The Secret Life of Your Clothes

Gr 7–12—This eye-opening documentary explores the global journey of the vast quantities of discarded clothing donated to charity shops in Britain and the United States. The personable narrator, Ade Adepitan, a British Paralympian basketball player, follows this voyage from the thrift shops of England to West Africa. More than 30,000 tons of used clothing, or obroni wawu (dead white man's clothes), makes its way to Ghana each year, resulting in a giant industry of sale and resale, from the big markets of the capital, Accra, to tiny, remote villages. The African preference for Western attire has resulted in the decimation of local clothing manufacture and the disappearance of the culture promoting native dress. However, the use and reuse of clothing keep most of the discarded items out of landfills and employ thousands of Ghanaians. Adepitan, who uses a wheelchair, travels throughout the country, a very difficult place for people with disabilities, and through his narration, he invites viewers to participate in the exuberance of the people he meets. Lively Afropop helps to maintain an upbeat attitude throughout. With this film and another recent documentary, Fast Fashion, viewers will gain a new perspective on the global consequences of the availability of cheap clothing.