Temu and Shein, two Chinese online fashion retailers, are reported to be causing significant disruption in the Dutch second-hand clothing market, according to the NL Times. The rise of super-fast fashion has made new, albeit lower-quality, clothing more accessible in countries that previously relied on second-hand Dutch clothing. The war between Russia and Ukraine is also contributing to the issue. The Association for Textile Recovery (VHT) has noted that Chinese companies such as Shein and Temu have established a foothold in African countries, where much of the discarded Dutch clothing used to end up. However, these companies are now producing clothing so cheaply that it is cheaper for people to buy new clothing than to purchase second-hand items. As a result, the used clothing market is being completely outcompeted. The collection and sorting company Sympany in Assen has nearly 2 million kilograms of collected clothing, but has nowhere to send it due to a decline in demand. The company’s director, Charles Graft, attributes this to political unrest in the world, particularly the loss of sales to Russia and Ukraine due to the war. Additionally, the quality of discarded clothing has declined due to the prevalence of cheaply made products from Shein and Temu. The VHT is calling on politicians to intervene to support the sector and implement regulations on fast fashion.
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