Why are there SHEIN items in my thrift store and why are they $0?

For some time now, I've received several messages regarding the presence of items from ultra-fast fashion brands, such as SHEIN, in my online thrift store. These reactions have prompted me to take a step back and delve deeper into a reflection that I consider important, both from an ecological and ethical perspective.

Clothes that already exist

The items in question were not purchased for the thrift store. They were donated to me. In other words, these clothes already exist. They were produced, sometimes worn, sometimes not, but their environmental impact is already very real.

It is important to remember that the textile industry accounts for approximately 8 to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and that more than 80% of a garment's environmental impact is generated during its production. Once the garment is made, whether we like it or not, this impact does not disappear.

Throwing things away is not an environmentally friendly solution.

Every year, the equivalent of a truckload of clothing is buried or incinerated every second worldwide. Throwing away a still-wearable garment, even if it comes from ultra-fast fashion, does not reduce its environmental footprint. On the contrary, it wastes resources that have already been extracted, processed, and transported.

From an environmental point of view, the key question is therefore not only where the garment comes from, but what we choose to do with it after its first use.

Why are these items offered at $0?

The decision to offer these clothes for $0 is not insignificant. I don't want to assign a commercial value to ultra-fast fashion items, nor do I want to encourage their consumption. On the contrary, I believe it's more responsible to extend their lifespan rather than discard them prematurely.

Offering these clothes for free allows us to:

• to prevent them from ending up in a landfill

• extend their use without creating new demand

• collectively assume responsibility for what has already been produced

Reuse does not support production. Rather, it acts as a brake on textile waste.

An imperfect but well-considered decision

No eco-responsible approach is perfect, especially in a consumption system that is even less so. This decision does not aim to normalize ultra fast fashion, but to deal responsibly with an existing reality, based on concrete data and a logic of waste reduction.

My objective remains the same as from the beginning: to reduce textile waste, encourage more conscious consumption and demonstrate transparency, even when the issues are complex.

The discussion is open.

And you, what would you have done in my place?