“Eighty five per cent of the total amount of items we import are in good shape…the remaining 15 per cent have some sort of damage,” Mr Khan says
Every day, the 100,000 square foot facility in Sharjah handles 60 tonnes of used clothing for export to Africa. All photos by Antonie Robertson / The National
At any one time an incredible 4,000 tonnes are kept at the site
As many as 200 workers sift through clothes to determine what is reusable or repairable
Second hand clothing is sorted by type and quality at Hands Industries in Sharjah. Some clothes are destined to be re sold in third world markets in Africa while other damaged items are cut for use as rags and clothes
Every day, the 100,000 square foot facility in Sharjah handles 60 tonnes of used clothing for export to Africa
“We take the clothes people don’t want and make them good again…like taking ingredients and making the perfect recipe for someone else," says Nawaz Khan, the firm's sales manager.
Since then the business has boomed. Giant 150kg bags containing clothing from all four corners of the globe are stacked 10-high. Everything from battered shirts, skirts and shorts is given a new lease of life
Everything from underwear to jeans end up on the factory’s conveyor belts, where workers sort the garments by type
Every day, the 100,000 square foot facility in Sharjah handles 60 tonnes of used clothing for export to Africa. Antonie Robertson / The National
“Eighty five per cent of the total amount of items we import are in good shape…the remaining 15 per cent have some sort of damage,” Mr Khan says
Every day, the 100,000 square foot facility in Sharjah handles 60 tonnes of used clothing for export to Africa. All photos by Antonie Robertson / The National
At any one time an incredible 4,000 tonnes are kept at the site
As many as 200 workers sift through clothes to determine what is reusable or repairable
Second hand clothing is sorted by type and quality at Hands Industries in Sharjah. Some clothes are destined to be re sold in third world markets in Africa while other damaged items are cut for use as rags and clothes
Every day, the 100,000 square foot facility in Sharjah handles 60 tonnes of used clothing for export to Africa
“We take the clothes people don’t want and make them good again…like taking ingredients and making the perfect recipe for someone else," says Nawaz Khan, the firm's sales manager.
Since then the business has boomed. Giant 150kg bags containing clothing from all four corners of the globe are stacked 10-high. Everything from battered shirts, skirts and shorts is given a new lease of life
Everything from underwear to jeans end up on the factory’s conveyor belts, where workers sort the garments by type
Every day, the 100,000 square foot facility in Sharjah handles 60 tonnes of used clothing for export to Africa. Antonie Robertson / The National
“Eighty five per cent of the total amount of items we import are in good shape…the remaining 15 per cent have some sort of damage,” Mr Khan says
