OUR MISSION

A GREENER WORLD

TEXTILES ARE 100% RECYCLABLE.

But we reclaim only 15% of all discarded clothing. The average person in the US throws away 70 lbs. of clothing each year —that’s over 25 billion lbs. landfilled. At Garson & Shaw, though, we know that reusing and recycling are good for our planet and its people.

WHY RECYCLE?

By re-wearing, reusing, and recycling clothing, we save precious natural resources, reduce pollution, and keep waste out of landfills. Every item of clothing saved is good for our planet. Garson & Shaw is committed to environmental stewardship through textile reuse and recycling. We are proud to be leaders in the industry, and we actively work to raise awareness about the environmental benefits of secondhand clothing.

RECYCLING SAVES WATER

Reusing just one t-shirt, instead of buying new, saves 700 gallons of water and many pounds of chemical pesticides that pollute the environment.

RECYCLING REDUCES CO2 EMISSIONS

For every pound of cotton manufactured, 15 lbs. of CO2 are released into the atmosphere. Buying secondhand reduces the demand for this manufacture, eliminating these emissions.

RECYCLING REDUCES WASTE

Reusing textiles also reduces waste. According to the EPA, the US generates 25 billion lbs. of textile waste every year. Recycling keeps clothes out of the trash, saving landfill space and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

HOW DOES GARSON & SHAW HELP?

Garson & Shaw connects the things you no longer need with people who can use them. It’s our business to give used clothing a second life.

We work with thrift stores, charities and for-profit collection companies to recycle millions of pounds of clothes, shoes and household items. Recyclers can feel good knowing that their used items are finding a new home through Garson & Shaw.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

By recycling your unwanted clothing!

The clothing we sell can go anywhere in the world. Affordable clothing options are in high demand everywhere. Your items could fill a vintage store in Europe, be made into insulation for a car manufacturer in the United States, or create entrepreneurial opportunities for women in an open-air market in Kenya. Any way you slice it, recycling clothes creates jobs and opportunities—and is good for the planet.

Over 70% of the world wears secondhand clothing! When you recycle, your items can make someone else just as happy as you were while you used them.