380 likes | 1.03k Views
Life Cycle of Second-Hand Clothing. Jessica Burke Ciara Isley Amanda 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.
E N D
Life Cycle of Second-Hand Clothing Jessica Burke Ciara Isley Amanda 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
References • 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
References • 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/