The Effect of the Second Hand Clothing Industry on the Development of Africa Economies

Towards the end of the twentieth century the western world became more aware of its responsibility to protect the earth from human waste. There are enumerable movements and organization that aim to protect the ozone, oceans, polar ice caps, air, soil and land fills. A recurring message that all organizations who work to save the earth spread is the need for humans to recycle. In North America items that are no longer wanted but are still useable are donated to Charitable organizations like Goodwill and Salvation Army. People are expected to recycle everything from old containers to electronics cars and clothing. Americans donate about two point five billion pounds of clothing each year (Packer 2002). Everyone feels a little better because the donors get to make a difference in the life of someone who is less fortunate while getting a tax break, the consumers get a bargain on the items they need, the businesses create jobs and help stimulate the economy and last but not least everyone does their bit to save the environment. American charities only use about twenty percent of the donated clothes and the rest is bought for as little as three cents per pound by companies that export second hand clothing to the third world (Packer 2002). Second hand clothing exporters then proceed to resell these garments at prices that only account for the cost of transportation and a profit. Local textile and garment industries cannot compete with second hand clothes because not only do their prices have to reflect the cost of materials and production but they do not have the added appeal of being modern. Most of the appeal of second hand clothes stems from an African mentality that everything western is better and than local producers cannot produce fashionable and durable clothing. A look at the economic development of the western world and asia shows that the textile industry is a great way to improve a nations manufacturing capabilities (Frazer). Many African nations already

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