Relaunch for charity shop grade spec in the UK

摘要

The UK's Textile Recycling Association (TRA) has relaunched its specification for clothing donated originally by the public to charity shops which is then sold on to TRA members rather than being retailed in store. First launched in 2002, the specification has been published annually and was widely upheld for a number of years. During recent years, however, it proved ever more difficult to uphold the standard as growing numbers of 'opportunist' collectors were prepared to pay 'over-inflated prices' for 'increasingly poor-quality clothing', according to the TRA. But now 'the bubble has burst in the UK used clothing industry', with values dropping around 40% since the beginning of the year, established used clothing collectors have become increasingly selective about what items they are prepared to take from charity shops and how they should be presented.