The Clothing Pipeline: Ending the Waste Cycle
Written by Kayla Van Dyken
11.3 million tons.
This is America’s annual average of clothing waste.
81.5 pounds.
This is the average clothing waste per U.S. citizen.
With the increasing popularity of micro trends and fast fashion, America and the rest of the world is plagued by a waste pandemic. We buy, wear (or not), dispose, and repeat, but where does all of this clothing go when we are done with it? One answer lies in Chile—home of the Atacama desert, the world’s largest clothing dump.
In 2021 alone, Chile imported 126,000 million tons of secondhand and unsold clothing from the United States, China, and South Korea. Upon inability to resell the merchandise into the South American market, the products were dumped into the continuously growing clothing wasteland located in the Atacama desert. This pile of rotting fabric has caused significant environmental and health issues. The synthetic materials and chemical contents of fast fashion pieces have contaminated the soil, water supply, and food chain for the surrounding locals. Fashion is an art—it is supposed to be fun, but we cannot ignore the effects of our overconsumption.
When it comes to practices to reverse this trending overindulgence, we can improve all aspects of the clothing cycle from purchase to destruction. There are many ways to reduce clothing waste, starting with acquisition. As cheap and easy as buying clothes from companies like Shein and Romwe is, these brands are main contributors to clothing waste. By supporting sustainable clothing companies such as Reformation and Patagonia or brands like Lululemon that repair previously sold merchandise, we can combat this global issue. Another way to reduce waste is by purchasing secondhand through online platforms such as Depop and Poshmark or in-person establishments like thrift stores. For example, I love to upcycle and repurpose used clothing to fashion it toward my personal style. Instead of purchasing new clothes, I browse Goodwill and Plato’s Closet, looking for pieces to give a second chance.
Once custody is attained, it is vital to take proper care of your clothes. Although it is easy to ignore the confusing symbols on tags, following these instructions improves the fabric’s longevity. Taking a few extra minutes to separate your whites, turn the washing machine knob to cold or lay garments flat to dry will make a night-and-day difference in your favorite pieces’ lifetimes. Another way to reduce unnecessary waste is by opening up your closets and sharing with others. My friend Shonali is always the first person to offer her clothes when someone says, “I have nothing to wear.” She has told me on multiple occasions, “Why wouldn’t I share? I feel bad for them when they just sit in my closet!” While her reasoning may be based on empathy, her practices are completely sustainable. Instead of buying a new outfit for an event, reach into someone else’s wardrobe for the perfect look. Just make sure to return the garments in the same or better condition than when you were given them, so they can continue in their sustainable journey.
If you remember one thing from this article, please let it be this: do not throw your clothes away when you are done with them. Between thrift stores, donations, and online selling platforms, there are so many people who would benefit from and love your clothes. Even if it feels old to you, it could be someone else’s favorite article they own. Create a Poshmark or Depop account. Drop off clothes at Goodwill or the Salvation Army. These disposal practices prevent your clothes from ending up in and harming people from wastelands like the Atacama Desert, so take a few extra steps beyond your trash bin and implement these sustainable practices to protect others, our wellbeing, and our planet.
Edited by Hana Razvi, Olivia Ruetten, Quinn Diedrich, Safa Razvi & Giselle Franco
