Money Moral Dilemma: Is it wrong to make money from clothing I'm morally opposed to wearing?

ellenvan

No useable items should be trashed if at all possible  Re sell it give some to charity and keep some of the proceeds.

catman57

Oh, and some charity shops deliberately price low for a quick sale. I was in one yesterday where I was tempted to buy some books which were ridiculously cheap, and wondered whether to tell the staff. However one realises that they are not daft and pointing this out would be like teaching Grandma to suck eggs (to use a peculiar expression). One can always pay more if the item is absurdly cheap and one can also pay a bit more if one gets a decent price.

I used to have a rapport with a local greengrocer (shop now defunct) who sold books for charity, and would either pay him what I thought was a decent percentage (with maybe a top-up depending on what I sold them for) or I would simply sell them on commission. As pointed out early, some charities depend on dealers and build up a rapport with them. In this way they actually sell said items rather than ask silly money and end up passing them on.

Isin2000

TripleH said:

What clothes are morally right to wear?

Those made from animals cause suffering to them.

Those made from synthetics are less good for the environment.

Can we be sure Those made from plants have not caused suffering or environmental damage?

Unless of course the wild habitat has been destroyed to create a location for growing the plants - thereby effectively killing the wildlife / animals and insects living there

bradavon

I'm presuming you're vegan. If you don't sell it the silkworm suffered for nothing. For me it's the fact you didn't know that's crucial here.

For example, I once bought battery eggs thinking they were free range. I would never buy battery eggs but the fact I had I eat them because if I hadn't the chicken would've suffered for nothing.

Sell it and be careful not to do it again I say.

I dislike when people throw away meat. That animal has died for nothing. At least respect sentient creatures and eat the damn thing if you're going to eat animals. Which each to their own but eat it if you're going to be part of the process.

My two pence worth anyway.

2Scratters

I think the advise below  is spot on and recycling it helps to drive down the demand squirrel59 said:

I understand your dilemma perfectly. It's like buying a secondhand coat with a furry collar, to discover later it's real fur. But think of it this way: It's secondhand and by selling it on you may actually end up protecting silkworms, as someone looking for a silk top might buy yours instead of a new one. And if that's not sufficient to assuage any residual guilt, you could give part of it to your favourite charity and keep the rest. You do deserve at least that, if only for caring enough.

- There is also the dilema of survival for you too, as you have mentioned about the lack of money too. 

Gosportmum

Firstly you say you are struggling with cost of living crisis - did you really need that top? Spending £1.50 here and there soon adds up. I agree with other posters - sell it on. Take off £1.50 and then split the profit between you and the charity you bought from. Next time think 'do I really need this?' (and read the label) before you buy.

davidjenner

I think by you being part of making that top last as long as possible by passing it on you are playing a tiny part stopping a new silk top from being made to replace it. So you could see it as a way of silently getting in the way of the manufacturer's repeat business? This sharing of clothes around is something I've experienced as a new parent and I think played a large factor in Mothercare going bust.

Buster_Danog

I had a similar ethical dilemma with an Angora wool sweater. In the end I think I gave it to a charity shop. The problem with selling or wearing these items at all is you might encourage other people to want more of the same kind of item which they might then buy new. In the case of Angora wool there was a campaign against it some years ago and many high street shops stopped selling it.

Leather and Faux leather jackets have the same issue in my view but I do own two faux leather jackets so I can't be that ethical.