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> Retailers buy and sort through 55kg (121lb) bales of clothing – most of it is either “deadstock” (clothes kept in warehouses and storerooms for years but neve
by randunel 3y ago
> Retailers buy and sort through 55kg (121lb) bales of clothing – most of it is either “deadstock” (clothes kept in warehouses and storerooms for years but never worn) or items donated to charities or left in recycling bins. About 6m of the better-quality items are sold or upcycled in the market every week.
They're not only purchasing, but they've built an entire local industry around it. This is not "EU member states paying African countries to take in rubbish", this is African businesses buying deadstock and recycled clothing and making a living out of them.
- Ekaros 3y agoDeadstock might be fine, but most of that is first gone through outlets. The donated and charity stuff is largely garbage. Poor quality, worn out or outright dirty. And just because some barely scrape by by sorting garbage doesn't make it valuable or value building industry. What a local manufacturing economy could be. When sufficient quality locally is reached they could start exporting that stuff.
- laratied 3y agoIf you want to know anything about Africa you have to read news from Africa. No one in the west reads anything but the most sensationalist bullshit so you can't blame reporters for writing it. The real story is just never interesting enough.