As the old adage goes, a cat has nine lives.
But have you ever considered how many lives that T-shirt neatly folded in your cupboard has? Or that dress that you wore just once to a work party five years ago and still hangs in your wardrobe?
Trends may change with the season, but those garments, whether coveted treasures you save for special occasions, or the pilled sweatshirts pulled on during lazy weekends, have the ability to outlive us all.
Only 20 per cent of clothing worldwide is reused or recycled, with the vast majority ending up in landfills or incineration, according to a 2017 report by Anika Kozlowski, assistant professor of fashion design, ethics and sustainability at Ryerson University in Canada.
Of the garments in landfill, those made with synthetic materials such as polyester and nylon can take up to 200 years to disintegrate, according to Close the Loop, an environmental awareness initiative in the Netherlands.
The environmental impact of the fashion industry, as well as the economic ramifications shouldered by shoppers around the world amid the coronavirus pandemic, could be why a new movement has been sweeping social media.
The hashtag #ditchyourstuff began trending in China in May, with consumers pledging to embrace a more mindful approach to shopping as their financial circumstances shift.
But if less, as they say, is more, how does one responsibly ditch one’s stuff without further burdening already strained waste systems?
“We’ve definitely seen a spike in new people discovering us in the past two or three months with the Covid-19 lockdown and people becoming a little bit more mindful and decluttering,” says Sian Rowlands, owner of Dubai’s Retold boutique. The store, located on Umm Suqeim Road, only stocks pre-loved items, one of a number of pre-owned businesses that have sprung up in the region in recent years.
Donating or selling clothes, accessories and jewellery is a key way in which consumers can either liberate themselves of possessions, or make purchases in a more sustainable fashion.
At Retold, which opened its Dubai store in 2018 after years of operating as a pop-up, demand from sellers increased following several weeks of restriction on movement in the emirate.
“We always see a bit of a cycle throughout the year anyway, with supply aligning with the school calendar, but this April, we saw people getting back in touch, saying I’ve been home for three weeks, I’ve had a clear-out, [and] I’m ready to donate my stuff to you,” explains Rowlands.
For Retold, which is typically stocked with around two-thirds high-street items, with the rest designer labels, the concept of pre-loved fashion isn’t simply about lessening the environmental impact.
“The business concept for us is about sustainability in fashion, but it’s also about the economy and people being able to earn a little bit of money and shop for cheaper, too,” she says. “Our resale price point is about 20 to 25 per cent of the item’s original cost. So people really are making their money go a lot further.”
This new mentality is led by millennials, who think differently, have a louder voice ... and who have the power to affect their family's decisions
While the concept of thrifting is predominately seen as a cost-saving device, the pre-loved market is certainly not limited to those after high-street finds. The pre-owned luxury market not only allows shoppers the chance to lighten a bulging wardrobe, but also proves a valuable tool for keen collectors looking to source limited-edition pieces.
And, business appears to be booming in the wake of the pandemic, courtesy of itchy-fingered shoppers. “Sales have been increasing drastically in recent months due to the consumer’s change of behaviour towards e-commerce retail,” says Kunal Kapoor, founder and chief executive of The Luxury Closet.
The online boutique, which first launched in 2012, is one of the region’s most recognised platforms for buying and selling high-end pieces, with Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Rolex among the labels on offer.
“Consumers’ luxury-shopping habits are changing; taking into consideration what ownership really stands for and its definition, along with the impact this has on the environment, too,” says Kapoor. “This new mentality is led by millennials, who think differently, have a louder voice with all of the social platforms that are available to them now, and who have the power to affect their family’s decisions, too.”
According to The Luxury Closet’s sales figures, the site has welcomed a 150 per cent increase in new buyers in the past year, as well as a 300 per cent growth in sales in Saudi Arabia from the past year, despite the platform removing cash on delivery as a payment option.
“Typically, our consumers are looking for investment pieces and our bestseller list has remained consistent during the Covid-19 pandemic,” he explains. That aforementioned list includes Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Hermes when it comes to handbags, and Rolex, Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels in the fine jewellery and watches segment.
The site has even introduced a new series on Instagram Stories, TLC Guru, to help followers through the closet-decluttering process, which, Kapoor says, can have “an impact on clearing negative space in their lives”. The Luxury Closet, which has 40,000 items in its inventory, has also adapted to recent demand by introducing a previously superfluous category.
“We have introduced masks on board as we noticed our consumers had difficulty sourcing them,” Kapoor adds. “However, we have developed this category to include fashionable masks as well, as we realised that there is also a demand for them.”
The Luxury Closet, which has an in-house team of experts tasked with verifying the authenticity of the items, charges a flat administrative fee of $25 (Dh92) to sell an item, as well as taking a commission based on the sale price.
For those looking to donate rather than sell their goods in the UAE, a new initiative is promising to accept any item and pass on the proceeds to a charitable cause.
Thrift for Good, which launched in February, is a social enterprise that resells or recycles donated pre-loved items – welcoming everything from clothing and homeware to toys and books – with money raised going towards Gulf for Good. The UAE-founded non-profit, which works with a number of children’s projects around the world, funnels that money into its programmes, which predominately focus on providing healthcare, education and housing.
“It’s an area where money is desperately needed, so this is such a great way to convert unused items into changing lives for kids,” says Thrift for Good founder and managing director, Jennifer Sault.
“We weren’t planning to go online yet, just focusing on markets, but Covid pushed us online and the uptake has been fantastic. There are more donations coming in than we can possibly handle, especially online, with people very excited to see their stuff go to a good cause.”
The volunteer-run organisation, which has been given everything from unbranded Carrefour items to pieces by Dolce & Gabbana, hopes to eventually open a physical store.
While Sault acknowledges the likes of Retold, The Luxury Closet and fashion platform Garderobe in boosting the pre-loved market, she also hopes that Thrift for Good will bring a “widescale” option to consumers. “Not only is it good for the environment, it’s a better cost, it’s more mindful, and it’s a little more personalised and fashionable in its own way,” says Sault.
“There are 21 billion tonnes of just textiles that go into landfill every year; our planet is soon going to be covered in old clothing. Second-hand is a great way to still enjoy shopping and that feeling of a new dress or a new shirt, but making the life of that last a little bit longer to reduce the environmental impact.”
However, while a number of pre-loved stores have seen a surge in demand with people staying at home, will the apparent uptake in scaling back consumerism continue once Covid-19 is but a distant memory?
A recent survey by McKinsey & Co revealed that between 20 and 30 per cent of respondents in China would continue to be cautious, either consuming slightly less or, in a few cases, a lot less.
“Many people have learnt they don’t need as much, and they won’t die if they don’t have the latest fashion trend,” says ethical fashion activist, writer and researcher Sass Brown.
I hope that the past few months, globally, will be an eye-opener for a lot of people and they all make small changes, because that will have a compound effect
“At the same time, I am sure some of the bigger brands and high street retailers will use the financial losses suffered through the global pandemic as justification for the abandonment of sustainability plans and goals.”
Rowlands is also doubtful that the global mindset can be so swiftly shifted. “Quite quickly [after the pandemic] we’ll go back to mass consumerism, I think – but I hope I’m wrong,” she says. “I hope that the past four months, globally, will be an eye-opener for a lot of people and they all make small changes because that will have a compound effect.
“We’re in that age of consumption and it’s not going to change overnight. We all need to talk more about slowing our lives down, slowly changing lots of things, in order to make the world a better place.”
Making the pre-loved market more accessible and visible will help consumers make valuable, small lifestyle changes, maintains Sault. “I really do believe if you build it, people will come. People will fall in love with pre-loved once they know it exists.”
Kapoor is also optimistic that the current unsustainable model of the fashion industry has to topple. “We have seen an increase in our database from millennials in recent years,” Kapoor says. “Conscious shopping is the key driver in how the younger generation is thinking and one of the main reasons they opt for buying pre-loved is because it is sustainable. And at the end of it all, it’s circular – you use something, swap, and fund something new.”
And long may that circle keep on turning.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Saint-Etienne v Montpellier (10.45pm)
Saturday
Monaco v Caen (7pm)
Amiens v Bordeaux (10pm)
Angers v Toulouse (10pm)
Metz v Dijon (10pm)
Nantes v Guingamp (10pm)
Rennes v Lille (10pm)
Sunday
Nice v Strasbourg (5pm)
Troyes v Lyon (7pm)
Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain (11pm)
Company%20Profile
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Champions League Last 16
Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) v Bayern Munich (GER)
Sporting Lisbon (POR) v Manchester City (ENG)
Benfica (POR) v Ajax (NED)
Chelsea (ENG) v Lille (FRA)
Atletico Madrid (ESP) v Manchester United (ENG)
Villarreal (ESP) v Juventus (ITA)
Inter Milan (ITA) v Liverpool (ENG)
Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid (ESP)
The specs: 2019 Mini Cooper
Price, base: Dh141,740 (three-door) / Dh165,900 (five-door)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder (Cooper) / 2.0-litre four-cylinder (Cooper S)
Power: 136hp @ 4,500rpm (Cooper) / 192hp @ 5,000rpm (Cooper S)
Torque: 220Nm @ 1,480rpm (Cooper) / 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (Cooper S)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 4.8L to 5.4L / 100km
UFC%20FIGHT%20NIGHT%3A%20SAUDI%20ARABIA%20RESULTS
%3Cp%3E%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMain%20card%3Cbr%3EMiddleweight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERobert%20Whittaker%20defeated%20Ikram%20Aliskerov%20via%20knockout%20(Round%201)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EHeavyweight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EAlexander%20Volkov%20def%20Sergei%20Pavlovich%20via%20unanimous%20decision%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMiddleweight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EKelvin%20Gastelum%20def%20Daniel%20Rodriguez%20via%20unanimous%20decision%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMiddleweight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EShara%20Magomedov%20def%20Antonio%20Trocoli%20via%20knockout%20(Round%203)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELight%20heavyweight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EVolkan%20Oezdemir%20def%20Johnny%20Walker%20via%20knockout%20(Round%201)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPreliminary%20Card%0D%3Cbr%3ELightweight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ENasrat%20Haqparast%20def%20Jared%20Gordon%20via%20split%20decision%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFeatherweight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EFelipe%20Lima%20def%20Muhammad%20Naimov%20via%20submission%20(Round%203)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWelterweight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERinat%20Fakhretdinov%20defeats%20Nicolas%20Dalby%20via%20split%20decision%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBantamweight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMuin%20Gafurov%20def%20Kang%20Kyung-ho%20via%20unanimous%20decision%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELight%20heavyweight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMagomed%20Gadzhiyasulov%20def%20Brendson%20Ribeiro%20via%20majority%20decision%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBantamweight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChang%20Ho%20Lee%20def%20Xiao%20Long%20via%20split%20decision%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The view from The National
Day 1, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Sadeera Samarawickrama set pulses racing with his strokeplay on his introduction to Test cricket. It reached a feverish peak when he stepped down the wicket and launched Yasir Shah, who many regard as the world’s leading spinner, back over his head for six. No matter that he was out soon after: it felt as though the future had arrived.
Stat of the day - 5 The last time Sri Lanka played a Test in Dubai – they won here in 2013 – they had four players in their XI who were known as wicketkeepers. This time they have gone one better. Each of Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva, Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, and Niroshan Dickwella – the nominated gloveman here – can keep wicket.
The verdict Sri Lanka want to make history by becoming the first team to beat Pakistan in a full Test series in the UAE. They could not have made a better start, first by winning the toss, then by scoring freely on an easy-paced pitch. The fact Yasir Shah found some turn on Day 1, too, will have interested their own spin bowlers.
The biog
Title: General Practitioner with a speciality in cardiology
Previous jobs: Worked in well-known hospitals Jaslok and Breach Candy in Mumbai, India
Education: Medical degree from the Government Medical College in Nagpur
How it all began: opened his first clinic in Ajman in 1993
Family: a 90-year-old mother, wife and two daughters
Remembers a time when medicines from India were purchased per kilo
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
List of officials:
Referees: Chris Broad, David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Andy Pycroft, Ranjan Madugalle and Richie Richardson.
Umpires: Aleem Dar, Kumara Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Ian Gould, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Sundaram Ravi, Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker, Michael Gough, Joel Wilson and Paul Wilson.
What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh12 million
Engine 8.0-litre quad-turbo, W16
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch auto
Power 1479 @ 6,700rpm
Torque 1600Nm @ 2,000rpm 0-100kph: 2.6 seconds 0-200kph: 6.1 seconds
Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.6-litre turbo
Transmission: six-speed automatic
Power: 165hp
Torque: 240Nm
Price: From Dh89,000 (Enjoy), Dh99,900 (Innovation)
On sale: Now
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast