Across the Ditch with unwanted clothes

BY CHARLIE GATES

The Red Cross has imported 128 tonnes of second-hand clothes from Australia to sell in its New Zealand stores because of what it calls poor Kiwi donations.

Red Cross national retail manager Patrick Cummings said the charity decided to import after local donations slowed dramatically during the recession.

"We were struggling to get donations of sufficient quality in New Zealand," he said.

"A lot of it is the recession and people don't change their clothes as much when times are bad, they hold onto it for another season.

"A lot of charity shops are struggling for donations.

"We were struggling and we got a lot of stuff that was not of saleable quality... because some people use us and other charities as a dumping ground."

The Australian clothes are collected in donation bins by Southern Cross Recycling and shipped to Tauranga.

The clothes are distributed to 10 clothing stores nationwide.

Red Cross has imported eight containers, or 128 tonnes, of second-hand clothes in a year.

About 90 per cent of the clothing in the High St store in Christchurch is from Australia.

However, other Christchurch charity retailers were surprised by the Red Cross move.

Major Darrell LePine, of the Salvation Army, said clothing donations were still strong in New Zealand.

"We are getting to the point where we need to export some of it. There is still plenty of clothing being donated," he said.

"It surprises me that they are importing because I know that some charities are selling excess clothing donations as rags."

Dr Michael Gousmett, manager of the Canterbury council at the Society of St Vincent de Paul, said they were opening a third Christchurch store.

"I had no idea that charities were importing clothes because people are very generous here and donate very good clothing," he said.

Gousmett said selling unwanted clothing as rags has cut his dumping cost, which reached $7000 in the six months to the end of December.

Southern Cross Recycling general manager David Redhouse said the company exported second-hand clothes to charities in eastern Europe and Africa, as well as New Zealand.

SHOP WINDOW OR LANDFILL?

How to donate clothes.

- No ripped or torn clothes.

- No stained clothes.

- Baby clothes, vintage fashion and designer labels are popular.

- Before donating clothes, ask yourself: Would I buy this?

- © Fairfax NZ News