Checked
Every piece is inspected before listing. Visible flaws are noted where possible.
Northern Outfitters
Northern Outfitters
Condition Guide
How we grade every item.
Every item is checked, graded and described clearly before listing. Vintage and pre-owned clothing can show wear. This guide explains how we assess each piece before it goes online.
Graded
We use condition grades from A to E to make each listing easier to understand.
Photographed
Photos form part of the condition description. Please review them before purchase.
Which grading system applies?
Northern Outfitters uses two condition systems. Most products are assessed under Standard Pre-Owned Condition. French workwear and true vintage workwear are assessed separately because fading, repairs, marks and wear can be part of the appeal.
Standard Pre-Owned Condition
Used for most pieces, including Porter, The North Face Purple Label, Acne Studios, nanamica, Engineered Garments, adidas, BAPE, general vintage and branded pre-owned stock.
Vintage Workwear Condition
Used for French workwear, chore jackets, work shirts and true workwear pieces where age, fading, repairs, paint marks and patina may be expected when clearly shown or described.
For most products
Standard Pre-Owned Condition
This grading applies to most pre-owned, branded resale and general vintage pieces. Grade B is common for strong branded stock. Grade A is used only when an item genuinely presents as excellent.
A Excellent / Near New Barely worn, clean and highly presentable.
What to look for
Item looks barely worn. Shape is intact. Colour is clean. Hardware works properly. Graphics or embroidery are crisp.
Acceptable wear
Very minor signs of handling only. Tiny signs of wear only visible on close inspection.
Not acceptable
Stains, holes, odour, missing buttons, broken zips, obvious fading, collar grime, underarm marks, heavy pilling or visible repairs.
How we use it
Grade A is rare. We use it only when we would confidently describe the item as excellent.
B Very Good Pre-Owned Clean, strong and highly wearable.
What to look for
Light signs of normal use. Still presents very well. No major flaws.
Acceptable wear
Light fading, minor softening, very light pilling, tiny faint marks, minor hardware wear or light graphic cracking on vintage pieces.
Not acceptable
Visible stains, holes, tears, missing buttons, broken hardware, heavy collar or cuff wear, strong odour or major print damage.
How we use it
This is the default grade for strong branded stock where the buyer can tell it is pre-owned but there are no meaningful flaws.
C Good Vintage / Good Pre-Owned Clearly worn but still attractive and wearable.
What to look for
Visible wear or small flaws, but the item still presents well and remains fully wearable.
Acceptable wear
Noticeable fading, moderate pilling, small marks, light staining, collar or cuff wear, small pinholes, minor fraying, one missing non-critical button, light repairs or visible graphic cracking.
Not acceptable
Large holes, major stains, broken zips, multiple missing buttons, strong odour, severe thinning or major seam damage.
How we use it
Used for pre-owned or general vintage pieces where visible wear is present but the item remains wearable and clearly described.
D Worn / Distressed Heavily worn but still wearable.
What to look for
Obvious wear and visible flaws. The item still has value because of brand, rarity, design, age or character.
Acceptable wear
Heavy fading, heavy pilling, multiple marks, small holes, fraying, old repairs, missing buttons, distressed graphics, visible collar or cuff damage, paint, rust or workwear marks.
Not acceptable
Unwearable damage, major structural failure, broken zips that prevent use, severe odour, mildew, breakdown or major tears.
How we use it
Used when the item is clearly flawed but still cool, wearable and worth selling.
E Project / Repair / As-Is Major issues are present.
What to look for
The item may need repair, deep cleaning or restoration before normal wear.
Acceptable wear
Major holes, large stains, broken zips, multiple missing buttons, open seams, lining damage, crotch blowout, delamination, mildew or smoke smell, major print deterioration.
Not acceptable
This is the lowest grade. Items are sold as-is when listed in this condition.
How we use it
Only listed when the item has enough brand, rarity or design value to justify selling as-is.
Vintage workwear is different
Workwear is graded differently from general vintage clothing. Fading, repairs, paint marks and worn areas are all part of the appeal and history of the clothing. We separate normal workwear character from damage that affects wearability.
For French workwear and vintage workwear
Vintage Workwear Condition
Grade C is common and often still very desirable for true workwear. Major flaws will be photographed and described where possible.
A Excellent Vintage Workwear Rare for true workwear.
What it means
Strong material, clean colour, minimal wear and no structural issues.
Acceptable wear
Very light fading, minor signs of age and gentle softening.
Not acceptable
Holes, stains, missing buttons, seam damage, heavy fading, major repairs or strong odour.
Listing language
Condition: Grade A. Excellent vintage workwear condition. Minimal signs of age or wear. No major flaws noted.
B Very Good Vintage Workwear Clean, wearable and strong.
What it means
Clearly vintage but presents very well. Strong enough for normal wear.
Acceptable wear
Natural fading, light marks, minor surface wear, softening and small signs of age.
Not acceptable
Large stains, holes, missing buttons, major repairs, weak seams or heavy thinning.
Listing language
Condition: Grade B. Very good vintage workwear condition with natural fading and light wear throughout. No major structural flaws noted.
C Good Vintage Workwear Visible wear, still visually strong.
What it means
The most common grade for true workwear. Visible wear, but still wearable and visually strong.
Acceptable wear
Fading, patina, small marks, paint marks, light staining, minor fraying, small repairs and one missing or replaced button.
Not acceptable
Large holes, major seam splits, heavy staining that dominates the piece, bad odour or breakdown.
Listing language
Condition: Grade C. Good vintage workwear condition with visible wear, fading and character throughout. Flaws are shown in photos and reflected in the price.
D Worn / Distressed Workwear Heavily worn but still wearable.
What it means
Distressing is part of the look. The piece is visibly aged but still wearable.
Acceptable wear
Heavy fading, multiple marks, paint or rust marks, repairs, fraying, small holes, mismatched buttons and patching.
Not acceptable
Unwearable damage, major open seams, large holes, rotten areas, broken structure or strong odour.
Listing language
Condition: Grade D. Worn vintage workwear condition with heavy fading, marks and distressing throughout. Structurally wearable but visibly aged. Please review photos carefully.
E Project / Repair Workwear Needs repair or restoration.
What it means
Significant flaws are present. The item is sold as-is.
Acceptable wear
Large holes, major repairs needed, multiple missing buttons, open seams, damaged areas or heavy staining.
Not acceptable
This is the lowest workwear grade. Any major issues should be expected and reviewed before purchase.
Listing language
Condition: Grade E. Project or repair vintage workwear condition. Significant flaws present. Sold as-is.
Condition Photos
Where useful, close-up detail images are included in the Condition Photos section on the product page. These images help show marks, wear, repairs or other details that may not be clear from the main gallery.
Condition Photos are used for transparency. They do not always mean an item is poor condition.
What to check
Review the main gallery, condition grade, item notes, measurements and any Condition Photos before ordering. Together, these form the product description.
Before purchase
Each listing includes a condition grade, photos, item notes and flat measurements. Please check all photos, condition notes and measurements before purchase. If you have a question about an item, contact us before ordering.
Check the latest listings
Every product page includes condition notes and measurements.