Spring Clean

I rummaged through my wardrobe earlier today with the intention of clearing out my school T-shirts and uniforms so I could pass them on to a junior rather than throwing them away after I graduate. As I was clearing out my clothes, I realized that I had a lot of new clothes that I've bought quite some time ago but never worn! Talk about impulsive purchasing. Among them were some clothes from American Apparel, Topshop, H&M, Jovian Mandagie and many more, and many of them still had their tags attached. It never struck me how many clothes I've purchased over the years, and that all of them are still nesting in my closet. I would blame it on the fact that I never have an occasion to wear them to anyway, but then again, it is, after all, my fault for not planning my wardrobe (and my spending) wisely.

Just last year, a group of friends and I went to the Joy Workshop in Melaka: a charity organization that helps equip the mentally challenged with the skills they need for the workplace. (You can read more about them here: www.joyworkshopmelaka.com/) We were there as a part of a school project to help them clear out their bundle shop that had been left abandoned for quite some time. The bundle shop used to generate a small income for the organization, but due to the overwhelming number of clothing donations, but no one to manage them, the place had to be closed down due to safety concerns. Instead of generating an income, the place has become an additional cost for the people at Joy Workshop because they still have to pay for rent and the utility bills. Our task was to rearrange their inventory and redecorate the place to make it more welcoming for prospective customers.

Our hosts gave us a brief explanation about the condition of the bundle shop a day before. The project was scheduled to be 2 days long, over a weekend, and we thought it would be sufficient to clear out everything. After all, how hard could it be to rearrange clothes?

Oh how wrong we were.

The first thing to greet us in the bundle shop was overflowing bags of clothing, sports equipment, knick-knacks, and a cot (the cot was sitting in the middle of the shop, I had no idea what it was doing there). Our first task was to clear out everything so we could clean up the dust and rearrange the interior of the store. What seemed like just a few bags of clothing turned out to be a multiplying number of bags. Our task also included airing the clothes out in the sun to kill bacteria, selecting worn out clothing for recycling and sorting out all the remaining clothing into categories like casual clothes, dresses and so on. Among the clothes were some very nice pieces (we even found a Diane von Furstenberg dress!). There was no time to waste. 2 days passed by quicker than we thought it would, but luckily for us, we managed to get the job done in time.

In a nutshell: it might have seemed like 2 tiring days of work, but it turned out to be a wonderful experience. I've also learnt that when it comes to donating clothes, it is extremely important to sort the clothes out beforehand! It's only considerate to recycle clothing that cannot be worn any more instead of giving it to someone else. Think about it: if you were the person receiving the clothes, how would you feel?

The whole project made me rethink "donating clothes". 

When we donate clothes to charities, we rarely think about what happens after we've passed them over. For instance, I've heard of disaster relief groups that collect donated clothes, and instead of passing them over to the ones in need, they sell them off to make a profit for themselves. We seldom think of the impact of our 'good deeds': How will your donation help them? Would your donation improve their life in any way? It's convenient for us to think, "Oh, I've done a good deed," and forget about what happens after that. It's also extremely important to keep in mind the needs of the charity itself, instead of giving them something that might otherwise not be helpful for their cause. For instance, some charities may benefit more from a food donation than a clothing donation. Take some time to meet them personally, and get to know the people you are trying to help. Not only does it help you to help them; trust me, the experience will make you appreciate things more.

For me, what I like to do is: instead of donating my old clothes, I put my clothes up for sale and donate the proceeds to the organization. Not only does it allow them the freedom to purchase targeted necessities such as food or rent, my clothes also find owners that will love them even more than I once did. It's a win-win situation for all. 

As for the clothes in my wardrobe, I sorted them out into recyclables, clothes to give to my younger cousins, and clothes to sell. (You can shop my closet by clicking on the link above!) My wardrobe is also thanking me now for the extra space: it is now significantly easier to search for clothes. I must also keep in mind to be more prudent when it comes to spending on clothing!

Cheers,