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How to Make Throw Pillows Out of Old T-Shirts

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Kids sometimes have trouble parting with favorite T-shirts after they outgrow them. Instead of getting rid of the old tees, upcycle them into decorative throw pillows for their bedroom or playroom.

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No one knows the true scale of 'deadstock' clothing waste - in other words, clothes that are unable to be sold at full or discounted price and must be gotten rid of somehow.

We know that around 100 billion garments are manufactured annually. Let's say the sell-through rate (both full and discounted) is a generous 90%, then potentially 10 million items of clothing become 'deadstock' every year. That's a lot of clothes to miraculously make 'disappear.' So what do brands and retailers claim to do with the products they can't get customers to buy?

"We sell through discounts and outlets"

Shockingly, 75% of apparel purchases are now made at discounted prices - fuelling a race to the bottom where increasingly lower price points gets consumers hooked on cheap, cheap, cheap! Some traditional retailers now have more discount outlets than full-priced stores. But when the thrill of discounted shopping fails to entice the consumer into making a purchase then brands and retailers must get rid of their 'deadstock'. The truth is that offering discounted prices will never ensure all products are sold. Retail space, warehouse space and even prime website ad-space isn't infinite, which means products that aren't selling need to be gotten rid of. But where?

"We sell on through our partners"

This is fashion lingo for a process in which brands and retailers sell their unsold wares in bulk into other non-competing markets. In this process clothes are often de-labelled or re-labelled to be sold on again. For example, European brands look to Australia to sell this sort of 'deadstock.' The secondary market for clothes and textiles is orchestrated by 'jobbers.' Think of used car salesmen but instead of Porsches it's polyesters.

"We organise friends and family sales"

Unless all their staff members have huge families and thousands of friends, this tactic will hardly make a dent in the huge volumes of apparel going unsold each season.

"We donate unsold clothes to charities"

Whilst this sounds good on paper, in reality donating and selling (aka dumping) unsold clothes to lower income countries can have negative consequences on their local economies and communities. More on this topic later in the zine.

"We destroy unsold clothes"

This is a reality very few brands are willing to admit. In fashion talk, especially by the tongues of luxury brands, this means that clothes are either shredded and recycled (think catwalk couture becoming carpets) or incinerated (think puffs of exquisitely luxurious smoke.)

Whilst those working in the industry know that incineration is sometimes, sadly, par for the course, the public can only rely on rumours about how unsold or damaged clothes goods are destroyed. It's quite a well-kept secret.

But the lid is increasingly being lifted off about the incineration secret. This was recently - and rather dramatically - exposed by Operation X, the investigative report by Danish TV Channel, TV2. Reporters delivered a strong blow by providing their own evidence that supposedly systematically demonstrates incineration of clothes by several big high street brands. This programme is bringing awareness (and in some cases righteous anger) to the issue of waste incineration. However, a healthy dose of reality is required. The battle for brands to cope with unsold inventory isn't as straightforward as it seems. Large scale recycling is not yet up to scratch and brands and retailers strive to protect their highly-prized intellectual property and brand image.

Also, no one really wants to take the blame for the type of fashion waste that essentially arises from trying to sell clothes that customers don't want - be this due to buyers' irresponsible judgment calls, lack of understanding of their customers' changing tastes or missing the boat in terms of the whippet-fast trends. Someone has got to take the blame for getting order numbers, production and retail wrong.

No more excuses

There are solutions that don't involve destroying or sending perfectly good materials to landfill.

In the short term, there is an urgent need for fashion buyers to curb their enthusiasm, rein in their purchase orders and place orders more responsibly up front to limit the amount of dead stock inventory at the end of a season. Plus, tech and logistic improvements will also do wonders at helping fashion brands get to grips with ordering more realistically and according to what customers ultimately want. In the longer term, all solutions point to keeping surplus and discarded materials in the fashion loop for longer.

To fuel this change further and faster, as consumers we must all be asking our favourite fashion brands:

"What do you do with your waste?

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What happens to clothing that goes unsold?

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No one knows the true scale of 'deadstock' clothing waste - in other words, clothes that are unable to be sold at full or discounted price and must be gotten rid of somehow. We know that around 100 billion garments are manufactured annually.

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We occasionally receive emails and calls from people who are confused, concerned, dismayed, and even irritated about the cost of organic and natural clothing. This is a touchy point that often comes up in the organic industry - clothing and also vegetables, fruit, skin care, and everything that can bear an organic label. We truly do understand people's concern and irritation at the perceived high cost of some organic and natural clothing.

On their web site, Wal-Mart sells a Ribbed Tank with Ribbon Trim made from conventionally-grown cotton and manufactured by Faded Glory for $3.00 + 97 cents for shipping. At LotusOrganics.com, we must charge $24.00 for our naturally clay-dyed Peace Tank manufactured from 55% hemp and 45% organic cotton made by Earth Creations and our shipping is free.

Like most new and emerging industries, small companies and "mom and pop" stores are working hard to build the organic and sustainable clothing market. Small companies lack the size and buying muscle to achieve economies of scale that drive prices lower. But the organic and sustainable clothing industry is about more than achieving Wal-Mart's "always low prices"; it is also about ethics and sustainability and doing what is right for workers, consumers and the planet.

But all the fuzzy feel good issues aside, how can Wal-Mart charge only $3 for a conventionally-grown, manufactured and hand-sewn women's cotton tank top while LotusOrganics.com charges $24? The reasons are many, complex, and vary according to a large shopping bag of factors. Let's examine some of the most common and significant factors that affect the price of organic clothing. These are not in any particular order.

1. Organic cotton is more expensive to grow than conventional, chemically drenched and unsustainable cotton. At first blush, you might think that organic should be less expensive to grow because organic doesn't use expensive GMO seeds, expensive petroleum-based fertilizers, or expensive toxic herbicides and pesticides like conventionally grown crops and cottons. But organically grown crops still must contend with weeds and fight devouring insects and this all costs money ... actually more money than conventional chemical methods which is why conventional methods use all those toxic and deadly chemicals.

2. Organic cotton is more expensive to harvest. To reduce harvesting costs and improve cotton yields, conventional cotton harvesting uses a variety of harvest-aids such as spraying cotton fields with chemicals like thidiazuron to defoliate cotton plants by removing mature and juvenile leaves to facilitate machine harvesting, suppress growth of new plant leaves, desiccants containing pyraflufen ethyl, carfentrazon, dimethipin, paraquat, and glyphosate to kill and dry leaves remaining on the cotton plants and weeds after chemical defoliation, and chemicals containing the active ingredient ethephon to accelerate the opening of the cotton bolls. Organic cotton harvesting is done without the use of these chemical harvest-aids and is more labor intensive resulting in higher harvest costs.

3. Organic fabrics are more expensive to manufacture. Because of the relatively small quantities of cotton involved, it is more expensive to gin, clean and manufacture organic cotton fabric. Almost all organic cotton fabric is manufactured in facilities that also process and manufacture conventional cotton fabrics from conventionally grown chemical cotton. But, before the organic cotton can be processed in these facilities, all the cotton gins and weaving and knitting machines must be cleaned of all residues from the processing of the conventional cotton. Of course, the facility owners add the additional costs for this cleaning and equipment downtime to the production costs for the organic fabrics. This all contributes to driving up the costs for producing organic cotton fabrics.

4. Organic garments are more expensive to manufacture for many reasons. Some of them relate to the relatively small size of the organic clothing market and the need to frequently share manufacturing facilities with conventional clothing. Like the manufacturing process, all sewing machines and work areas must be cleaned of conventional garments and contaminants before being used for sewing organic garments.

But there is another more significant factor why much conventional clothing is so inexpensive - cheap labor that often borders near being sweatshop or indentured. We have written several articles on the social pollution of sweatshops in the garment industry. Basically, most large clothing retailers contract with many dozens of clothing manufacturing facilities scattered in developing countries around the world. Many of these facilities exploit the poorest and most desperate workers and pay pennies a day to workers who sew long hours under appalling conditions to make those cheap, inexpensive shirts, pants and undergarments that fill the large, mega stores in our home towns and shopping malls.

Faded Glory, who manufactures those $3 rib knit cotton tank tops for Wal-Mart, has been implicated by the National Labor Committee of using desperately poor women and child labor working as much as 13 hours per day and 7 days per week at a base wage of 13 cents per hour in sweatshops in Nicaragua and other poor countries. Think about it! How can a company buy the fabric and materials, hire workers to sew the garments with a scoop neck accented by a satin bow and with ribbon-woven crochet trim around the neckline and armholes and a frill edge hem, ship them to a U.S. port, truck them to stores across the country, pay retail workers and building expenses, have a little profit for Wall Street, and only charge $3 for a tank top? You can be sure that very little of that $3 is going to the garment workers who did the sewing. And how many can a garment worker cut and sew in an hour for a few pennies each?

Fair trade and fair pay for workers are important cornerstones of the organic and natural clothing industry and significantly add to the cost of organic and fair trade apparel. Also, natural clothing companies such asEarth Creations and Blue Canoe manufacture in the U.S. and pay fair wages plus benefits in an attempt to revive the deceased U.S. garment manufacturing industry.

5. Organic garments are more expensive to ship to distributors, retailers and customer. This isn't because they are organic, but because the market size is so much smaller. Wal-Mart, Gap, J.Crew and the other large retail chains can deliver a large trailer load of clothes to their stores at significantly lower per-garment prices than it costs to FedEx a box or two of organic clothes to your local organic clothing store.

6. Organic clothing retailers find it more expensive to advertise and market. The huge retail chains can use their enormous marketing budgets and muscle to get the most cost-effective advertising. This, also, is really a small store vs. enormous chain store issue but it figures into the perception of organic clothing being more expensive than conventional clothing.

7. Organic growers, manufacturers and retailers lack the mass buying power and the economies of scale found in the large retail chains. Trade organizations such asCo-op America, Organic Trade Association, Soil Association, Green People, and a growing number of non-profit organizations are helping promote, expand, advertise and market organic and sustainable clothing and apparel. Their help is hugely appreciated.

Although we have frequently mentioned cotton, the same factors are generally also true for other natural fibers such as hemp, bamboo, wool, soya, corn and the growing number of other natural fibers being used to manufacture natural and healthy fabrics.

An inconvenient truth is that organic and all-natural clothing will always be more expensive than conventional, chemical clothing. The good news is that the price gap will continue to shrink as the market size of organic clothing grows and the economies of scale improve. Doing what is right is not always easy ... or cheap, sometimes. But, as Dumbledore counseled Harry Potter, "It's not our abilities, but our choices that define who we are."

Don't worry. No one is growing fat or wealthy from selling organic and all natural clothing. We all wish that everyone could easily afford all the organic, sustainable and healthy clothing that they need and we are working toward that end. But it will only happen by all us working together and supporting each other. The blog Organicasm has posted " How to Get Great Deals on Organic Clothing" to help consumers make the best use of their eco-dollars. Check it out.

Enjoy.

Michael
LotusOrganics.com
Where purely beautiful & healthy clothing is only natural

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We occasionally receive emails and calls from people who are confused, concerned, dismayed, and even irritated about the cost of organic and natural clothing. This is a touchy point that often comes up in the organic industry - clothing and...

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Hong Kong landfills overflow as household waste rises for fifth year running

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The amount of waste dumped in the city's overflowing landfills has risen for the fifth year in row with the bulk of it still coming from households, new data has shown....

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MAYBE CONTACT THEM

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On a daily basis Clothing Manufacturing Agent Bali receives numerous inquires from clients with a variety of questions. The most widely asked is regarding the process of clothing manufacturing; not knowing where to begin or what steps to take next.

Here we will outline it the 8 step to clothing manufacturing from beginning to end. After reading this, you will have a understanding of what to expect during the clothing manufacturing process.

Step 1: The Right Mindset

Before we outline the steps of the clothing manufacturing process, having the right mindset is crucial and needs to be the first step addressed. There are certain aspects which will allow the process to run more smoothly and seamlessly if you are aware of them.

Learning to be more flexible - things are constantly changing and do not go at a fast pace; but making quality products should take time - anything good in life does. It is a process and there must be back and forth open communication - it does not happen overnight, it takes time - be prepared to devote time to making it work.

Understanding the timing of the clothing manufacturing processes - We provide a general guideline for a production of 3 months; after the completion of the patterns and samples which in itself can take 2 weeks to 2 months, but this is not set in stone. If we are able to finish the production sooner; we will, but sometimes it can take longer depending on a number of factors. There are many moving parts that all need to be lined up to make everything flow which vary based on your production but include sourcing fabric, making screens, digital strike offs, printing, batik, sublimation, leather work, hardware, woven tags, swing tags, mass production, shipping, QC, etc. The first productions will take slightly longer in most cases than the latter.

Quality products come at a cost; the bottom line is important to everyone involved - at both ends. Work with your manufacturer to negotiate low production costs. Keeping these low will allow your brand to expand and grow faster by manufacturing more. Additionally, knowing that you will be manufacturing in ethical ways by providing ethical living wages for families and communities where you produce should be a major factor. The cost associated with doing business to produce quality products should not be sacrificed. Many places cannot and will not compete with pricing of places like China, India or Vietnam so be realistic of what you are going to pay for quality and ethical manufacturing.

Producing samples and a mass production are time consuming; it will require attention. If you are not able to provide it the attention it deserves and requires, than working with an agent or consultant is best.

Step 2: Spec Sheets and Quotes

The first item the manufacturer will need from you will be to provide them with are spec sheets. Spec sheets are the full design details including measurements, fabrics, printing techniques, and supporting images for the garments you want produced. It is best to provide the most amount of detail and information possible. Below is an simple example of the spec sheets we use. Click here to download your own copy to get you started.

In addition to spec sheets, some manufacturers may want tech pack. Tech packs are the all encompassing designs including full detailed measurements, lining details, button and zipper customisation if required, woven labels, swing tags, packaging, etc. A great site to create this is Tech Packer. Here you will be able to create your own tech packs as well as share it directly with the manufacturer and suppliers. It is free to register and has already received support from Sylvia Lam from Billabong and William Mera from Victoria Secret Pink. Its a great tool to get you started - check it out!

Based on your spec sheets, manufacturers should be able to provide you with production cost quotes. However, it is sometimes difficult to gauge the true fabric usage and time to produce 1 piece. For example: when making board shorts; you might be making very similar pairs in the same fabrics but depending on the fabrics usages, complexity of design, amount of pattern pieces and cuts needed, this will impact your cost. Some manufacturers may produce the sample first and then bill you for payment. The drawback to this is the possibility of being surprised with a cost you were not expecting but already obligated to pay.

Once you get the quotes from the manufacturer, you will want to negotiate with them to see if you are able to bring the costs down. When you are happy with the production cost, only then should you proceed into the clothing manufacturing process. Be prepared with a realistic budget in place!

Step 3: Sourcing all Materials, Fabrics, and Accessories

Sourcing materials and fabrics can be a daunting process. There are so many different types of fabrics to choose from; where do you begin. The best start is to have an idea of some material and fabrics you might want to work with before you go into the suppliers. Once you are there, they would be able to give you some guidance as to what might be the best fabrics based on the designs and direction you are going for. If you go in without direction, you will be lost in a sea of linen and lace and viscose and rayon and cotton and modal and nylon and it keeps going!

Some widely used fabric will come in a variety of pre-dyed colours. If the fabric does not come in the colour you want; which quite often happens, it will need to be dyed to the colour you choose based on the pantone codes you provide. This has an MOQ of approximately 50 to 100m depending on

If you are looking for printed fabrics, sometime the design you like will be available but not in the material you want. In this case, the supplier should be able to help you in providing printing services in house or know of a company that can screen or digitally print fabric out house. Keep in mind, when printing fabrics (or dying them) there are MOQs for this; be prepared to produce at least 50m+ in most cases. (50m of printed fabric will produce about 45-50 t-shirts).

Alternatively, rather than buying fabrics that might not be exactly what you need nor be the print you want, manufacturing the textile right from the factories might be the option for you. Indonesia is one of the worlds largest textile producers and as such is a great source to make not only your own prints but your own fabric weaves as well. There are a number of textile producers in West Java as well as Jakarta - keep in mind again, the MOQ for this would be about 3000kgs (depending on the gsm - grams per square metre - of the fabric this might equate to abut 3500m)

If your garments require accessories such as zippers, fasteners, or buttons, the manufacturer should b able to help you with this. However, a good place to start is at YKK - they are the worlds leader in zippers, snaps, buttons and hooks. You can download the catalogue of all their product from their website.

If additional hard ware is required; like the Michael Kors name plate or customised buckle, this might be more difficult to source. These types of items are sometimes made by jewellers as wax moulds or die cuts need to be made. Again, however, ask your manufacturer as they may be able to point you in the right direction to connect you to the right people.

Step 4: Patterns, Sampling and Size Grading

After you have confirmed your production cost quotes and sourced everything necessary for your garments to be produced, you are now ready to have your patterns and samples made. The cost of this process is normally the production cost x 2 or 3 - this will vary between manufacturer. Some may charge you separately for the patterns and the samples so make sure to speak to them to ensure you are getting what you expect.

What the patterns entail is taking all of the information provided in the spec sheets (or physical samples provided) and making paper based outlines or designs which will be use as a template, laid onto the fabric, traced and cut out. Here you can see patterns, on the fabric and being cut.

From these cut outs, the fabric will then be sew together to make your samples. The initial sample will be a "sew sample" - it will not have the full details such as the specific colour you want (will be made in RFD - Ready For Dying), printing techniques, woven tags, etc. It is to get the right fit, fabric and to see the quality of sewing before proceeding into full production. The initial sampling phase will usually take anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks depending on the complexity of design.

When speaking to your manufacturer; along with spec sheets you had provided them, it is best to give them a sizing guide you are comfortable using - there are so many different options with UK, US, European, Australian sizing, etc. - you don't want to get this aspect wrong! This sizing guide will be used to grade all of your patterns which will allow them to make all the different sizes required. Confirm with your manufacturer as well if there is an additional cost for size grading.

Step 5: Review of Samples

Once the samples are completed, they should be shipped out to you so that you can review them. What you will be looking for is the feel and fit of the fabric - does it sit right and feel nice on the skin - does it flow and fit properly. If not, you might need to change the fabric choice and proceed to make samples again - keep in mind, you will be charged for this.

Ensure to check all of the seams in the garments - give them a good tug to ensure their strength. Wash them according to the clothing care instructions to ensure they withstand the wash and dry cycle - do this 3-4 times to be sure.

If there are any changes required, communicate this very clearly with your manufacturer so that you do not have to make multiple adjustments and corrections. Sometimes the best and easiest way of doing this is with masking tape with instructions taped onto the garment in the area that needs correcting. Also, taking pictures of the pieces and editing the images by adding text and circling ares that need correcting is always helpful . If you do need to make adjustments, they should be free for the first correction. Anymore than this and you may be charged fees again. Also, if you decide that the garments needs to be wider or longer; this will require new patterns to be made, you will be charged the sampling costs again - it is easy to reduce the fabric but it is not possible to just add a little. Think of it like cutting your hair, once its cut, you cannot just add it back.

Samples are a back and forth process so be prepared for the possibility of corrections. Give the manufacturers time to correct any possible changes necessary. Take the time to get your samples right.

Step 6: Preparation for Mass Manufacturing

At this stage, you now have perfect samples or "master sample" which will be used as a basis for all other garments to be made off of. You are now ready to proceed into the preparation for mass manufacturing.

This process includes a variety of items; some of which may apply to you and others may not - it differs depending on your production. As well the timeframes below may be slightly different depending on where you are manufacturing - this is based on Bali and Indonesia.

Some of the preparation items include:

Ordering all the fabrics and materials - This will take approximately 3-4 days from placing the order with the suppliers to delivery. If the fabrics or materials are not available at that time, it could take up to 2 months to receive it if it needs to be ordered from the textile producers.

Hot Wash or Preshrinking - This is the process of washing all the fabric in hot water to preshrink it before the garment are cut and sewn. It is strongly suggested to do this as it will ensure the proper fit of the garment even after your customer has washed it themselves after wearing. Depending on the fabric, the shrinkage can be anywhere from 5-15% - usually 8-12% is the norm. It will take approximately 1-2 weeks, depending on the amount of fabric being processed.

Dip Dying - This is the process in which RFD fabric (Ready For Dying) is dipped into dye that has been mixed to match your pantone code. This will take approximately 1-2 week to process a solid colour.

Screen Printing - This is the process by which a mesh-based stencil is placed onto fabric and a squeegee is used to move ink overtop of it. There are certain parts of the stencil that are blocked out and do not allow the ink to pass through. The area where the ink does pass through deposit the colour onto the fabric. This process takes about 2 weeks to make the screens and another 3-4 weeks to print and process the fabrics.

Digital Printing - This printing technique is produced by computers from files. It will take 2-3 weeks to do a strike off or a test print and another 2-3 weeks to print and process the fabrics. The manufacturer should be able to accept files in AI, PDF, JPEG or PNG set to scale in repeat or yardage printing.

Batik Printing - This is a hand painting technique in which wax in added to a canting pen which is then draw onto the fabric. The fabric is then hand painted in a variety of colours and the wax is washed off leaving the design. This is a very labour intensive method but the results are amazing! To produce 1m of batik fabric; some designs can take up to 3 hours to draw, another 5-6 hour for canting and 1 day to paint.

Accessories or Hardware - Accessories can be items such as buttons, zippers, snaps, eyelets, press stud, etc. Hardware are items such as buckles or plate (similar to the Michael Kors image above). Both of these items can take up to 4 weeks if special order or customisation is required.

Woven Brand Labels - This is your brand tag that is swen into the garments on the inside at the neck. Files are usually required in AI, PDF, JPEG or PNG in high resolution and set to scale. This will take approximately 2 weeks. The MOQ is 3000 pieces. These can be made while the production has started.

Swing Tags - This is the tag that will be attached to the garment on the outside. Files are usually required in AI, PDF, JPEG or PNG in high resolution and set to scale. This will take approximately 2 weeks. The MOQ is 1000 pieces. These can be made while the production has started.

Clothing Care/Sizing Labels - This is the tag that will be attached to the garment on the lower inside seam. Files are usually required in AI, PDF, JPEG or PNG in high resolution and set to scale. This will take approximately 2 weeks. The MOQ is 3000 pieces. These can be made while the production has just started. Keep in mind that you will require different clothing care label for each different garment with each different fabric.

Step 7: Mass Manufacturing and Quality Control

Once all of "Step 6" is in place and ready, the mass manufacturing and production can begin; the CMT ( cutting measuring trimming). The general timeframe for a production is 3 months; this will vary based on the total amount of pieces in your production, the complexity of designs as well as what other productions are in the schedule at that same time. The preparation for mass manufacturing would be included in this 3 month timeframe.

During the mass manufacturing process, quality control is the utmost importance. You should ensure that the manufacturer you work with is able to offer the services of doing QC on a bi-weekly or monthly basis. This should be preformed by randomly checking approximately 15-20% of all completed pieces up until that point. This will allow any errors to be caught and corrected in a timely manner and not impact the completion date.

After receiving your production, you should be given time to review the pieces for QC. If you do find any rejects, send it back to the manufacturer so that they can repair or replacement it for you.

Step 8: Shipping

The majority of manufacturers will have business accounts with shipping (by air) companies in their area. Some of these include DHL, FedEx and UPS. Having the business accounts will allow them to negotiate better prices than what is quoted online. Shipments will arrive in approximately 4-10 days depending on the delivery location and method.

Alternatively, if you are manufacturing large quantities that would require shipping by sea; a 20 or 40' container, there are a number of freight forwarders you can contact and find online. This delivery method will take 2-3 months and usually has a minimum of 3cbm.

Once everything is packed, and before delivery, the shipping companies will require a performa invoice. This is the form that customs need in order to ensure the products are allowed into the country but also to identify all the contents.

When shipping; either by air or sea, there will be duties, taxes and insurances required.

Duties and taxes are paid by the receiver in their country. The duty and tax amount will vary depending on the value of goods and country of delivery. This duty calculator may help you in establishing what your approximate costs might be so you can add this into your budget.

Insurance is automatically included when using DHL, FedEx or UPS and additional can be purchased at an extra charge but when using a shipping by sea company and freight forwarders, there are no insurances include so you will need to purchase this in all shipments. Whichever option of delivery you choose, you may be able to declare a lesser value of the goods. This is great as your taxes and duties will be a lesser amount once the delivery arrives, however, if it does not arrive, the insurance will only cover you for the value you have declared which in this case, you will not get full reimbursement. This is a decision left up to you.

There are many different variables and moving parts in the clothing manufacturing process. We hope that by writing this post, "8 Steps to Clothing Manufacturing" it will become a useful tool for everyone who is inspired to create. We would love it if you shared this post with your network.

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8 Steps to Clothing Manufacturing - Clothing Manufacturing Agent Bali

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On a daily basis Clothing Manufacturing Agent Bali receives numerous inquires from clients with a variety of questions. The most widely asked is regarding the process of clothing manufacturing; not knowing where to begin or what steps to take next. Here we will outline it the 8 step to clothing manufacturing from beginning to end.

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This is the company that do our school P.E Kit , they make our tops from recycled plastic waste and are very eco friendly. I am sure they would be happy to have an interview. If you look on their website they also have a video of how they keep their products as eco friendly as possible.

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Six years ago, Zhang Baobao left his family behind in his village home and moved to Wuxi, a large industrial city in southwest China.

Home for the 25-year-old today is a dormitory from which he can see the garment factory where he spends up to 8 hours a day, cutting fabric for fast fashion garments that get shipped around the world.

If you've bought anything from one of the 143 apparel stores owned by the Cotton On Group in New Zealand, chances are it was made in this factory, which produces nine million items for Cotton On each year.

On a typical day, New Zealanders buy about 28,000 garments from a Cotton On store - Cotton On, Cotton On Kids, Cotton On Body, Rubi Shoes, Supre, and Factorie - most of which are made in China.
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* The high cost of cheap clothing falls on factory workers
Standing on the production floor of the Wuxi Everbright factory, Zhang Baobao and his wife, 20-year-old Zhang Guiyun, talk about their one-year-old daughter, Zhang Zirui, who is being raised by their parents back in Anhui, a village in Suzhou province, 365 kilometres away.

It's part of the deal working here that they won't get to see their infant for at least five months. The young couple send the money they earn back home.

According to their boss, a Wuxi employee earns from the minimum wage of 1890 yuan ($380) a month, and an average of 3700 to 4000 yuan a month ($747 to $807), for working at his factory - an amount that NGOs say meets the minimum wage but is still not enough.

Guiyan smiles shyly, touching the factory security card strung around her neck, hiding the misspelt words of her t-shirt, "Uban Ourfitters, Seattle". "People treat us very well here," says her husband, who wears a white t-shirt emblazoned with the single word, "Superman".

It's currently fashionable to know where our clothes come from, and by the end of next year, Cotton On will join fashion giants like Zara and H&M in publishing its supply chain. However, it's also fashionable to buy cheap, seasonal clothes in a climate of perpetual sales - trends that drive fashion retailers to make ever-cheaper apparel on tighter turn-arounds.

"We live in a throwaway culture. The problem with that is you have to squeeze the supply chain to do it cheaper and cheaper," says Christina Dean, the founder of Redress, a UK fashion NGO working to reduce waste in the industry.

Auckland mother-of-four Sarah McLeod has stocked up on pyjamas, leggings and sweatshirts at Cotton On Kids this winter, choosing the store because it is a "one stop shop", and paying $20 for a pair of leggings, for example. "I definitely don't see Cotton On as a cheaper option but I can go in there and get everything I need in one shop," she says.

H&M is preparing to open new stores in Auckland and Christchurch, and Dean predicts more will follow. Fashion giants like H&M and Zara are always on the hunt for the next market, she says, and New Zealand is on a par with India, where the two retailers are frantically opening stores.

"It sounds like you've barely scratched the surface with fast fashion in New Zealand," says Dean. "If I compare what is happening in India, consumers will start shopping like crazy."

But Dean urges New Zealand consumers to question the mass consumption of cheap clothing, "and ask themselves if they want a hand in it". Big business won't push for change, she says, as it makes profits through this system. "The best way to crack the egg is to start with the awakening of the consumer."

Since the day founder and co-owner Nigel Austin sold his first acid denim jackets out of the back of his Ford Bronco at a Geelong market in 1988, the Australian company has surged to become one of the biggest retail giants in Australasia. Privately owned by Austin and his cousin, Ashley Hardwick, the group has 1600 stores around the globe, including 160 in New Zealand.

Fast fashion chains are increasingly throwing a spotlight on their operations in response to pressure from conscious consumers like McLeod.

As part of its desire for transparency, Cotton On invited Stuff to China in late May to its suppliers' conference and to see inside two of its 450 Chinese factories.

At the conference, Cotton On managers revealed to an audience of about 300 factory owners and workers the good and the bad of outsourcing production to China and increasingly India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Mynamar and Bangladesh.

Star suppliers were awarded champion certificates at the end of the day. Cotton On presented statistics about those who were failing based on its audits. In 2016, 16 per cent of its factory workers weren't paid the minimum wage, 28 per cent weren't paid enough overtime, 23 per cent were paid incorrect entitlements, and 20 per cent didn't get their entitled day off each week.

Cotton On has 14 terms of trade, and paying the workers at least the minimum wage is one of those. If factories are caught underpaying staff, Cotton On's sustainability manager Adam Lloyd says the company works with the supplier to rectify the problem, keeping tabs on it through audits.

"If after numerous attempts to fix the issue the factory still does not comply, we begin an exit strategy to remove ourselves from the factory while giving them time to source new business, protecting the workers' jobs during our exit," he says.

In a further problem, a growing number of factories are subcontracting to others without Cotton On's permission to get their massive production orders fulfilled.
CALLS FOR THE LIVING WAGE
If Gershon Nimbalker, author of industry bible the Ethical Fashion Report, had his way, workers like Baobao and Guiyan would be paid at least the living wage, a minimum of US$550 a month (NZ$750). The cost? Just 50 cents extra a t-shirt.

"You have a situation where a lot of these workers are taken away from crushing rural poverty to working conditions which are only slightly better."

Nimbalker was also invited to the May conference, where he addressed suppliers and visited three Cotton On factories, including an unannounced visit to one factory where he and Cotton On managers just turned up.

His impression? Cotton On is one of Australasia's top ethical brands, he says. Its suppliers are checked by internal and external auditors. The factories were clean, and staff were provided meals and accommodation.

"But you always get the best understanding what it's like by independently talking to workers, and I didn't get that chance."

Nimbalker is also concerned about the conflict for suppliers who are under pressure not to raise their prices for Cotton On, while also being asked to protect workers wages and conditions.

Cotton On put up a slide showing it paid suppliers an average US$3.57 for a Cotton On item in 2017, up from US$3.33 in 2016; a Cotton On kids garment had risen in price from a US$2.47 average in 2016 to US$2.56 this year.

"It's a huge problem for the fast fashion and value fashion industry, where you have the brands on the one hand asking their suppliers to have greater social awareness, and on the other hand they're saying, don't put your prices up," Nimbalker says.
GOING TO THE SOURCE
A muddy river runs beside a five-lane highway, two boats sluggish in the distance. Six million people live in Wuxi, typically residing in tall, thin apartment blocks or dormitories attached to factories.

Our mini van heads south towards the city that was once the birthplace of modern commerce. During the Tang dynasty, Wuxi was famous for its silk farms and rice fields. Today, green fields have been replaced with skyscrapers and factories, as Wuxi is now the site of more than 300 garment factories, and industrial zones producing electronics, medicines and chemicals.

Lake Taihu is the colour of pea soup, a dirty brown watery expanse lying beneath a grey sky so bleak that it seems impossible a sun is in the sky above it.

From the 1980s, industrial parks began lining its edges, polluting the lake. The Chinese government has tried to clean up the damage, closing 1000 culpable factories, but today, about 60 per cent of the lake and its waterways are still polluted.

Wuxi Everbright is behind a security fence. Sun pierces through the haze above, as the Chinese managing director, Peak Fun, vigorously shakes my hand, his black BMW X5 parked near the entrance.

The 41-year-old manager takes us through the staff canteen, where garment workers have not long finished their supplied lunch. In the staff leisure room, a weights machine is against the wall, near a treadmill, a ping pong table and shelves lined with books.

One of Cotton On's top 20 suppliers, Wuxi Everbright runs this factory and two others, along with eight subcontracted factories. Shown a factory introductory video, we watch garment workers in the company playing a game of tug of war and taking part in a fire drill.

Two buildings facing each other contain the workplace and the homes of about 150 garment workers. The couples, who must have a marriage certificate, sleep on the top floor. In each male and female dormitory, three sets of bunk beds are lined up against a wall.

The workers' wet clothes drape on washing lines on each small balcony, blocking out much of the light in some rooms. The workers can't escape the factory, as they can see it from each dormitory window. The dorms look clean, and they're not cramped, but six men or women must share a room.

On the ground floor of the factory and office block, a woman drops her head over a navy blue patterned Cotton On garment laid out on a table, inspecting it for flaws. On the top floor, vast sheets of fabric as big as yacht sails are spread on a long table filling one room, which two workers cut with scissors.

Peak proudly tells us a single machine cuts 20 sheets of fabric, doing a job that used to be done by hand. In another large room, bolts of fabric are stacked on shelves, waiting to be transformed into fast fashion clothes. Along with Cotton On garments, this factory turns local designs into garments for fashion conscious Chinese.

He has seen big changes in the 15 years since he became a merchant for the garment industry.

Of the 600 garment factories that used to be in the Wuxi area, only about half are left. Wages have risen over time, and costs have gone up. Over the past five years, global brands have left China for cheaper countries like Cambodia and Bangladesh. Peak's factory no longer makes simple t-shirts - they're made in Dhaka or Cambodia, where wages are cheaper.

In the main factory, rows of young machinists are lined up at whirring sewing machines, as music booms out of speakers on the walls. Every stitch they sew adds to the money they'll send back to their families in their villages up to 10 hours away. Each month, the 300 garment workers, who must be 18 or older, whip up 200,000 garments.

Later, Peak tells me over a lunch of soup about the "big challenge" of allowing workers to see their families. The factory has wifi, so the staff can connect with their children and relatives, and a foundation fund allows five workers a year to have their families to stay in a spare room for up to a week. Workers return home twice a year - for two weeks over the Chinese New Year and a week in October.

The conditions in the two factories visited appeared adequate. When asked if Cotton On has confidence in the conditions of its other 448 factories, Lloyd says it does. Cotton On also backs the conditions in its subcontractor factories.

"There are always improvements which canbe made and we're committed to making a positive difference and improving the lives of factory workers"

Lloyd says the company is "exploring different living wage methodologies and how we can integrate these into our programs".
WHAT NEXT?
Cotton On's rules of trade meet local Chinese laws. However, the national secretary of the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia, Michele O'Neil, wants Australia and New Zealand to pass modern slavery laws like Britain, France and the Netherlands, to control brands making goods offshore.

O'Neil says in some parts of China, the minimum wage for garment workers is as low as US$185 (1250 yuan or NZ$250) a month and workers are denied the right to join a union.

"You walk into a factory you're given permission to visit and it looks clean and safe, and it looks okay, but it doesn't tell you the whole story. I hear through my international work that what happens the day before there is an audit or an international guest, that there will be some changes made. The lights will be turned on and the doors will be unbolted."

"That's not a comment on Cotton On suppliers, but we know it happens."

Lloyd says Cotton On has long-term partnerships with Wuxi Everbright and the Guangyu Textile Factory, and they did not conceal anything during the visits. "Michele is definitely correct in what she's saying, and for that reason we do conduct thousands of unannounced visits each year to ensure our suppliers are adhering to our 14 Rules to Trade. We have seen no significant disparity between announced and unannounced visits."

The final word goes to McLeod, a conscious consumer who checks ethical ratings when she shops. Cotton On, with its A-minus score, gets her tick.

The owner of a voice-over agency, Big Mouth Voices, she wants to know where her childrens' clothes come from, and that the workers who made them are well-treated. "I've stopped shopping at another brand with a D rating. In an ideal world, stores would have their ratings on their doors so consumers can be truly informed," she says.

But McLeod wouldn't want to pay more for Cotton On clothes, arguing the brand and factories should share more of their profits with the workers. "If a brand like Cotton On is truly ethically-minded, I think it has a responsibility to give more of its profits to those who have actually made the clothes, who deserve a living wage."
* Sarah Catherall's trip to China was paid for by Cotton On. * Clarification: An earlier version of this story reported that Zhang Baobao worked up to 10 hours a day. Staff in Zhang's factory are required to work eight hours a day with the choice to work an additional two hours, for which they are paid overtime. The copy has been amended to reflect this.
- Sunday Star Times

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Who made my clothes? Inside Cotton On's Chinese factories

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Six years ago, Zhang Baobao left his family behind in his village home and moved to Wuxi, a large industrial city in southwest China. Home for the 25-year-old today is a dormitory from which he can see the garment factory where he spends up to 8 hours a day, cutting fabric for fast fashion garments that get shipped around the world.

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The life cycle of a t-shirt - Angel Chang

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With all my do-gooder intentions for muka kids I really needed to understand the complexities of the ethical clothing production chain. By ethical I mean a production chain where worker and environmental well-being sits at the heart of it. So we went to India. We went to learn how ethical clothing is created and other clothing is not. We went to talk with those involved, in this very long production chain, about their day to day reality, their joys and their despair. We followed the journey of fairtrade organic cotton from field to factory across that beautiful and chaotic continent. We fell in love with the beauty of rural India, and despaired of the poverty we saw there. We felt brought down by the knowledge that the production we were seeing represented less than 1% of the industry, yet uplifted by the promise of the better way it represented. It is not a perfect system, but it strives at it at least. Here is our tale of ethical clothing, we hope you will see the promise it is too.

Growing Cotton

It all starts in the green fields and rainy regions in central and west India. Organic cotton seed is planted, fed by rain and picked by hand when it comes to bloom.

Organic cotton uses no pesticides or chemical fertilizers. The farmers make rich compost, have huge writhing worm farms and remove pests by hand. It is hard work, requiring intensive labour, but they are no longer beholden to large international companies for chemical inputs and seed.

Certified fairtrade cotton commands a guaranteed price for the farmers at market (43 rupees per kg of raw seed cotton), and it is a price that ensures they can feed their families. The non fairtrade cotton price is, distressingly, often below the cost of production for farmers (when writing this it was 33 ruppees per kg). Fairtrade has made a measurable difference to cotton farmer's lives, and most importantly has enabled them to stay free of debt. Spiraling debt has lead to an extraordinarily high suicide rate in Indian cotton farmers. While fairtrade cotton is a literal life saver to these families, the market for fairtrade cotton is still small and subject to fluctuations in demand by clothing companies - this causes these families a great deal of anxiety.

These fluctuations in demand for fairtrade cotton, and the fact that rain fed organic cotton can only be grown for six months a year, means the women in the farming villages need supplementary sources of income. Currently, they migrate their families (their babies, their children) across the country, by train,to do menial labour for the other half of each year. Building small enterprises, while the ethical cotton markets grows, to keep them in their homes and their incomes steady, is a necessity for them.

Once the raw seed cotton has been picked by the men and women in these small farming villages, it is taken by truck to the local ginning factory, where it is cleaned and processed and pressed.

Using a series of huge machines the picked raw cotton, which still has the seed intact, is put though a series of blowers, filters, spinners and extractors to separate the fiber from the seed.

Nine hundred tonnes of raw organic fairtrade cotton is sucked up into the filters every season at this factory.

While the machinery looks pre-industrial , labour practices are not. As with the farming, at the ginning stage producers must adhere to an agreed set of labour standards (including no child labour) and are audited regularly to ensure compliance.

Once separated from the seed the cotton, now known as lint, is bailed (or pressed) and ready to make the long journey by road across the subcontinent to the cotton mills.

Spinning and Knitting

The pressed organic fairtrade cotton lint arrives in southern India at the cotton spinning and knitting mills. It is kept separate from the conventional cotton through a series of color coded labels and storage rooms.

Once at the mill the cotton goes through a much more rigorous cleaning process. It is then carded and combed by machinery that roars in rooms that dwarf. The vast size of the machinery means the mills need to be located in rural areas. In fairtrade and certified ethical production there must be free of indentured labour. This is where girls and women live on site, work long hours for limited pay in dangerous conditions and are prevented from leaving until a specified time is completed (usually years). Indentured labour at conventional mills is easy to get away with due to the isolated rural locations.

Once the cotton has been transformed into the unbleached cotton knit fabric it is again put on a truck and taken to the dying factories. The dying factories are mostly based in the same area as the final garment factories they serve so the travel is reduced.

While the residual chemicals left on fabric from conventional dying processes are concerning, the biggest worry is the waste. Conventional dying is a very toxic process and as such the waste water produced is full of heavy metals and pollutants. This waste is either pumped into local waterways (dying factories are usually situated on rivers) or into surrounding land where they will eventually leach into waterways. In organic certified factories however, the dying is done with fewer and much less harmful chemicals (no heavy metals are used at all) and is undertaken in a closed loop system. A closed loop system means the waste waster is treated until it is inert and then reused in manufacture. In the town we visited there are 10 organic dying factories - of the 200 or so that operate.

Back at the garment factory the cloth undergoes it final transformation into clothing. When people talk ethical clothing production it is probably fair to say that they mostly consider only this final stage in the chain (construction of the clothes). Strangely though the vast bulk of processes and people involved in the production of our clothing are hidden from consumers' (and often makers') dialogue on the issue of ethical production. For ethical production this means the complexities in ensuring a sustainable and fair approach throughout the chain are often unrecognized and unremarked upon, we can improve this conversation.

The Cutting & Sewing of the Cloth.

So what differs in ethical clothing production during these final stages from conventional factories? Well to me as the uneducated observer these factories all looked like a pretty normal workplaces, and that is the key, fairtrade, and other ethical labour standards ensure that things are just that - normal, safe, fair & reasonable. No children, no long hours, safety around large machinery, lunch and tea breaks, reasonable pay. It is not perfect, gender equity pay still needs work in many of these ethical workplaces, and the wider social conditions have an impact here, but progress has been made. As the demand from customers (western clothing makers and the people who buy their products), for clothes made under these conditions increases, so more progress will be made.

The first stage in garment construction is checking the fabric for flaws.

Garments with patterns and designs then go to screen printing, which can be done by hand or by rotary screens.

Organic certified paints are used for the screen prints on fabrics for clothing that is organically certified. Separation from non organic paints is critical and as demand increases many producers will move to 100% organic production to reduce the complexities.

Following screen printing the cloth is cut into the specified pattern pieces, usually by a hand operated cutting machine. Most pattern pieces are arranged on the fabric in a way to minimize wastage of cut fabric. Fabric coverage of 85-86% is considered acceptable, though it is not always possible to achieve this. In factories with a commitment to sustainability fabric scraps are usually recycled. That means the scraps are pulped back into fibre and then used to make cardboard packaging and labels.

The construction of the garment is carried out in mind boggling series of operations that to the average observer look all a bit the same, but clearly are not! Depending on where in India factories are located you may only see men in the more skilled roles. The various states have made variable progress on women's rights and this is reflected in the workplace. Under fairtrade there must be active movements made to address this regardless of the position of women within a local community.

Finally the completed product is checked with the garment designers

Ironically, in many states in India the local labour laws are strongly in favour of workers rights (though often not women's). However, the nature of Indian bureaucracy, a lack of regulatory bodies and out and out corruption mean these laws are not adhered to. It is not just a local issue, what compounds this is the business practices of large multinational clothing companies who press for the lowest price for products, and will only contract for specified item/s of clothing per season, rather than formalizing long term partnerships with manufacturers. Such partnerships would allow factories to predict their income, formalize their workforce and apply better standards to their workplace, instead of driving for the lowest production cost. In the meantime fairtrade and other ethical standards have stepped into the breach to provide for a small but growing group of consumers who want to see these standards improve. Pressure on countries at the political level (via large manufacturers and economic trading partners) may have some impact, in the mean time consumers have a very strong hand to play through the almighty dollar.

There are of course more stages to get the garment to you - packaging, freight, more packaging. Those committed to ethical clothing production work hard to reduce the packaging and carbon footprint of their clothes. Scale lends itself to the ability to make business practice more sustainable too, to use shipping instead of airfreight for example. These are all small but important activities in the complex chain that is ethical clothing production. Not all ethical & sustainable clothing makers have the scale or the size to commit to all ethical activities in this chain, but as consumers we can help them get there by growing their market and asking for it. If they do have scale then tough questions SHOULD be asked about their chain. A chain that involves many many people, all who matter and all who just want to live a life where choices are real & meaningful.
Jess Berentson-Shaw founded the social enterprise muka kids' to connect consumers, designers and garment workers across the world, and empower them to make the clothing industry a sustainable one. Muka kids has a marketplace to trade preloved organic, ethical & sustainable clothing. Through its partnerships with accredited brands it also helps make new sustainable clothing more affordable. Sales on the marketplace fund a micro finance scheme for women cotton farmers in India trying to pull themselves out of poverty.

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From Field to Factory - How Ethical Clothing is Made. A Photographic Journey. - organic fair trade clothes for kids

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With all my do-gooder intentions for muka kids I really needed to understand the complexities of the ethical clothing production chain. By ethical I mean a production chain where worker and environmental well-being sits at the heart of it. So we went to India.

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Perhaps you could arrange to go to ICHK to make some nylon for yourself??

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Perhaps you could arrange to go to ICHK to make some nylon for yourself??

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Old clothing often just sits in your dresser drawers or in your closet, taking up the space you could be using for clothing you actually wear. You might think of tossing it out or giving it away, but how often do you really have the motivation?

Bagging up clothes isn't a particularly fun activity, after all. But making crafts is, and there are plenty of crafts you can create from old clothing. You can dress up your old clothes with cool alterations, create accessories, quilts, artwork, or transform one piece of clothing into another. There are plenty of mind-blowing ways to repurpose old clothing. Read on for ideas.

Wrapped Skirt
Use a scarf to create a wrapped skirt.

Repurposed Men's Shirt
Alter a men's shirt to create a cute woman's top.

T-shirt Pom Poms
Create decorative pom poms from an old t-shirt.

T-Shirt Produce Bag
Use old t-shirts to create colorful and eye-catching produce bags.

T-shirt Cutting and Weaving
Do some cutting and weaving to turn a boring t-shirt into a fashionable top.

Clothes into Hair Posies
Use the fabric from old clothing to make cute flower accents for your hair.

Jean Quilt
Use old jeans and flannel to make an awesome quilt.

Old T-shirt Scarf
Use interesting t-shirts to create an eye-catching scarf.

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40 Mindblowing Ways To Repurpose Old Clothing

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These people could be good to contact for an interview? (remember that nylon is a type of plastic)

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These people could be good to contact for an interview? (remember that nylon is a type of plastic)

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As our precious planet grapples with the existential threat of climate change and environmental decay, the silver lining in this rather gloomy outlook lies in our future: the millennial generation. Contrary to preconceived notions that millennials are lazy, selfish and self-entitled, research has shown that this cohort are more aware of responsible consumption and want to shop for ethical brands with environmental purpose. As this Markting Week piece points out, "customers are making the transition from intention to action." The power of the purse (or wallet) is a strong vote with each purchase you make. By wielding their spending power wisely, millennials are collectively turning the spotlight on ethical businesses. Take a look at Hong Kong's best eco-conscious companies, and vote for a better world when you shop!

Wathaa!

Beachwear for men, women and children, Wathaa's entire product line is made from 100% recycled plastic. Believing in the need to create products that will benefit our planet first and foremost, founder (and longtime apparel product manager) Arienne Rossi decided to combine her love for fashion and sustainability to create a swim line with the sole purpose of reducing existing plastic waste. Rossi intentionally chose swimwear because the main materials in most bathing suits are made out of polymers, which can be replaced with recycled plastic. Wathaa! is based in Hong Kong, though the fabric is made in Italy and the recycled polyester yarn is made in the US. Their stitching factory, located in South China, has a commendable ethical labor philosophy: all 300 employees are provided with housing, working hours are commensurate with European standards, a staff canteen operates three times a day to offer free meals for all workers, and their entire setup is certified by BSCI, the social compliance standard.

good 'hoods

A local online shop offering organic cotton kids tees, good 'hoods is great eco option when you need some awesome tees. Founded by Aimee Jefferson, the company uses regional manufacturers and local printers in Hong Kong to support other small businesses and all the tees are certified Fair Trade Hong Kong and GOTS (a global organic cotton ecolabel). A portion of their proceeds from each purchase goes to local charity Enrich, an NGO that supports migrant workers by assisting them with financial literacy. Fully transparent to the public, good 'hoods acknowledges that while their garment suppliers are not local, it does come from a small community of farmers in China, keeping in line with their sustainability ethos.

Paper Shades

Created by brother-sister tag team James and Madi Chu, Paper Shades are sunglasses made from recycled paper. Disappointed at the amount of waste created in product development and production, James used his knowledge in the design industry to create a sustainable product that was fun and functional and perfect for corporate event giveaways. Available in six designs, the shades are made from sturdy, durable re-used paper to leave the most minimal of carbon footprints, while the lenses provide UV400 protection.

RUMI X

A local activewear brand with fun, colorful prints, RUMI X has a seriously inspirational mission: to create eco-conscious apparel designed to make you feel good. Their bottoms are made from recycled plastic bottles while tops are made from used coffee grounds. Committed to protecting the environment, creator Melissa Chu was set on driving her brand to be functional and fashionable- find out more in her Green Queen interview.

EARTH.er

More than an eco apparel brand, EARTH.er, located in Tai O, is putting their philosophies of the fair trade movement into every day practice. Collaborating with several South East Asian organizations in their manufacturing and production process, EARTH.er strives to use eco-friendly materials like hemp, bamboo, recycled tires and banana tree fibers. In addition, the company has partnered with World Vision International to sponsor children from developing countries to support them throughout their childhood: EARTH.er has made it their mission to maintain this promise to these children, regardless of their profit margins.

Holenga

Based in Hong Kong, Holenga creates eco-conscious and cruelty-free lifestyle accessories. Doing their part to protect the environment, the company prints-to-order as customers purchase their wares to curb waste. Their award-winning signature ECO Can Plus is biodegradable and heat resistant, made of corn with zero plastic!
Photos courtesy of Paper Shades (lead), Wathaa, good 'hoods, RUMI X, EARTH.er, and Holenga.

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The Rise Of Eco Brands: Hong Kong's Best Ethical Fashion & Lifestyle Brands - Green Queen Health & Wellness Hong Kong

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As our precious planet grapples with the existential threat of climate change and environmental decay, the silver lining in this rather gloomy outlook lies in our future: the millennial generation. Contrary to preconceived notions that millennials are lazy, selfish and self-entitled, research has shown that this cohort are more aware of responsible consumption and want to ...

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this is a link with lots of other links where people an donate clothes

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It's no secret that our tiny Hong Kong apartments can accumulate a lot of clutter over the years, and before we know it, we're battling with bowing wardrobe rails, overflowing draws, and god knows what lurking under our bed. But New Year is the perfect time to clear the clutter, so we've done our homework to find you the best ways to donate your unwanted items and give them a second life, while contributing towards a worthy cause. Get ready to lighten the load and help those in need!

BooksMart

If you're looking to lighten your book shelf and give your favourite reads a new home, then second-hand bookstore BooksMart is always on the lookout for donations. Located in Sai Ying Pun, the store sells quality, new and used English books at very reasonable prices. However, be sure to email them a list of your books first so they can tell you which ones they can accept.

What you can donate: Books
BooksMart, Flat 212, 11/F, Glorious Commercial Building, No. 210-212 Des Voeux Road West, Sai Ying Pun, (+852) 2620 5035
Email: booksmart@netvigator.com

Caritas Community Centre

The official social service agency of the Catholic Church in Hong Kong, Caritas aims to address some of the social hardships and inequalities of people in Hong Kong, providing social work, education, medical care, community development, and hospitality services. They accept all wearable clothing, as well as used toys and books, but they do ask that donated toys are cleaned first. You can help support their program and drop off your items at their community centre in Mid-Levels.

Christian Action

Established in 1985 as a registered charitable organisation in Hong Kong, Christian Action is the only comprehensive provider of services to ethnic minorities, refugees, asylum seekers, and foreign domestic helpers. As part of their Green Collection Charity Drive, they accept any item of clothing that can be worn again, as well as baby items, books, and toys. You can give them a call to arrange a pick up from your home.

Crossroads Foundation

If you have larger items that you're looking to shift, such as furniture and electrical home appliances, then give Crossroads a call. The long standing NGO takes high-quality, unwanted goods from Hong Kong and redistributes them to people in need around the world. They accept all sorts of items, from clothing, books, and bedding, to small and large cooking equipment, electrical appliances, and furniture. All re-wearable goods go into their Global Distribution Program, half of which are distributed to local cases sponsored by the Social Welfare Department, while the other half are designated to foreign countries such as India, Cameroon, and Fiji. Fill out the online form to describe what you would like to donate, and give them a call to arrange a pick up, mail in or drop off at their door. Just be aware that it can take a few weeks to arrange their pickup service, so you might want to hire a man with a van instead.

Friends of the Earth

Reusing and recycling is the name of the game for environmental charity Friends of the Earth. They launched the Used Clothes Recycling Programme in 2001, and accept items such as clothes, shoes, and handbags at the many collection points dotted around the city. Re-wearables are sent to neighbouring countries while worn out pieces are turned into wipers for industrial use. The profits made from the programme are spent to support the FoE(HK) community education works. Since 2001, they have collected more than 4,000 tonnes of used clothes. Add your bundle to the mix and find your nearest collection point.

Hong Kong Federation of Handicapped Youth

Established in 1970, this government registered organisation helps people with disabilities in Hong Kong. The Federation accepts donations of second-hand clothing and books which prove to be very helpful to the young people they support. If you live on Kowloon side, this is a great donation option as you can drop off your items at their address in Wong Tai Sin.

Hong Kong Salvation Army

The electrical appliances. You can drop your donations off at any of the seventeen Hong Kong Salvation Army Recycling Programme welcomes both organisation and personal donations such as clothing, books, toys, and home Family Stores in Hong Kong where they are sold to raise money to support a variety of the charity's community programmes. Some of the donated goods will directly help people in need, such as street sleepers, ex-prisoners, the home-alone elderly, and CSSA recipients. For donations of a large quantity, such as five large bags of clothing, or heavy items such as TV sets, washing machines, refrigerators, and large musical instruments, contact the Recycling Hotline to arrange a pick-up service one to two weeks in advance.

Mother's Choice

Mother's Choice is a local charity serving the many children without families and pregnant teenagers in Hong Kong. They provide high-quality services for children, youth, and families, and are often looking for baby items such as diapers, wipes, bottles, and other specific needs. You can check their website to see what they need most at this time,and fill out the online form with photos of the items you would like to donate. They will contact you within 2-3 business days to arrange for drop off at one of their locations in Mid-Levels or Kwun Tong.

What you can donate: Baby diapers, wipes, bottles, teats, and other specific needs. Click here to see their current needs.
Mother's Choice, (+852) 3915 5750

Po Leung Kuk Orphanage

Formally established as the Society for the Protection of Women and Children in 1880, Po Leung Kuk Orphanage currently runs over 260 units throughout Hong Kong providing welfare, educational, recreational, and cultural services to the community. They accept a wide variety of donations to meet the basic needs of their recipients and these can be dropped off at their Wan Chai location.

Remar Hong Kong

A Christian charity dedicated to helping drug addicts, the homeless, and other people in need, Remar Hong Kong is able to accept larger electrical appliances and furniture donations which are stored in its large warehouse. You can call or email them to arrange a pick up, but be aware that there are charges for their assistance and travel.

What you can donate: Large electrical appliances and furniture
Remar Hong Kong, 1/F No.19, Shui Tau Tsuen, Yuen Long, Northern Territories, (+852) 3193 4919

Read more! Find the 5 Best Self Storage Providers in Hong Kong, and explore the rest of our Home section.

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Where to Donate Unwanted Books, Clothes and Other Items in Hong Kong

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It's no secret that our tiny Hong Kong apartments can accumulate a lot of clutter over the years, and before we know it, we're battling with bowing wardrobe rails, overflowing draws, and god knows what lurking under our bed.

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south china morning post

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Six-year-old Amy Lau received a Barbie interactive laptop computer worth HK$400 for her birthday. But the Grade One pupil already had a similar toy, so this one sat on top of a wardrobe until it was eventually thrown away during the annual Lunar...