What happens to your old clothes and where you can still donate with a clear conscience

Laura Scholz

7.11.2022

Translation: machine translated

There are many reasons to clean out your clothes. But once the mountains of textiles are piled up in the corner, the question arises: Where to put all this stuff now?

Sometimes it is simply liberating, sometimes bitterly necessary: sorting out your wardrobe. As I learned this spring, in Switzerland there are on average 118 items - of which only about 60 per cent are worn. As I also learned this spring, this number doesn't quite add up for me, but rather amounts to a shameful 164. So a few of them can well clear the field. Out of the wardrobe, into the garment bag ... and then?

I find the second-hand shop concept a bit frustrating in parts. You don't get much money for your goods and you know that when you resell them they will add a lot to the price. For the flea market, you need the early bird gene (definitely not present in my DNA) and an investment in the stand rent in advance. Will that be recouped in the end? You'll only find out after a long day of standing around, haggling and negotiating. Option number 3 are apps and sites like Depop, Vestiaire Collective, Tutti and Ricardo. Photograph the discarded items, describe them, send them or have them picked up. A bit of effort for at least a small financial reward without giving it away to a third party. So far, so good. The most decent way to get rid of superfluous textiles is still to donate them. Even if here, too, nothing really works without financial enrichment.

What happens to my clothing donation?

The idea is very romantic: You bring your clothes tied up in a sack to a textile-hungry container and from there they magically go to the needy. No one is thinking about financial profit here. Or is there?

The reality is not quite so uncomplicated and fair, of course. After all, everything that ends up in such a container has to be sifted, sorted, repacked and transported. That costs. And to cover these costs, some of your donated items are sold again. To second-hand shops - how ironic. The bright spot: Any income left over after costs are covered is donated (for the most part) to charity. The unsaleable remainder of your clothes is usually turned into cleaning rags, insulation material or recycled yarn, or shipped abroad. For example, to Eastern Europe or Africa. The problem: things that are no longer wearable are of no use to anyone there either. On the contrary, the well-intentioned clothing donations are sold so cheaply that they destroy the local textile economy or form gigantic mountains of waste that are ultimately incinerated.

What should I look for when donating clothes?

The best thing to look for is whether the clothes no longer fit or appeal to you personally, but are still generally wearable. Would you give them to a friend? Then they are still good enough to donate. Are they broken or no longer functional? Then no one else will be able to do anything with them either. Needy or not. The items should also be clean, of course. That hopefully goes without saying.

Which addresses can I donate clothes to?

Look around your city for local institutions that accept clothing donations. These can be refugee shelters, homes, women's shelters or organisations such as Caritas or the Swiss Red Cross. They often have a specific overview of what they are currently lacking. This way, you only donate what you really need. Alternatives to the well-known collection containers are also:

Donation Depot Zurich . Founded in 2016, the company is happy to receive donations of clothes and goods for refugees inside and outside Switzerland. On Facebook you can always check their current list of needs to provide targeted and meaningful support.

Refy

The association, based in Bern, always accepts donations on Saturdays from 10:00 to 13:00 in its own sorting room at 77 Morillonstrasse. Alternatively, items can be dropped off in the collection box on site or sent by post . Winter Relief

Since 1936, Winterhilfe has made it its mission to support Swiss people affected by poverty with donations of clothing, material and money.

Give & Need

The principle of the online exchange is simple: you upload pictures and descriptions of your clothes to be given away and, in case of a "match", you will be connected with the person who is lacking exactly these pieces.

Heilsarmee

Sure, here too your clothes are resold in brockis. But at least at mostly very fair prices.

Despite all the tips, information and addresses, the golden rule is basically: buy consciously and go for quality. If you want to do everything right, only have things in your wardrobe that you can wear regularly and for a long time. That way, you don't even get into the embarrassment of constantly having to sort things out and dispose of them.

Laura Scholz

Senior Editor

Laura.Scholz@digitecgalaxus.ch

Always in the mood for good hits, great trips and clinking drinks.

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