Exploring Solutions to Fast Fashion and Excess Clothes | Article

Each summer, after cleaning out my closet, I find myself with a pile of clothes I no longer wear. In previous years, I’ve stuffed these clothes into a bag and dropped them off at the nearest Goodwill. However, in the midst of this year’s spring cleaning, I read an article that exposed what happens to clothes after they are donated, which made me rethink how I discard my unwanted clothes.

When clothes are donated to a charity, such as Goodwill or Salvation Army, approximately 20 percent of them are resold. The other 80 percent are sold to textile recycling companies or are discarded. While 95 percent of all used textiles can be reused or recycled, only 15 percent are recovered from the waste stream. Overconsumption and over purchasing of clothing fueled by the fast fashion industry are the main source of all of these unwanted clothes. Clothing is produced in mass quantities, allowing it to be sold at lower prices, which encourages consumers to buy more than they need.

With this new information in mind, I was inspired to give my clothes a second life that didn’t involve donating them. I came up with the idea of hosting a free clothing giveaway in a neighborhood park—an outside, public location making it accessible and safe amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. I displayed my clothes on a table, put up signs around the park to alert people passing by, and let anyone who was interested take as many articles of clothing as they liked. That day, I gave away about 80 percent of my clothes and delivered the remaining 20 percent to a local women’s shelter. Many of the people I met were excited to learn about the thought process behind my giveaway and said they felt inspired to do the same with their clothes. I felt invigorated not only by my successful initiative, but also by sharing and discussing my sustainability values with residents in my community.

In the following days and weeks, I have continued to explore other ways I can recycle my old clothing as well as how I can be a more conscious consumer. One of the most helpful resources I found was asking my coworkers at EESI for their tips and tricks. Here are the ideas they shared with me:

Buy less! Before going out to buy something new, ask yourself if you really need that item.
Buy second-hand clothes at thrift stores or consignment shops. There are also a variety of online thrift stores, such as Thredup and Poshmark.
Use Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist to sell or buy second-hand items in your local area.
Buy clothes from brands that have recycling programs. Brands like Patagonia and North Face will take back used clothes and reward you with a discount on your next purchase.
Choose to buy from brands that are both affordable and offer quality products. As ethical and sustainable clothing brands gain popularity, they will continue to become more affordable. Support organizations that include sustainability in their mission when possible.
Instead of donating to large chain thrift store charities, donate to a local shelter or nonprofit organization that gives clothes directly to those in need in your community.
When all else fails, donating to a chain thrift store charity is still better than tossing clothes into the garbage.
Most importantly, continue to educate yourself and research alternatives. Find articles or engage with people on social media who are sharing resources and their experience in sustainable fashion.

A deeper exploration into the fast-fashion industry and textile recycling has challenged me to think more critically about what I am buying, where that product is coming from, how it’s being made, and where it will go once I’m done using it. I have now firmly set myself on the path of pursuing a more sustainable lifestyle. For me, that means avoiding fast-fashion brands, buying from local or second-hand stores or from sustainable retailers, and, most importantly, purchasing only what is necessary.

While making these changes may seem small, the choices we make as individuals, if we act collectively, can have a great impact on the fashion industry. By continuing to share resources and solutions, together we can work towards reinventing the economic model into a circular and shared economy.

Author: Grace Linhares