Life Cycle of Second-Hand ClothingJessica BurkeCiara IsleyAmanda Mast

What Is Second-Hand Clothing Any apparel, shoes,

handbags, belts, and hats used again after initial consumer

Also called: Used clothing Recycled textiles or

clothing Post-consumer textiles

Some Scary Statistics Average American disposes of 70 lbs of

apparel annually 24.8 billion lbs total

Apparel waste makes up 5% of landfills On football field, would reach 2 miles high

3.8 billion lbs (15%) recycled annually

History Always been around “Thrifting” began during Renaissance Increased with RTW boom 1950s: Charitable organizations open stores 1980s: For-profit organizations open stores 1980s: Overseas shipments increasing 1990s: Second-hand retail becomes popular

lifestyle choice

Disposal Channels Domestic Second-

Hand Retail Textile Recyclers Overseas

Shipments

Domestic Second-Hand Retail Charitable Donation

Sites Goodwill Salvation Army

Consignment Stores Buffalo Exchange Plato’s Closet

Other Retail Channels Specialty Shops Online Auction Sites

Charitable Donation Sites Largest source of global

trade in second-hand clothing

People donate unwanted apparel to be sold in retail establishments that help raise money for various causes

Most well-known: Goodwill Industries & Salvation Army

Consignment Stores Newer concept than

charitable donation sites Operate as for-profit

organizations Sell product in similar manner

as charitable donation sites, but consignors receive portion of sales

Consumer interest on the rise

Other Retail Channels Garage Sales Flea Markets Estate Sales Specialty Boutiques

Vintage Shops Costume Shops Eco-friendly Shops

Online Auction Sites Ebay

Textile Recyclers Firms that purchase unwanted apparel to

convert and/or distribute for other purposes Breakdown of Recycled Goods:

30 % converted to wiping materials/rags 20% sold in fiber market as stuffing and

upholstery materials 45 % shipped overseas on a wholesale basis as

usable apparel 5 % (considered vintage or popular sought after

product) shipped to different import destinations

Overseas Shipments Remaining unwanted apparel from

retailers and recyclers shipped to primarily developing countries

African countries are largest importers Mitumba markets Debates on benefit

Japanese high-end markets

Economic Status Profitable business but

fluctuates with economic trends Currently fairly stable due to

recession So profitable that leads to fraud Greater potential as second-

hand becomes life style choice not necessity

It All Comes Together Levels of Trade Imports/Exports Trade Regulations Sustainability Level of

Development for Countries

Potential Employment Retailers

Salespeople/Cashiers Managers Visual Merchandisers

Textile Recyclers Salespeople Marketers Engineers Equipment Operators

Overseas Shipments Logistics Operators

Who Knows

Barry, R. (2012). So your second-hand clothes are sold to Africa—don’t stop donating them. The Guardian. Retrieved from

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/may/09/second-hand-clothes-africa

Bradley, A. (2013). Second-hand clothing undermines Africa’s economy. Acton Institute Power Blog. Retrieved from

http://blog.acton.org/archives/53203-second-hand-clothing-undermines-africas-economy.html

Chalupa, A. (2010). What happens to all of those clothes retailers can’t sell?. Daily Finance. Retrieved from

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/04/02/what-happens-to-all-of-those-clothes-retailers-cant-sell/

Claudio, L. (2007). Waste couture: Environmental impact of the clothing industry. National Center for Biotechnology

Information. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1964887/

Cline, E. L. (2012). The afterlife of cheap clothes. Slate Magazine. Retrieved from

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/fashion/2012/06/the_salvation_army_and_goodwill_inside_the_places_your_clothes_go_

when_you_donate_them_.html

Council for Textile Recycling. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.weardonaterecycle.org/

Curnow, R. & Kermiliotis, T. (2013). Is your old t-shirt hurting African economies?. CNN. Retrieved from

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/12/business/second-hand-clothes-africa/

Ethical style: Where do my used clothes go?. (2012). Good Is. Retrieved from http://www.good.is/posts/ethical-style-where-

do-my-used-clothes-go

Gaynor, T. & Stoddard, E. (2009). Second-hand retailers score during recession. Reuters. Retrieved from

http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/10/05/us-usa-retailers-secondhand-idUSTRE59400220091005

Godelnik, R. (2012). H & M launches first global clothing collection recycling program. Triple Pundit. Retrieved from

http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/12/sustainable-hms-new-global-clothes-collecting-initiative/

Goodwill Industries. (2011). Retrieved from http://goodwillncw.org/

Goodwill Q&A. (n.d.). Goodwill Industries. Retrieved from Goodwill.

http://www.goodwill.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/QandA.pdf

Hoopes, S. (2013). Out with the old: Rising disposable income post-recession will hurt industry revenue. IBIS World. Retrieved

from http://www.ibisworld.com/industry/default.aspx?indid=1101

Le Blanc, R. (2013). Social implications of exporting second-hand clothing to developing countries. About.com. Retrieved

from http://recycling.about.com/od/Resources/a/Social-Implications-Of-Exporting-Second-hand-Clothing-To-Developing-

Countries.htm

Odell, A. (2010). H&M destroys and throws out perfectly good unworn clothing. The Cut. Retrieved from

http://nymag.com/thecut/2010/01/hm_destroys_and_throws_out_per.html

Our story. (2013). Buffalo Exchange. Retrieved from http://www.buffaloexchange.com/story

Paul, H. (2009). Dell, Goodwill partner to recycle computers. Earth 911. Retrieved from

http://earth911.com/news/2009/07/06/dell-goodwill-partner-to-recycle-computers/

Plato’s Closet. (2013). Entreprenuer. Retrieved from http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/platoscloset/282703-0.html#

Poretsky, S. (n.d.). Where do companies sell their unsold inventory?. AZCentral. Retrieved from

http://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/companies-sell-unsold-inventory-23619.html

References

Raiti, T. (2010). The clothing life cycle comes full circle. Textile World. Retrieved from

http://teach.itg.emerson.edu/surviveandthrive/2010/12/the-clothing-life-cycle-comes.html

The recycler’s exchange. (2013). Recycler’s World. Retrieved from http://www.recycle.net/Textile/jobs/

The Salvation Army. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.use.salvationarmy.org/USE/www_usn20.nsf/vw-dynamic-index/

57676AE263474A608825767400686622?openDocument

Secondhand clothing. (n.d.). Fashion Worldwide. Retrieved from

http://www.bergfashionlibrary.com/staticfiles/Encyclopedia/Secondhand-Clothing-Global-Fashion.pdf

Second-hand goods in-store retail trade statistics. (2009). Eurostat. Retrieved from

http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Second-hand_goods_in-store_retail_trade_statistics_-

_NACE_Rev._1.1

Shell, H. R. (n.d.). Spreadable Media. Retrieved from http://spreadablemedia.org/essays/shell/#.Um2pUvlJOxI

Treanor, Z. (2011). Sustainable apparel: Integrating global commerce and increasing consumer awareness. California State

University. Retrieved from http://www.dbsthriftconnection.com/PDF/Integrating%20Global%20Value%20Chains%20and

%20Consumer%20Awareness%20for%20Sustainabl....pdf

What happens to your donations?. (2011). Goodwill Industries. Retrieved from

http://www.goodwillakron.org/about/environmental/what-happens-to-your-donations

Wills, A. (2010). How much ‘Goodwill’ is your donation worth?. Earth 911. Retrieved from

http://earth911.com/news/2010/06/29/how-much-goodwill-is-your-donation-worth/