It was a fast fashion graveyard. Vast mountains of never-worn clothes made of toxic, flammable materials stretched as far as the eye can see.
Each year, tens of thousands of tonnes of clothes from companies like Old Navy, H&M, and Levi’s are abandoned in Chile’s Atacama Desert. This summer, the clothing dump caught fire. 100,000 tonnes of clothes burned. Plumes of toxic smoke filled the air, making it impossible for the nearby community to breathe.
Despite these deadly conditions, the dumping continues – and now an amazing group of local activists is fighting back.
They’re demanding that Chile’s President finally regulate the fast fashion industry to protect people and the planet, but they’ve got a tiny budget.
If enough of us chip in, we can help them to organise their entire community – then work together on attention-grabbing advocacy to turn waste into economic opportunity and stop the Chilean government from turning its back on this deadly fashion graveyard any longer.. Can you help?
More information
Top brands found in the Atacama desert
SumOfUs and Desierto Vestido. 4 January 2022.
SumOfUs and Desierto Vestido. 4 January 2022.
From Attire to Ashes: Clothing Waste in the Atacama Desert
Atmos. 4 August 2022.
Atmos. 4 August 2022.
Chile’s desert dumping ground for fast fashion leftovers
Aljazeera. 8 November 2021.
Aljazeera. 8 November 2021.