Australians have $15 billion in unworn clothes sitting idle
Nine in ten Australians hold onto unworn clothes worth roughly $15 billion in total.
Australian wardrobes are stuffed with about $15 billion worth of unworn garments. A third of people admit to owning more than $500 worth of never-worn clothes, and one in five have over $1,000 sitting idle.
The glut comes from keeping "just in case" outfits, fashion trends that fade, and styles from the 2010s that people can't quite let go. Jackets, jumpers, coats, jeans and t-shirts top the list of forgotten items.
The Red Cross is running its annual clothing drive this Saturday with free courier pickup until 4pm across Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Last year the drive collected 125,000 kilograms of quality pre-loved clothing.
- $15 billion
- Total unworn value
- 9 in 10 Australians
- Holding unworn clothes
- 125,000 kilograms
- Last year collection
- 6 cities including Sydney and Melbourne
- Collection regions
Why it mattersDonating unused clothes helps the Red Cross fund humanitarian work, and decluttering wardrobes means less waste to landfill.
AustraliaAustralians across six major cities can donate to the Red Cross this weekend, turning closet clutter into charity funds.
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