Seven archive-style shapes, from drape to leather
Archive rows are judged by silhouette and surface. The table lists the types you meet most, with example price spans and the planning weights from our assumptions list, which are estimates, not measurements. CNY converts at LitBuy's displayed rate of ¥1 ≈ €0.158 (27 Oct 2026), above typical bank rates. "Alone" is the hypothetical mid-price item shipped by itself to Germany on LIT-Economy-DHL-DE, including LitBuy's ¥40 EU tariff prepayment.
| Shape | Example price (¥) | Est. weight | Alone, mid price | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leather biker or bomber | 250–700 | 1.20 kg | ¥380: €105.13 | Leather or PU, lining, zips |
| Washed black hoodie | 90–200 | 0.75 kg | ¥130: €50.96 | Even wash, seam fade |
| Distressed straight jeans | 100–240 | 0.70 kg | ¥150: €54.12 | Rip placement, stretch |
| Draped long-sleeve top | 40–110 | 0.25 kg | ¥60: €32.56 | Fabric fall, neckline |
| Parachute or cargo trousers | 80–180 | 0.60 kg | ¥110: €47.80 | Waist drawcord, hem |
| Asymmetric knit | 100–250 | 0.75 kg | ¥160: €55.70 | Yarn, hem balance |
| Chunky boots | 180–400 | 1.30 kg (boxed) | ¥250: €84.59 | Sole height, insole length |
Leather, boots and heavy knits move the parcel to the 2 kg band; tops and trousers fill it.
Heavy rows: a leather jacket and a hoodie in one parcel
LitBuy's estimator on 27 October 2026 quoted €45.09 all-in for 2,000 g on LIT-Economy-DHL-DE (10–15 working days). A jacket and a hoodie, at an estimated 1.20 kg and 0.75 kg, total 1.95 kg and fit that band.
¥380 jacket and ¥130 hoodie to Germany
Jacket alone: ¥380 × 0.158 + €45.09 (2,000 g)€105.13
Hoodie alone: ¥130 × 0.158 + €30.42 (1,000 g)€50.96
Two parcels, added up€156.09
Items together: ¥510 × 0.158€80.58
One parcel, est. 1.95 kg: 2,000 g band all-in€45.09
Total, one shared parcel€125.67
Sharing saves €30.42, the cost of the second parcel's shipping. On 27 Oct, LitBuy's 2,000 g price was £28.38 on FF-Royalmail-GB-1 and $72.41 on ZF-GOFO-US-1; the US items would be ¥510 × 0.177 = $90.27, for $162.68 in total. The jacket's real packed weight may differ, so a rehearsal parcel (see the combine-parcels guide) helps near a band edge. For the fee side in your own basket, use the landed price calculator.
One heavy piece and one mid-weight piece fit the 2 kg band at €125.67.
Reading surface words: wash, leather, drape and distressing
Four words decide an archive row. "Washed" means the dye or fabric was treated after sewing, so fading should look uneven and soft; ask for photos at the seams. "Leather" can mean genuine leather or a coated synthetic (often listed as PU); the description and the price tell you which, and the inside lining and edge finish confirm it. "Drape" is a property of fabric weight and weave: a long-sleeve in thin viscose or modal falls in folds, a stiff cotton does not. "Distressed" means intentional rips and frays, whose placement you should see in a photo, because it varies from piece to piece.
- Leather: ask for the edge of a cuff or hem and for the lining.
- Wash: ask for a daylight shot of the back and the side seams.
- Drape: ask the fabric weight in grams, if the seller lists it.
- Distressing: ask for a close-up of every rip, then keep that photo to compare with QC.
Judge archive rows by close-ups of the surface, not by the hero photo.
Silhouette and size: oversized without guessing
Oversized cuts hide a size error well, which is why the numbers matter. Take shoulder width, chest width and total length in cm from the seller's chart, and compare them with the same measures on a piece you own and like. If the cut is meant to drop at the shoulder, expect the seam to sit below your shoulder bone by several centimetres; if it does not, go one size down. The Chinese size chart guide and the size converter explain the cm columns, and jeans and hoodies have their own measuring notes.
Compare cm on the chart with a garment you own, not the letter on the tag.
QC photos for textured and dark pieces
LitBuy checks quantity, colour, size and visible damage, with usually three to six routine photos. Colour difference and wear effect are outside its checks. Dark and textured clothes hide flaws, so use the ¥1 extras with intent. Footwear is the one case for the ¥7 video, which suits boots.
- Ask for the item in daylight or a bright window, not under warehouse light.
- Ask for the lining and the inside seams.
- Ask for each distressing detail and each zip.
- For boots, ask for the sole and the ¥7 video.
The QC photo guide explains the routine set and the QC finder shows where to look for real photos first.
Light the dark piece before you judge it, then keep the photos.
Where archive tabs come from, and rows to pair
Archive tabs usually sit on Reddit-shared sheets and TikTok creator pages. Pair a leather piece with winter jackets if you need a warmer layer, or with light add-ons to fill a gap in the band. No LitBuy account? The WhatsApp QR on the contact page takes a row and gives one delivered price, with photos before dispatch. The LitBuy spreadsheet library has the other categories.
Pair one heavy archive piece with light rows and keep the parcel under 2 kg.
FAQ
What does archive mean on a LitBuy spreadsheet?
It is a style tag for pieces with unusual shapes and finishes: oversized or twisted cuts, long drape, washed black dye, rips and frays, and leather. It is not a quality grade or a brand reference. Judge each row by the fabric description, the measurements in centimetres, close-up photos of the surface, and the QC photos.
How can I tell washed black from a faded cheap dye?
Look for a description of the wash method, such as garment-dyed or enzyme-washed, and for close-up photos in daylight. Real washing gives uneven fading at seams and folds. LitBuy's checks cover colour and visible damage but not colour difference, so ask for a daylight QC photo at ¥1 and compare it with the listing.
Is a leather jacket shipped on a normal line?
LitBuy's restriction wording on 27 October 2026 does not name leather clothing. Our planning weight for any jacket is an estimated 1.20 kg, which on LIT-Economy-DHL-DE falls in the 2,000 g band at €45.09 all-in to Germany. If the row says real leather, ask support to confirm the line and the declared description.
Do distressed pieces count as damaged at QC?
Intentional rips and fraying are part of the item, but LitBuy's quality check looks at visible damage, so tell support what you expect before the photos are taken. Ask the seller to describe the distressing pattern and to send a photo of it. Compare the QC photo with that and with the listing, then decide before dispatch.
Which size should I take in oversized archive cuts?
Take your usual size if the cut is meant to be loose, and check the shoulder drop, chest width and length in centimetres on the seller's chart. A boxy cut sized up can look shapeless. Measure a garment you own with a similar fit, lay it flat, and compare numbers rather than letters on the label.
How many heavy pieces fit in one parcel?
Two pieces at an estimated 1.20 kg and 0.75 kg total 1.95 kg, just under the 2,000 g band, which cost €45.09 all-in to Germany on 27 October 2026. A third piece usually lifts the parcel above 2 kg, where LitBuy's estimator, not our table, gives the price. Weigh the parcel with a rehearsal if you are near a band edge.