Where do donated clothes actually go?
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Things you (maybe) don't know about the journey of clothes donated to charities.
👕 Giving, an act of solidarity… but not always so simple
In Europe, many people donate their clothes thinking they are doing a good deed: "it will go to the poorest" , "at least it won't be wasted" .
But behind the collection points and the bags dropped off at the associations, there is a much more complex — and often disturbing — reality .
đźš› A long and opaque journey
Here's what happens to a large portion of the clothes that are donated:
Quick local sorting
Damaged parts are discarded. Those in good condition are sorted into:
- which can then be resold in local charity shops (Emmaus, Red Cross, Caritas…),
- which is then resold in bulk to private companies .
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Massive exports to Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia
The remaining clothes are compressed into bales and sent in containers, often to West Africa (Ghana, Kenya, Benin), or to South Asia. -
Resale at local markets
They are resold by the kilo to traders who redistribute them in local markets.
👉 Result: clothes given for free are bought, resold, then worn… on the other side of the world. -
Back to Europe… at a high price!
And ironically, some of these clothes then return to Europe , via commercial thrift stores or resale platforms… and you buy them for 10 to 50 times their original value!
đź’¸ A human and environmental cost
- 🌱 From an ecological standpoint , this journey is absurd: maritime transport, poorly managed textile waste in Southern countries ( 80% of clothing ends up in landfills or is burned).
- đź‘Ą Economically , this harms local artisans in the recipient countries: the massive influx of second-hand clothing kills local textile industries.
- đź’” And ethically , it's no longer a gift: it's a global commercial flow, where donated clothes are integrated into a profit-making logic.
🧠Key takeaways
Giving is not a neutral act. It is not always an act of solidarity, and it does not necessarily reduce our impact.
Conversely, buying from local thrift stores, upcycling, repairing, and exchanging are actions that really slow down the textile waste machine.
💬 And at Mes Épaulettes?
Here, each piece is hand-selected locally, mainly in Switzerland from private individuals, for its aesthetic value, quality, and history .
No imported balls, no recycled fast fashion.
Just genuine vintage, carefully brought back to life.
🧠Conclusion
Just because we donate doesn't mean we stop polluting.
But it's not inevitable either: by learning to consume differently, we can really change the rules of the game .
And it starts… with knowing where our clothes come from.
