2 effective ways to discard your clothes and earn money doing so!
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The Eco ExperimentNewsletter by The Eco Loop Hey Reader, Ever wondered what really happens to your clothes after you donate them?Most of us believe donating unwanted clothes helps others and the environment, but the uncomfortable reality is that donation centers are overwhelmed, and much still ends up in landfills. In this newsletter, I’ll share how I transformed my relationship with fashion after an overwhelming personal wake-up call. By the end, you’ll know the foolproof way to discard your unwanted clothes responsibly so they don’t end up in landfills. ​ My Personal Wake-up CallStanding in my Doha apartment, I stared at eight bulging garbage bags of discarded clothes, feeling a strange mix of guilt and relief. My love for clothes took a turn when I realized that fashion was becoming a hurdle in my life. There was a time when I wanted to shop every new trend the fast fashion companies released, not because I wanted to wear them, but because I wanted to fit in with societal norms! We moved to many countries and houses in the early years of my husband's and my careers! And every time we moved, it became a nightmare to clear and pack! I desperately wanted to break free from the burden of owning too much. Eight years ago, when I moved to Dubai from Doha, I was already tired of managing all the waste our family was generating! To add to that problem, when I cleared all our wardrobes, I accumulated eight big garbage bags full of clothes! Many of them were clothes I no longer enjoyed wearing! Of course, I bought all the cheap stuff available in the market! I gave it all to my lovely house help, who was happy to take it! But frankly, she did say she is doubtful whether she will be able to use it all! But back then, I was least bothered to know what she would do with it. It's not my problem, I thought! Let her discard it. I did not have the heart to throw it away in the dustbin! Many years later, as I evolved in my sustainable habits, whenever I needed to give away clothes, I ensured that my house help really wanted them! If she was unsure, I kept it to myself and stored it, not knowing what to do with it! Because most of the clothes that go into donation bins end up in the landfills! Sadly, way too much clothing is being shipped to the underprivileged communities, more than what they need! So they, too, throw it away just to end up in the landfills! What began as decluttering evolved into a complete reimagining of my relationship with fashion. Fast forward to today, As I've become more mindful of my fashion consumption, I have almost no clothes in good condition to give away. I wear them until they are torn to bits and use them as rags for cleaning. And finally, there comes that day when I have to bid goodbye to them! And soon, I found this amazing company called KISWA, who come to your doorstep, collects your worn-out clothes, and recycles them! And what more? They also pay you some money per kg of cloth waste they collect! If you are in the UAE, please use their services and make money while diverting waste from our landfills! Isn't it amazing! If you have good clothes, please drop them off at second-hand shops instead. There might be another person who will love what you don't enjoy wearing or fit into it anymore! Thrift For Good in Dubai and Hello and Good Buy in Abu Dhabi are excellent places to shop second-hand and drop off your good-condition unwanted clothes. But remember, the real sustainability breakthrough isn't about better disposal—it's about buying less in the first place. Watch out for this :)Soon on The Eco Loop YouTube channel, I will be sharing a vlog of my visit to a clothing sorting company that receives tons of fabric waste every day. You will be amazed to see how effectively they manage this waste and ensure it is diverted to the right places, preventing it from ending up in a landfill! So why wait? Subscribe here and hit the notification button to be updated on every new video that is published! :) ​ Here is a list of some places that will recycle or repurpose your clothes responsibly.
Here are some thrift stores where you can donate your clothes in good condition.
For the fastest and most rewarding experience, Kiswa is highly recommended for its user-friendly process, instant rewards, and full UAE coverage. Submit your request online or via WhatsApp, and your clothes will be collected from your doorstep, often within 24 hours. What They Accept: Clothes, shoes, bags, bed sheets, and cotton toys. Again, Overconsumption is the real issue! Recycling is not the solution due to its many limitations. Whenever possible, choose mono-fiber clothing, as it can be recycled or composted if made from natural fabric. I'm sharing this because our wardrobes represent one of our most direct relationships with consumption. The fashion industry is among the world's largest polluters, and the solution isn't just better recycling—it's reimagining our relationship with what we wear. The freedom I've found isn't just in having less to pack during moves—it's in escaping the exhausting cycle of trend-chasing and discovering what truly matters. The Eco Sheroes PodcastMeet the Founder of Hello & Goodbuy Nadia Al Shimmari :) She debunks all the myths and doubts about second-hand clothing! In this episode, Nadia Al Shimmari, founder and CEO of Hello&GoodBuy, shares her insights on pre-loved clothing and more! She offers helpful tips for selecting the perfect pieces, discusses the not-so-pretty truths about fast fashion brands, and reveals how Hello&GoodBuy stocks its fabulous clothes. Preloved clothing is an excellent, sustainable alternative to fast fashion. By giving garments a longer life and keeping them out of landfills, it helps reduce waste and save precious resources. ​ You can watch the episode on YouTube here. If you prefer only the audio version, you can listen to it on Spotify or Apple Podcasts :) If you watch or listen to this or any of the episodes and find it impactful, please like, comment, and subscribe :) I will be very grateful to you for doing this, as you are helping these essential messages reach a wider audience! Thank you so much for your continued support in spreading the word about sustainability.
​ Share this email and help spread the word to get more people to become imperfectly sustainable. :) Thank you so much! See you soon in your inbox! Cheers, Pallavi :) ​ PS: If this isn’t what you want, feel free to unsubscribe. No hard feelings :) ​ |