Find out how you’re unwanted clothing can help charities around the world and why the process can benefit you as well.
We’ve all got them lurking at the back of our wardrobe. A pair of shoes that haven’t been worn this decade, an old sweatshirt you can’t even remember buying and a pair of jeans that are an infuriating two sizes too small. What’s the point in holding on to this clutter?
Recycling or donating your clothes is a great way of giving your cast offs a second life. Not only will you be helping the environment but by giving to charity you can help save and improve lives both in Britain and around the world.
Read on to find out what happens to your second hand garments once you donate them and how everyone benefits from your generosity.
Where do your clothes go?
Donated clothes are one of the biggest sources of income for charities.
The majority of donated clothes in Britain are sold through charity high street shops. Staffed by volunteers, these stores provide a quick turn-around of products and are a great way for members of the public to buy second hand goods. These local shops only stock high quality goods items, with jewellery, shoes and a diverse range of clothing available at competitive prices.
Donated clothes are also sent overseas, with items which cannot be sold in the UK often shipped abroad to help people around the world. Lightweight items unsuitable for the British weather are put on sale in warmer climates, with charities making particular use of donated garments when natural disasters or refugee crises require immediate supplies of clothes.
Additionally, charities may recycle some of the clothes they receive. Damaged or low quality items have various uses in certain industries, whilst clothes can also be upcycled. Upcycling converts largely unsellable items into better value goods, benefiting the people who end up with them and the environment.
How do they help?
Any donated items don’t go to waste. Volunteers and staff working in your local charity shop, like Oxfam, sort and price every item you donate to make sure they can resale it for as much profit as possible.
The money raised from selling donated clothing in Britain is used to fund charity projects across the world. From clean water projects in Africa to homeless shelters in the UK, your unwanted items will have a tangible affect in helping improve the lives of less fortunate people.
Donating clothing also helps ease Britain’s reliance on landfill sites, with the majority of the 900 million items of clothing discarded each year often simply being dumped rather than reused.
Help yourself
Not only will you get the feel-good factor for helping a charity but you could also give your wardrobe a stylish revamp whilst dropping your donations off. Charity shops are often full of designer brands at discounted prices and genuine vintage items, meaning you can assemble stylish outfits for budget-friendly sums.
Have you ever donated clothes to charity? What kind of items did you give?
About the Author
Stella Archer is a freelance writer and charity shopping loving graduate from Glasgow.
