what really happens to your donated clothes (and what to do instead)
image credit: matthew addington/dts
we’ve all been there: decluttering our closets, feeling virtuous as we toss bags of clothes into the donation bin. but here’s the thing: donating isn’t the sustainable style solution we’ve been told it is.
it’s time to pull back the curtain on where those clothes really go and how apps like bonnee | the clothing swap app offer a better way to keep your fits in circulation and out of landfills.
overproduction is breaking the system
fast fashion brands churn out billions of garments each year, many of which are made cheaply, worn a handful of times, and then tossed. consumers today buy 60% more clothing than 15 years ago but wear them half as long.
when you donate clothes, thrift stores can only resell a small percentage locally, because there’s simply too much supply and not enough demand.
most donations don’t stay local
here’s the truth: up to 80% of donated clothing in the u.s. ends up overseas. massive bales of used clothes are shipped to countries in africa, south america, and asia, where they flood local markets.
this isn’t as charitable as it sounds. in many places, these “donations” disrupt local textile industries and end up as unsold waste, dumped in open fields or burned.
from good intentions to landfills
a shocking amount of donated clothing (especially low-quality fast fashion) can’t even make it overseas. instead, it’s sent straight to landfills or incinerated. textile waste is now a $500 billion global problem, and clothing in landfills releases harmful greenhouse gases as it decomposes.
a better way: swap, not shop
enter bonnee | the clothing swap app. instead of overloading donation bins, you can turn your gently worn clothes into currency. post your pieces, earn credits, and swap for something new-to-you.
this keeps clothes in circulation longer, reduces demand for overproduction, and helps you build a closet that’s sustainable and stylish.
no landfill guilt. no overseas dumping. just fashion that feels good on you and on the planet.
the future of fashion is circular
it’s too hot to spend. swap instead. download bonnee today and join the movement making fashion fun, affordable, and planet-friendly.
