Join Traid’s Closet Clear-out Challenge to Support Global Causes This Summer

This July sees London’s leading charity retailer, Traid, launch Year Two of their hugely successful ‘Closet Clear-out Challenge’ campaign. Backed by a host of well-known faces alongside secondhand fashion advocates including Martin Freeman, Sharon Horgan, Patrick Grant, Jim Moir (aka Vic Reeves) & Nancy Sorrell, Caryn Franklin, Maximo Park’s frontman Paul Smith, Sabrina Grant and Mary Mandefield; this year they’re aiming to top last year’s ambitious target of 250,000 garment donations!

The campaign ask is simple – donate your unwanted, quality clothes throughout the months of July & August, to help Traid fund vital global projects focused on supporting garment workers, their families, and communities, enabling a future of change.

The Challenge serves as a powerful call to action for the public to participate, share their donation stories, and challenge their friends and followers to do the same.

“Great to be supporting Traid’s Closet Clear-out Challenge this year – such a simple ask; donate your unwanted quality clothes and help support hugely worthwhile charity projects that urgently need funding. By donating x12 garments, you    could help power a helpline for exploited garment workers in India. Will you help us reach 250,000 donations this summer?         Thank you”.

Martin Freeman, Campaign Ambassador

Why? 

The fashion industry and our relationship with our clothes needs to change and Traid are pioneering for a better future, one where we no longer discard our clothes to landfill and continue with the cycle of purchasing unimaginable amounts of new clothing, it’s estimated that 100 billion new garments are produced annually around the world (1) – it’s time to rethink how we shop. With the ‘Closet Clear-out Challenge’, Traid are championing second-hand seasonal style and making conscious choices that look good, feel good and do good.

How does it work?

PICK. CLICK. COLLECT. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3:

1. PICK out the pieces you want to donate.
2. CLICK onto our website and book a free home collection.
3. We’ll COLLECT, curate, and resell your quality second-hand clothes to fund good causes and influence change in the fashion industry.

What impact will it have?

Since Traid launched in 1999, they’ve diverted 70,711.75 tonnes of clothes, shoes and textiles from landfill and incineration putting 240,414,845 million garments back into use, reducing carbon emissions by 655,461.8 tonnes, saving 111,587,680m3 of water, (that’s the same as taking 468,187 cars off the road in the UK for one year!), saving 111,587,680m3 of water (this volume could supply drinking water for the entire earth’s population for 4.65 days)(2).

The Closet Clear-out Challenge will again be a powerful reminder to the public and all those who get involved, that everyone’s wardrobe can change lives. Big change starts with small actions.

Donation impact examples:

• Donate 12 items – Power a helpline for exploited garment workers in India.
• Donate 25 items – Help a farmer in Benin go organic.
• Donate 30 items – Fund a women-run business in Ethiopia.
• Donate 36 items – Sponsor a month of schooling for 200 children in India.

“I am so onboard with Traid’s campaign and glad to be supporting for a second year. Knowing the positive impact that can be created simply by donating your unwanted clothes, is incredible. Traid’s work is so vital in helping create a positive future for fashion and I encourage everyone to have a look through their wardrobes and get donating – it all makes a huge difference.”

Sharon Horgan, campaign ambassador

Last year’s launch campaign exceeded expectations with extensive celebrity and public support. Traid’s aim was to generate the ambitious target of 250,000 garment donations throughout the month of September which they achieved reaching nearly 300,000 garments. These donations equate to 92,480kg of clothing being put back into circulation to be resold and reworn, equalling 786 tonnes of CO2 emissions, (roughly the same as taking around 596 cars off the road for a year) and 147,968 m3 of water being saved, (this volume could supply drinking water for 202,690 people for an entire year).

This year Traid are aiming to beat that target, enabling further vital funding of their lead projects and encouraging customers to shop these donations throughout the month of September.

“I’m delighted to be taking part in the second year of Traid’s Closet Clear-out Challenge. Last year we helped make over 250,000 garment donations happen, raising loads of much needed cash for Traid’s projects.  But I know there’s lots more good stuff lurking in the nation’s wardrobes unworn and unloved, so please have another rummage and let your unwanted clothes do a bunch of good.”

Patrick Grant, Campaign Ambassador

Traid’s projects have improved working conditions and access to rights for more than 800,000 garment workers, stopped child labour in global supply chains, and supported thousands of cotton farmers to stop using highly hazardous pesticides.

“The support we had for this campaign last year was incredible, and I’m pleased to be bringing it back for a second year. The Closet Clear-out Challenge is a simple but powerful way for people to take action. By clearing out the clothes you no longer wear, you can help drive real change. Every garment donated to Traid not only keeps it in use for longer but helps strengthen the rights and livelihoods of the people who make our clothes.

The impact of our long-term funding on our partner projects is a powerful reminder of why our work matters — so thank you in advance to everyone choosing to support the campaign this year.”

Maria Chenoweth, Chief Executive, Traid.