Downside of Donating Clothes

Clothing donation is generally thought of as a good thing! Whether it’s because of seasonal changes, annual cleanings, or maybe you’ve just discovered Marie Kondo and have been inspired by her minimalistic mindset, there’s no denying that we’ve all experienced the bulk-closet clean-out.

The second-hand apparel market was worth $24 billion in 2018 in the U.S. according to ThredUP, so it’s a no-brainer, right? You’re not using that shirt anymore. It’s only lightly worn. Somebody else will definitely rewear it; so you pack it up and drop it off at your local charity shop. Now it’s been cleared out and you feel great about decluttering your closet, but have you ever given a second thought as to where that shirt ends up?

Here are a few ways that your donated clothes might not be doing as much good as you think they are and some tips to consider before your next closet clear-out!

Donated Clothes = Discarded Clothes?!

Because of fast fashion and the large quantities of clothes that we’re producing, the supply of donated used clothing has begun to far outweigh the demand.

Did you know that only about 20% of clothing donations* sent to charities are actually resold at those shops? The rest of those clothes end up being shipped off to developing nations, recycled into other consumer goods (think rags or home insulation), or even dumped in landfills. We know that textile waste accounts for approximately 5% of all landfill space and it’s been said that one garbage truck of clothing & textiles being landfilled or burned every second.

How much of that is consisted of your thoughtfully donated clothes?

Imported Clothes Impacting Economic Opportunity?!

As previously mentioned, a large amount of our donated clothes are actually being exported to developing nations. These garments often get resold in local second-hand markets and those that don’t sell are likely thrown out.

Because of the surplus of donated clothes, locals often choose to purchase these cheap second-hand garments rather than the more expensive, locally-produced clothes. This in turn stunts the growth of the local textile industry--an industry that provides hundreds of thousands of jobs, and leads to a decrease in a region’s ability to raise its economic standing, decrease poverty, increase technological development, which ultimately increase quality of life.

The impact of secondhand clothing on economic development has gotten to be so big that several nations like the EAC have even banned imports of secondhand clothing.

This is a particularly tricky topic when it comes to the intersection of human rights and environmental impact. Ideally, we need to decrease the rate of clothing production in order to reduce carbon emissions and better the environment, but doing so might negatively impact those in developing nations who need the job opportunities.

Graphic to minimize negative impact of donated clothes

So what can you do to reduce the negative impact of your donated clothes?

1. Keep Your Clothes For Longer

I understand the temptation to lump everything into a bag and drop it off at your local charity shop but rather than doing so, see if you can hold on to the garment for a little longer. If something seemingly doesn’t fit your style anymore, see if you can wear the garment in a new and creative way. Instagram is full of style challenges that spark creativity and I’d recommend that as a place for inspiration. You can even DIY or alter your garment to fit your current aesthetic.

2. Try a Clothing Swap or Gift It

If a garment is really not bringing you any more joy, participate in a clothing swap or donate it to your bestie! Keeping it intimate within your community will increase the chances of your clothes finding a happy home (rather than ending up in a landfill).

3. Be Mindful of What You’re Donating

This goes without saying, but don’t donate any clothes that are dirty, soiled, or ripped. If a component of the garment is broken or missing and can be easily replaced (think buttons, zippers, etc), mend and repair that garment before donating. This will increase the chances that they will be given away or resold.

4. Keep it Local

Donating to local homeless shelters, or battered women’s shelters will cut out the middle-man and increase the chances of your garments actually reaching the people who need it most.

Remember that sustainable fashion is a detailed field with many personal considerations. This is by no means a post discouraging you from donating your clothes, but rather, my hope is simply to interject a little more mindfulness in the action.

Have you ever thought about the impact that your donated clothes might be having? What are your thoughts on the balance between textile/clothing production’s impact on economic growth versus the environment? Am I missing any other components in this discussion?