We always seem to have an interesting array of clothes in varying sizes. And it is great to see how many people are returning each time just to check out what is new.
I feel like this is a good community happening.
Coincidences happen: I watched a documentary during the week about a Chinese company setting up a large clothing factory in Ethiopia with the intention of taking advantage of cheap labour with no regulations. Because this was so successful the Company decided to expand, more factories, accommodation, and food outlets. The local government responded by buying the subsistent farmers land, paying a minimal amount and promising acreage in return ( it hasn’t happened). Then a downturn in orders, so the work ceased and this left the local people, now landless struggling to survive.
And then a few days later a news item about the used clothing that is exported to, I think Nigeria. There were acres of it, and the clip showed them opening a bale of this used clothing, and the contents looked just like what we get at the clothing swap. The point of this news story was, they were breaking down some of the clothes to make insulation.
So the moral question for me was; if we don’t buy, then the workers at these factories lose out, but if we do, we leave a mass of unwanted garments to be dealt with? No easy answer. And where does clothing swap fit in this equation?
Next Clothing Swap:
Sat September 20th.
St Andrew’s Church Hall 10am – 1pm
