Fair enough. The point was to get clothing that you didn’t plan on bringing home. How it’s dispositioned once you’re there is up to you.
When I went to Copenhagen last year I stayed in a hotel right across from the airport.
There was a sign in the closet that said to donate your unwanted clothes and they would take them to their local organization for distribution. That was awesome.
I left a couple of good shirts I did not need.
I am NOT donating old stained underwear and socks with holes. And sweaters with extensive pilling usually hit the trash along with stained t shirts.
Honestly, goes for other countries as well. The UK has a decent second hand clothes donation and resale setup. I worked as a holiday cottage cleaner for a few years, some visitors would just fill the trash with all their clothes- perfect condition, just not washed. All the staff were horrified whenever we found it. The worst offenders, were a youth group from the US organising a Christian Convention in the town, who did that every year to the point that the bins were overflowing, despite people pointing out that there was multiple charity organised drop off points for used clothing in town…
Even in bad condition, clothes can often be used for rags or recycled.
Wasn’t it the whole “donate your garments movement” that basically killed all of the domestic fabric production in Africa because good quality stuff came basically in for free from Europe or the USA? … and you can’t compete with free.
Cheap garments from Asia killed the local clothing markets. Southern Africa just could not compete. Our local manifacture is entirely in niche markets, like wedding dresses and similar expensive items.
Zimbabwe exports cotton to China, just so they can sell us overpriced, poor quality profucts
The cotton and locally made clothes industries has plummeted to the point where they don’t really exist.
I mean, like we have a fairly famous cotton cloth called “shweshwe” which is original to RSA, but is now largely manufactured in China.
China (or some businessman there) spotted a niche market and exploited it.
My Levi’s, for example, a really really USA brand are often made in China, otherwise in Vietnam.
In LatAm, it is for one a.) the chinese/SE-asian cheap products … and b.) “Ropa Americana” (American Garments) …
Let me talk a bit about b.) … there is a huge market for American Garment (that’s the stuff most americans give/donate to goodwill or new, unsold obsolete stock) …. that stuff will be sorted and bundled up and shipped to LatAm to be sold off at open-air-markets (or nowadays: FB-marketplace).
Bundles are typ. 100lb / 50 kg and as mentioned pre-sorted: Pullovers, Dress-shirts, Trousers,…
that is also (and hugely) eroding local production.
You can purchase a whole bundle for about $100,- and trying your luck - in terms of “famous brands” or so … or purchase garments individually.
Structural problem is: there is way too much XXXL stuff coming in for locals …
Dude! You’re a Heli Pilot! Wadda ya need a sportcoat for? You Cool As Fuck As Is!
I don’t travel often, but when I do, I pack in a Chase-Harper Tank Bag. I’m the most Un-interesting Man in The World.
Aw, shucks!
I’d rather not immediately identified as an American. I’m already called ‘soft-spoken’, so that may help.