THE FUTURE OF FASHION IS CLEANUP AND COLLABORATION
TEXTILES AREN’T TRASH confronts the global textile waste crisis from a lens of solidarity, equity, and systemic change.
By funding 100,000 bags for sustainable disaster relief, we’re addressing the root causes of textile waste and the global injustices the fashion industry perpetuates.
SUAY and The Or foundation have partnered to launch a global call
to action to create systemic change in textile recycling and
recirculation.
LOS ANGELES, USA
and
ACCRA, GHANA
both experienced devastating fires in January 2025. But few people
realize the extent of the
disaster after the disaster —
a massive textile overflow without the infrastructure or funds to
support a sustainable way to manage the waste.
THE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES OF OVERPRODUCTION AND OVERCONSUMPTION
One of the most destructive urban wildfires in LA history exposed the urgent need for a sustainable way to manage the enormous amount of unwanted donated clothing following the crisis. In response to the fire relief efforts, SUAY took in textile donation overflow from 18% of all pop-up collection sites. Without intervening, it is likely that all of this material would have been landfilled or exported.
Secondhand Market that sees 15 million garments per week
This community of 30,000 people work six days a week to resell, repair and remanufacture clothes that were donated and exported by the USA, EU, UK and other countries. Despite their best efforts, much of the clothing goes unsold and leaves the market as waste, creating an environmental disaster and plunging this community into debt. For more, see this video.
TRANSFORMING DISASTER
WASTE
THROUGH SOLIDARITY
SUAY collected 115,000 pounds of textiles as part of the fire relief effort in LA.
With your help, SUAY and the Or Foundation will raise funds for textile cleanup in both cities.
SUAY x the Or Foundation will turn this waste into 10K upcycled garments through the TEXTILES AREN’T TRASH collection.
In January, SUAY collected over 100,000 lbs of unwanted clothing in just a few weeks. While the world was shocked at this textile surplus, navigating such mountains of excess remains an everyday crisis in Ghana.
HELP US REACH OUR
$2 MILLION
GOAL!
Every bag purchased represents a dual contribution — towards reducing waste and uplifting communities devastated by climate disasters.
THE FUTURE OF FASHION IS
CLEANUP AND COLLABORATION.
These bags will fund the local recovery and rebuilding efforts on the ground in the Kantamanto market, create alternative pathways for textile reuse in the USA, and launch the TEXTILES AREN’T TRASH collection out of LA fire relief waste — initiating a groundbreaking new “system” for textile recirculation between LA and GHANA.
SUAY is a Los Angeles based textile recycling and reuse center redefining textile circularity. Through innovative programs like the Community Dye Bath™ and SUAY IT FORWARD, SUAY remains at the forefront of sustainable solutions designed to tackle the textile waste crisis while empowering local communities.
The Or Foundation operates on the front lines of the global
textile waste crisis in Accra, Ghana. Working alongside the
vibrant, innovative Kantamanto Market community, The Or Foundation
develops forward thinking, justice led solutions that include
recycled materials creation, advocacy for international policy
reforms, and education programs empowering local artisans.
Learn more at
theor.org
and on Instagram at
@theorispresent