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Many clothing donations end up in African landfills

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Re: Many clothing donations end up in African landfills

#61

Post by anonymfus »

BurningFrog wrote: post #38

The article describes a world of affluence, reaching deep into the poorest parts of Africa. Gone are the days when people would have to be naked when they washed the only piece of clothing they owned. Somehow this eradication of third world poverty is bad. Because everything is bad if you want to think of it that way. Just one point: Clothing ending up in landfills are a form of carbon sequestration.

>Clothing ending up in landfills are a form of carbon sequestration.

No. Clothing ending up in landfill produces methane.

Re: Many clothing donations end up in African landfills

#62

Post by MattGaiser »

deathanatos wrote: post #19

> Today, the average American buys 68 new items of clothing per year. > “You wonder, do people in America have so much money that they can just wear things once and then throw them away?” I uh… I too would like to know. What scares me is that the use of whatever demographic is causing that average has to be way higher than the actual average, but this feels like it has to be bimodal. And there are lots of these numbe…

Some of my female relatives truly believe that no outfit should be worn twice, even for men. A piece might be worn a few times with different things, but never the same thing twice.

They have even criticized me for wearing the same tie two says in a row or not refreshing my t-shirt colours regularly. And I should have two suits in case I go to a two day event.

Re: Many clothing donations end up in African landfills

#63

Post by MattGaiser »

dexwiz wrote: post #49
deathanatos wrote: post #19

> Today, the average American buys 68 new items of clothing per year. > “You wonder, do people in America have so much money that they can just wear things once and then throw them away?” I uh… I too would like to know. What scares me is that the use of whatever demographic is causing that average has to be way higher than the actual average, but this feels like it has to be bimodal. And there are lots of these numbe…

Living with my girlfriend really opened my eyes to how many clothes women go through. She even tries to be responsible about it and sell items to second hand markets, but I still think it’s a bit crazy. - Women’s fashion cycles much faster then men’s. Office wear is a bit more stable but anything aimed as social settings like weddings may only provide a few opportunities to wear it before it’s out of style. Men can r…

Currently wearing a t-shirt I got in high school.

Re: Many clothing donations end up in African landfills

#64

Post by MattGaiser »

t8y wrote: post #22

I think people should really talk about mass market fashion vs luxury fashion. Many people seem to think that buying LVMH clothes or other luxury brands is somehow more ethical when those brands can be even worse. Those brands just sell far fewer items so it's not the same amount. If 99.9% of clothes are fast fashion than 99.9% of left over clothes should also be fast fashion, it's actually more like 100% as luxury b…

I think a lot of it is that (I assume) you can re-wear luxury pieces with far less perceived social judgement.

Re: Many clothing donations end up in African landfills

#65

Post by Talanes »

mint2 wrote: post #51
bruceb wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But you exchange more of your time at 2nd hand places. The reason new exists is not just the styles, but the higher likelihood you are going to find the correct (or near to it) size.

That’s only true if one is an average size or isn’t mindful of fit. Shopping new can be a huge drag otherwise.

But it's not like any of that is easier second-hand? If I go jean shopping new I might not find my size in every style, but it's very rare that I find second-hand pants that fit without needing to hem.

Re: Many clothing donations end up in African landfills

#66

Post by collegeburner »

johncessna wrote: post #47
deathanatos wrote: post #19

> Today, the average American buys 68 new items of clothing per year. > “You wonder, do people in America have so much money that they can just wear things once and then throw them away?” I uh… I too would like to know. What scares me is that the use of whatever demographic is causing that average has to be way higher than the actual average, but this feels like it has to be bimodal. And there are lots of these numbe…

I'm curious what the source is as well. My growth these days amounts to growing wider and then thinner and I'm old enough to have clothes from both periods so there's no need to get more. So on one hand, 68 articles of is only imaginable if new socks are counted in the equation. As someone with children, however, it actually seems low. Really young children will grow a couple sizes a year. Then you only cycle through…

Thaats why hand me down clothes are a thing. Its most of what I wore, and my friends, and my siblings.

Re: Many clothing donations end up in African landfills

#67

Post by lliamander »

MattGaiser wrote: post #62
deathanatos wrote: post #19

> Today, the average American buys 68 new items of clothing per year. > “You wonder, do people in America have so much money that they can just wear things once and then throw them away?” I uh… I too would like to know. What scares me is that the use of whatever demographic is causing that average has to be way higher than the actual average, but this feels like it has to be bimodal. And there are lots of these numbe…

Some of my female relatives truly believe that no outfit should be worn twice, even for men. A piece might be worn a few times with different things, but never the same thing twice. They have even criticized me for wearing the same tie two says in a row or not refreshing my t-shirt colours regularly. And I should have two suits in case I go to a two day event.

Much of the men's style stuff I see is about trying to find high-quality, neutral articles that can be worn over and over again, and in different contexts. They talk about things like "cost per wear" and "capsule wardrobes" and the like.

I couldn't imagine throwing out some of my favorite pants, shirts, or jackets until they were beyond repair.

Re: Many clothing donations end up in African landfills

#68

Post by Sunspark »

dexwiz wrote: post #49
deathanatos wrote: post #19

> Today, the average American buys 68 new items of clothing per year. > “You wonder, do people in America have so much money that they can just wear things once and then throw them away?” I uh… I too would like to know. What scares me is that the use of whatever demographic is causing that average has to be way higher than the actual average, but this feels like it has to be bimodal. And there are lots of these numbe…

Living with my girlfriend really opened my eyes to how many clothes women go through. She even tries to be responsible about it and sell items to second hand markets, but I still think it’s a bit crazy. - Women’s fashion cycles much faster then men’s. Office wear is a bit more stable but anything aimed as social settings like weddings may only provide a few opportunities to wear it before it’s out of style. Men can r…

I still have a fleece top from 30 years ago and I still have boots from 35 years ago. I have a jacket that is probably close to 50 or more years ago. I have 1 suit, and it's probably also 30 years or more (I seldom wear it, it's basically just for formal events).

But yeah, many many items in the 5-20 year range.. plenty of ties 20 years, plenty of tshirts for sure 15 or more years, etc.

It's crazy how many clothes women have. Multiple closets worth. I have no idea how they can afford to just keep buying.

Re: Many clothing donations end up in African landfills

#69

Post by AussieWog93 »

I'm in e-commerce, and reading through this thread I think many people have the misconception that people make purchases to solve problems and want that solution to last as long as possible.

In reality, and this is something I spent a long time coming to terms with, much shopping is done because it's fun. Spending money isn't a cost - it's the whole point of the exercise.

Re: Many clothing donations end up in African landfills

#70

Post by Nursie »

> If you live in the West, chances are at some point you have stuffed your used clothes into a garbage bag and hauled them off to a Goodwill or the Salvation Army.

Please don't let this article put you off donating clothes to good causes. I know that (for instance) in the UK the Red Cross sells as much as it can, and only the unsellable stuff (ripped, stained etc) goes out to 'rag' with the recyclers. Clothing is even cycled through different shops if one can't sell it. So I'm really not sure that 10-20% figure holds up globally.

Something this article glossses over is that this stuff is not just being dumped - it's being bought. I think it's wrong that (for instance, in the article) the US interfered in law-making in various places to veto restrictions on the trade, of course. But fundamentally, the countries need to get a handle on dumping and start factoring that into the price of doing business.

Yes, westerners could buy less crap, and they could also do more shopping for used stuff themselves. But that's only part of hte picture.

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