Where does it all go?
If you've started the new year with a wardrobe purge, then you might be wondering 'where do my donated clothes go?'
We unravel the journey of second-hand clothing, from thrift stores to overseas markets, and reveal the impact of overproduction on the donation system.
Donating clothing feels like the responsible thing to do, but the reality is more complex than we might imagine. Here’s a look at what happens after you drop off your donations:
- Thrift Store Selection: Only a fraction of donated clothing ends up on the racks of local thrift stores. These pieces are carefully sorted, and items deemed sellable are displayed for a second chance at life. However, what happens to the rest?
- The Secondary Market: Unsold clothing often gets bundled and sold to textile recyclers or shipped overseas. While this can provide affordable options in other countries, it’s not without consequences. Many local markets are overwhelmed by the influx of cheap second-hand clothing, disrupting traditional industries and economies. The recent devastation of the Kantamanto market sheds a light on this complex relationship where secondhand clothing plays a crucial role in local economies, but only if the clothing is of good enough quality to resell.
- Recycling Challenges: Damaged or unsellable items face another fate. While some textiles are repurposed into rags or insulation, many end up in landfills due to the limitations of current recycling technologies. Organisations such as Fashion for Good are looking to support innovators creating solutions to recycling textiles into new fibres, but this solution is not a large-scale solution currently. Textiles can take decades or even centuries to decompose, contributing to environmental degradation.
- Overproduction’s Role: The cycle of overproduction in the fashion industry exacerbates these issues. The abundance of cheap, disposable clothing means more donations than systems can handle, creating a bottleneck in the second-hand pipeline.
So, what can we do? Awareness is the first step. Before donating, consider whether an item is truly reusable. If so, ask around your network if it would be of use to anyone else before shipping it away. For those beyond wear, look for specialised recycling programs or get creative with upcycling projects. If they are jeans or tees you can donate them to Etta Studio for 10% off your next order. Reducing consumption and valuing what we already own are critical to breaking this cycle.
By understanding the journey of donated clothing, we can make more informed and intentional choices, ensuring that our actions align with our values for a more sustainable future.
Love Etta x