When sending clothes to a charity it’s essential that you ensure that all items are in good, wearable condition. Clothes that are damaged are directly disposed in landfills.

Just de-cluttered your closet to make space for your winter collection? Here's what you know about discarding your old clothes.

Every season, people across America make piles of clothes, bags, and shoes that they no longer need. Some send it for recycling, others to charities, and the rest just toss it in the dump. When you send clothes to a charity, more than10% of your donated clothesare discarded due to mildew or other damage.

So, Where Do These Discarded Clothes Go?

Here are some facts and figures to help you put things into perspective:

Globally, 80% of discarded textiles end up in landfills. Research has shown that in the United States, 16.9 million tons of textile waste was generated in 2017. Out of this, only 15.2% was sent for recycling, and the rest, 11.2 million tons of waste, were dumped in the landfill. With the increasing consumer demand, the fast fashion industry is producing more and more garments each year. Popular brands like Zara alone produces 840 million garments annually. Several other fast-fashion empires produce inexpensive and non-durable clothing, which increases the piles of discarded clothes.

What Can You Do?

1.Less Is More

First things first, when buying clothes, be sure to check their durability and longevity. Ask yourself if you'll wear this particular clothing item once or is it something, you'll make use of. Just because an item is on sale doesn't mean you need it. This is the company's marketing strategy, which several shoppers become a victim of. Try to buy basic clothes that can be re-worn in several ways and styles so that you don't worry about repeating outfits.

2. Dispose of Your Clothes In A Responsible Manner

As mentioned above, not all the clothes you send to a charity are used sold or even benefit the charity. Only 15% of donated clothing ends up in the market. This is why, when sending your clothes to a charity, ensure that all items are in good and wearable condition, and pack them well to avoid damage from mildew.

With the damaged clothes, you send them off to a recycling company to ensure that you don't contribute to the landfill accumulation crisis.

3.Choose Sustainable Fashion

Luckily, a few designers are aware of the environmental impact of their clothing and produce eco-friendly clothing. As consumers, we need to make a conscious and informed decision to shop from sustainable lifestyle brand. They focus on quality and quantity unlike fast fashion brands that aim to get you to constantly purchase more.

If you’re looking for a socially sustainable lifestyle brand, shop with Equal Hands. We're are among the leading handmade sustainable clothing brands that offers unique and fashionable clothes that are both stylish and comfortable.

Whether you're looking for handmade eco-friendly clothing for women or ethical jewelry brands, we've got you covered.

This post originally appeard on Equal Hands