What lifts the price:
- Selvedge denim visible at the placket or side seam
- Genuine vintage with period snaps or buttons
- Natural fading following real wear
- Recognised denim labels
If the work would cost more than the gap between £8 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is damaged and let the buyer decide.
When to list it
Steady year round with a lift in spring and autumn. Recognised denim brands sell within a fortnight.
Getting it to the buyer
Light and cheap to post. Fold along the seams and it arrives ready to wear with minimal creasing.
WishThrift does not process payments, arrange delivery or hold funds. Confirm the money has cleared before the item leaves your hands, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed.
Ready to list it? Free to list, no commission, and neither side pays a buyer-protection fee — create a free account, or read the full denim shirt selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sell a damaged denim shirt?
Yes. A damaged denim shirt typically is worth £2 to £8 against £8 to £32 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Fraying at the collar points and cuffs
Is it worth repairing first?
Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is selvedge denim visible at the placket or side seam — a repair that draws attention to the flaw can leave you worse off.
How should I describe the damage?
Precisely, with a photograph of the flaw itself. Shoot in daylight and describe it in words as well. Screens render denim inconsistently and colour is the most common source of disappointment. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.
See also: what denim shirt is worth by condition · how to sell denim shirt · condition grades explained · all broken & damaged guides · all selling guides.