End of The Line | Unwanted Clothing
November 21, 2018
There are lots of reasons we decide to get rid of the clothes we own. How many of us have thrown out clothes due to one (or all!) of the following?
- It no longer fits.
- It’s no longer in fashion.
- It was purchased on a whim (on sale!) and hasn’t lived up to expectations.
- Someone (colleague or friend) has the exact same item.
- It was purchased for a once-off wear (maybe to attend a wedding).
- We feel pressure to not wear the same clothing too many times, which may see us looking frugal or boring.
- It’s simply time for a change.
The great thing is that with any of these reasons, there’s nothing actually wrong with the clothes themselves. In End of the Line – The Consequences, we talked about what happens to unwanted clothing and how most of it ends up in landfill. However, with a little forethought (and research), we can stop our once-loved clothing going straight to landfill – and perhaps even benefit someone else.
Donate it
It seems like an easy (and charitable) solution to simply bag up old clothing and drive it to the most convenient Vinnie’s or Salvo’s donation bin.
Unfortunately, it’s more complicated than that.
The Salvo’s waste collection and disposal bill is between $5-6 million (not just clothing). The quality of donated clothing is declining, with much of it simply unable to be resold. Estimates gauge that only 15% of clothing donated to charities is actually resold, with the rest going to landfill, sold as rags or sent overseas.
So, while donating clothing is in theory a sound practice, unless the clothing is good quality, you may be doing more harm than good. While it’s great to lend a hand to those less fortunate, charities simply can’t resell the unsellable. Ask yourself: “Would I buy this in a store?” and “Would I give this to my best friend?”.
Gift it
Why not simply re home your unwanted clothes yourself? Save some money and organise to regularly swap clothing with friends. This is also a great way to indulge ourselves in the desire for something new, without contributing to fast fashion.
Sell it
Particularly if you’ve originally made the decision to buy something high-quality, selling the excesses of your wardrobe had never been easier! There are several options online – from Facebook and EBay through to specialised sites and apps like Tradesy, The RealReal or Vestiare Collective just for second-hand clothes. You can also look up your nearest second-hand storefront and pop by.
Sometimes though, that favourite t-shirt has well and truly had it. Thankfully, there are also options that are environmentally conscious for items that have reached the end of their lifespan. Make sure you’ve subscribed to the Twill & Tee mailing list, so you don’t miss the next installment.
References:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-28/the-price-of-fast-fashion-rivers-turn-blue-tonnes-in-landfill/8389156
https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/sustainable-style-what-happens-to-the-clothes-you-donate-to-opshops-20170328-gv8hgl.html
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