Developing countries have been willing to take in millions of tonnes of second-hand clothes every year via shipping containers. These items go for resale in street markets and usually small shops run by marginalized communities. Although I must note that with second-hand trending, we’re actually seeing a lot more privileged communities proudly representing and selling more upscale, second-hand finds. To give you an accessible understanding of the journey of your donated clothing, let me tell you about that old sweater you donated three years ago in North America and how it ended up in India. Nobody wants to feel shy about excessive buying and replacing old items with new items so quickly
Recycling was invented to help you feel less guilty about not adhering to the “reduce” and “reuse” concepts. It’s funny how even a sustainable movement has its loopholes. So, you dropped that sweater off at a thrift shop. It got a fresh new hanger, a shiny price tag, and was merchandised on a clothing rack. It sat for weeks, maybe months, until the store had discounted it as far as it could before sending it on its next journey: to become a rag or be shipped out to the salvage market across Asia or Africa. These last articles of clothing are finally dumped into landfills, creating an environmental catastrophe