A user on social media shared her experience of sorting and recycling old clothes at home, sparking discussion about the destinations of used clothing exports. She disposed of clothes she no longer wore through formal channels and learned that some used clothing can be exported to overseas markets.

According to her description, Kenya, Uganda and other places in Africa have strong demand for second-hand clothing (locally called mitumba), because many residents have limited financial means and second-hand clothes have become an important way to solve their clothing needs. In Southeast Asia, the second-hand markets in the Philippines and Thailand are also strong; the Philippine second-hand market attracts many families to shop, allowing them to buy decent-quality clothing at lower prices.

However, used clothing exports are not always smooth. In her sharing, she mentioned that clothes may be damaged during transportation, and there are also cases of unscrupulous merchants letting them flow into the black market and reselling them to people who do not really need them.

The article believes that used clothing recycling and export are forming a complete industrial chain, with more and more recycling companies and charities participating and viewing it as a business opportunity that combines environmental protection and social responsibility. At the end, it uses the example of a guest on a variety show who earned financial returns through used clothing recycling and helped local impoverished residents, showing that old clothes are not just a burden but can also convey warmth.

(Editor's note: This article only relays the sharing content of forum users and does not provide additional export data or policy information. Industry readers may use it for reference.)

Source: Where do old clothes exports go · Originally published on 2026-07-15