Global trade of secondhand clothing

At the same time, population growth in other countries outpaced domestic manufacturing capacity, leading to an increase in demand for clothing.

In recent years, the industry has faced increased scrutiny over concerns about environmental sustainability and the ethical implications of clothing waste.

Some countries have attempted to limit or prohibit used clothing imports to protect their domestic textile industry, but these measures have had mixed success.

Appeals for donations to alleviate poverty in Ireland resulted in large quantities being shipped to that country during the Irish famine.

[6] In wealthier Western countries, used and pre-owned clothes are popular among a niche market of cost-conscious or environmentally conscious consumers.

Detractors argue that it drives down local prices to such an extent that domestic textile industries in these countries become unable to compete.

[3] In an effort to protect their domestic textile industry, some developing nations have imposed high tariffs or even outright bans on clothing imports.

For instance, the member countries of the East African Community have pledged to prohibit imports from outside the region, although only Rwanda has implemented this policy so far.

[10] Zimbabwe prohibited used clothing imports from 2015–2017, but later abandoned the ban when it became apparent that the domestic textile industry could not handle the demand.