The importation of second-hand clothing has recently exploded in Argentina, going from a “marginal phenomenon” to 12% of the total clothing arriving in the country, according to ElDiarioAR. From 24 tons in 2024, the volume has now increased to 4,600 tons in 2025, as reported by the Argentine news site, which describes it as an “invasion.” “If these used clothes continue to enter the country, it is possible that Argentina may become the new textile landfill of the world,” warned Priscila Mukari from Fundación Pro Tejer, an organization dedicated to defending the local textile industry.
The reasons for this increase? Firstly, the lifting of most import restrictions in general, and specifically on second-hand clothing, by the government of the ultraliberal president, Javier Milei, after years of protectionism. Secondly, the significant decrease in purchasing power of Argentinians since he took office in late 2023, which pushes more and more consumers to seek more affordable solutions. “Very few know that the majority of these clothes come directly from the trash,” ElDiarioAR writes.
From the Chilean desert
The cause: the international model of ultra-fast fashion, a system of rapid, low-cost production, and for little.
