With vintage clothing becoming so attractive and trendy to the young generation of China, a recent report shows that they might have come from dubious origins. Patrons of these vintage clothes shop just might be paying a higher price.
A Chinese TV station was able to expose the unsanitary origins of the clothes. It was reported that some of the clothes came from rubbish collection stations or morgues where they had been taken from dead bodies.
"Some of the clothes were taken off dead people . . . they are stained with blood, just wash it with your washing machine," said a worker in the clothes recycling industry to the undercover CCTV reporter.
Vintage clothes shops and overseas waste clothes market in China continue to be patronized for various reasons. Some say it is because each item is unique or the items have a fresh and trendy style.
Meanwhile, some elderly citizens buy such clothes because of the very cheap price.
The smuggle of recycled clothes is not a new thing in China.
Last year, authorities seized a vessel that contained 549 tons of clothes, with an estimated worth of 11 million yuan.
The clothes were described as having a strong foul smell, which were bought from overseas recycling companies for a low price. These clothes were on their way to the mainland, to be repaired and resold for profit.
Patrons just might be trading off their health for these clothes.
"The smuggled clothes can contain disease pathogens, which could enter human bodies through organs such as skin and mouth," said Wei Fang, a doctor at the Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
He added that blood-stained clothes are like to pass infections and the chemical treatment of the clothes could also irritate some people's skin.
The smuggle and sale of these clothes is a symptom of a much bigger problem.
"The disposal of overseas waste can damage the earth, water and air as well as human beings, so many advanced countries would export their waste instead of dealing with it on their own land," said Hu Xingdou, a professor at the Beijing Institute of Technology.
The selling of these waste clothing for profit is an act against the environment and the people. China should cooperate with other countries in order to solve the roots of the problem.