Behind Closed Doors: Diving into the Depths of Textile Waste

A Watauga High School Student’s closet prior to donating unworn clothes. “Whenever I clean out my closet or find clothing I don't wear anymore, I always donate it rather than throwing it away,” said Athena Elliott, senior. “In my eyes, donating and thrifting clothes gives the pieces a new life and reduces the amount of wasteful clothing production.” Photo Credits: Anna Norris

Anna Norris, Editor-In-Chief of The Powderhorn

When doing an annual spring clean, how often do your discarded clothing pieces actually end up being recycled? Many Watauga High School students see thrifting as an environmentally conscious alternative to buying brand-new clothes, although the treatment of thrift store donations is often overlooked. Most students don’t know the reality in which their donated clothes are distributed. While buying secondhand clothing can reduce the demand for new items, the overwhelming volume of donated clothing has created its own challenges, raising questions about how sustainable thrifting really is.

“I love thrifting instead of buying new clothes so that I can be sustainable while also finding a lot of cool pieces,” said Watauga High School senior, Athena Elliott. “It is so easy to find high-quality and brand-name clothing while thrifting, and you get it for a fraction of the price. I feel a lot better about buying new clothing when it is second-hand instead of it just being fast fashion or unsustainably produced.”

Thrifting has become increasingly popular in younger generations who want to practice sustainability while keeping up with trends. However, the widely known benefits of thrifting often lead to socially accepted practices of overconsumption. 

“I think a lot of clothes that don’t sell end up getting thrown away or sent to landfills,” said Annie Willis, a senior. “Some might get shipped to other countries or recycled, but I don’t think most of them actually get reused, which is really unfortunate and takes away from what I think is the point of thrifting.”

Although thrifting is an incredibly valuable resource, the growing popularity of clothing consumption supplies thrift stores with overwhelming donations. These donations cannot always be sold due to the condition or quality of a piece. 

“I usually try to repair or repurpose my clothing before donating it because only like 2%-5% is actually re-thrifted,” said Riley Olson, a senior. “The majority gets shipped overseas to landfills.”

The more affordable price tag on thrifted items often leads to an increase in purchases, causing customers to buy more than necessary simply because it feels sustainable. While media influencers often normalize excessive shopping hauls and chain orders, students have the opportunity to make more environmentally friendly choices every day. 

“I think one way in which donating clothes does more harm than good is that it takes the conscience off the initial buyer when they donate because they believe the profits are going to a good cause,” said Olson. “The belief makes them think that it is sustainable to continue buying new clothes.”

Despite these concerns, students still view thrifting as a better alternative to purchasing brand-new clothing. Compared to fast fashion, which is known for its harsh environmental impact and high levels of waste, thrifting greatly extends the life cycle of used clothing. 

“I definitely see thrifting as being environmentally friendly,” said Elliott. “Thrifted clothes are able to be repurposed, reused, and re-worn, instead of being thrown away and just becoming waste. The clothing industry, and particularly fast fashion, is terrible for the environment and extremely wasteful. In my eyes, thrifting and donating is the best way to not only avoid directly wasting clothing, but also buying clothing in a more sustainable way.”