A lot of people talk about recycling as though it is a solution to all of our problems. We throw some paper into the recycling bin and our conscience is suddenly clear, but it just isn't as simple as that. When we recycle our clothes or give them away to charity shops, we might feel a little good inside...like we've done our good deed of the day but I suppose ignorance is indeed bliss.
The recycling chain of fashion is longer than you might think.
Did you know that when you chuck your old clothes in a bag and dump them outside a charity shop, the charity shop recycles the bundles and these bundles are sent on a vast journey around the world. They are actually sent over to places like Africa. You might think that this is a great idea but actually Africans do not want our second hand old clothes (and who can blame them!). Africa is a contenant of rich culture and produce beautiful rolls of traditional cloth themselves, but sending our old clothes over there demoralises their traditional culture and encourages a more westernised fashion which they are not all that keen to have. With the population buying into cheaper clothes from the west, they do not buy clothes locally and therefore are not supporting their own economy.
What can we do?
- Well for a start, only give clothes to the charity shop when you are pretty sure that they will be used and resold.
- DO NOT leave clothes outside the charity shop when they're clothes, they run the risk of god knows what tampering with the items and definitely, definitely will not use them.
- Reuse your clothes!!! Remember that you bought them once because you liked the item, so revamp it. If you dont like the colour try redying it or if you dont like the shape then take it apart, use it as scrap for another garment etc etc.
- Be innovative and have a customising party or even a wardrobe swap party with your friends.
So go ahead and have some fun with this but most of all
Reuse, Reuse, Reuse!!!
