Rag Trade and Thrift Stores

Fashion designers want to sue Goodwill stores.

The potential lawsuit might seem bizarre but European and North American fashion designers claim that Value Village, Goodwill and other stores that sell used clothing, display items similar to their latest creations, tanking their credibility.   

Fashion designers believe that these stores choose for their display windows, creased pants and dresses that look like they were chewed by cows, jeans with legs that look like they were sliced by a machete, jackets the colour of mud mixed with blood and leaves, dresses with tails, tops that look like cotton candy, army jackets, and shoes that look like boots soldiers wore in World War 11.

Designers want to initiate the lawsuit for lost revenue because while a designer rag promoted by a famous rap or movie star might retail for $1 000, a hand-me-down that looks like it, costs $7 max at thrift stores.

Used clothing stores find the whole thing ridiculous because clothes are donated.  Canada and the U.S. have red or green bins outside shopping malls where people drop off clothes, they no longer like.  The buying was not based on need.  Like.  Once the like is gone, out goes the clothes.

Bags in a store at the mall.

Thrift stores say they don’t have time to monitor what is on the runway during Johannesburg, Milan or New York Fashion Week. They display what they have in stock.  They don’t send out a call that they want clothes that look like what they saw at the Met Gala.

Thrift stores are adamant that they are not the problem.  Fashion designers should do some introspection and identify what makes their clothes look like old clothes.

By:  Nonqaba waka Msimang.