What to do with the clothes you no longer wear? circular fashion is established in Colombia

The textile industry is the second most polluting in the world according to the United Nations (UN), given the culture of "fast fashion" or "fast fashion" that causes the accelerated consumption and waste of garments.

Millions of tons of fabrics end up in landfills, garbage dumps and water sources in various parts of the planet.

What to do with the clothes you no longer wear?

For seven years, the "Clean your Closet" foundation has carried out campaigns to collect clothes in good condition that are no longer used and donate them to citizens in the most vulnerable areas of the country.

Heider González, founder of "Clean your Closet," said that since then they have collected 160 tons of used clothing in good condition, of which 140 tons have been donated to more than 80,000 people, including Colombians and Venezuelan migrants with limited resources.

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"We have been in various regions of the country supporting social causes, including Mocoa, Ituango and Chocó, where the most recent one occurred with those affected by winter," González said in dialogue with RCN Radio.

He assured that these campaigns seek to generate a "culture of detachment, also because it is gratifying to get out of what we no longer use to give it to someone who needs it. It is even part of a universal law of getting rid of the old so that things arrive good," he mentioned.

"Donate your jeans"

Currently the "Clean your Closet Foundation" has a campaign together with the American Eagle clothing brand called "Donate your Jean", in which they have collected about 36,000 jeans nationwide during the last six years.

"This year we have the goal of collecting 15,000 jeans in good condition that are no longer worn. This collection is made in the 20 stores that the brand has throughout the country, from September 16 to October 28, 2021.", Indian.

He also said that the foundation is currently working with the Ministry of the Environment to develop a massive campaign to disaffect used clothing in schools and universities.

"This is very nice because we want to reach young people with this message about detachment, while helping to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the environment," he said.

Recycle used clothing in Bogotá

The NGO Clothe Sustainable Fashion is located in the town of Teusaquillo in Bogotá, where you can exchange, donate, buy or recycle clothes correctly.

According to information provided through social networks, if the user wants to recycle the clothing, the NGO can take it "in all conditions: new, excellent condition, poor condition, underwear, scraps, all textiles, washed and dry (within the schedules and we help you to recycle it)".

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To finance the recycling of clothing, they receive "a contribution of at least $4,000 per kilo to cover the expenses generated by the clothing when it is recycled (storage, transportation, selection, delivery to communities if it is in good condition, etc). In addition, we give you a voucher with the value of your contribution so that you can take free garments".

The objective of recycling clothing, according to Clothe Sustainable Fashion, is to help prevent clothing from contaminating the planet for up to 200 years.