TMD 402H - Globalization in the Textile and Apparel Complex

Recycling of Apparel

Stephanie Magna

Summary by Lisa Rogers 

Do you ever wonder what happens to your clothing after you donate it to a charity? Not everything ends up going to the less fortunate in the United States. A large amount of donated clothing is shipped to developing countries whose citizens are more than happy to receive it.

According to Stephanie Magna, 70% of women donate their old clothes to charity. These charities then sell 40-75% of the donations they receive to second-hand clothing companies. An example is Trans American Trading Company of Brooklyn, New York, which receives 50% of their goods from the Salvation Army alone. They sort clothing, shoes, handbags, towels, sheets and blankets into three categories: premium, Africa A and Africa B. Premium clothes are sent to Latin America and Asia, Africa A to developing African countries, and Africa B to underdeveloped nations. These items are not washed before they are baled and shipped.

The selling of the second-hand clothes in the offshore market is beginning to pose a threat to local companies and industries, which are being edged out of business because people would rather buy used clothing from the United States than new clothing from local vendors. An example is Bata Footwear in Kenya. The people of Kenya, who walk a great deal, used to buy Bata shoes, but with increased imports of used footwear from the U.S., this is no longer the case. Bata's business has decreased, and consequently the company has shifted production to rubber  flip-flops.

The next time you donate clothing to your favorite charity, be sure that it is clean and in good condition. In most cases, it will be going to someone much less fortunate than you outside of the United States. Also remember that your donation has both a positive and negative effect on local economies around the world.

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