Second-hand store volunteers and workers are working harder having to sort through cheap clothing to get to items that are good enough to put on store shelves.
Key points: The number of donated fast-fashion goods is increasing Second-hand stores are trying to find innovative ways to repurpose unsellable goods University of South Australia Associate Professor Deirdre Tedmanson said people need to rethink their purchasing behaviourEmma Mertens has witnessed this trend over the past 11 years working as a paid sorter for a Lifeline store at Port Pirie in South Australia's Mid North.
"The quality of clothing has actually gone down. I feel things aren't as well made as what they used to be," she said.
"We have an A-grade section which goes straight to our shops, that's at 20 per cent whereas years ago, it was around the 50 per cent mark.
"We've also got a…