Over the past seven years, I have been developing Giftsy, a peer-to-peer online marketplace for second-hand clothing exchange, receiving, and gifting. The idea for the platform came to me when I was studying web design at Academy of Art University in San Francisco and saw my daughter quickly growing out of her clothes and toys. After she was done using them, we used to donate the items to Goodwill, the only way we knew, but I always wondered if her friends would be interested in using them too. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance to ask them and ended up donating everything for convenience and tax deductions at Goodwill
With the availability of web 2.0 technology, fast internet, and mobile phones, I saw the potential for a peer-to-peer online after-marketplace where people could share their items. I was highly motivated to turn my idea into a reality and believed that I thought I had everything I needed. My friend and I created content and designed the website, and all I needed were developers. However, choosing my friend’s company to work with was a decision based on my lack of experience in developing websites and starting a business. Unfortunately, when they took the job, it turned out to be one of the hardest times in my life. I went through immense pain, fear, and stress, and Giftsy’s website wasn’t moving forward.
As issues continued to arise, my anxiety and lack of confidence led me to make poor decisions in choosing business partners for Giftsy. It was a challenging time for me, filled with feelings of being stuck, anxious, angry, sad, and afraid. These experiences caused significant emotional distress. However, it was during this time that I discovered the Landmark Worldwide program, a leadership and personal development program based in San Francisco. I had heard about this program from my entrepreneurial peers, and when I was at my most vulnerable, I decided to learn more about it. Through the program, I gained clarity on questions and concerns I had been struggling with, and it helped me structure my thoughts. This became a turning point for both Giftsy and me. The program taught me about self-empowerment, overcoming emotional pain, building self-confidence, and creating an authentic self that aligned with my vision for Giftsy. I began to realize that Giftsy was a reflection of myself, but I also found myself becoming like Giftsy. Giftsy started to have its own life, creating its own destiny and bringing people into its path.
At first, many people disregarded the existence of global warming and were skeptical about Giftsy’s mission, dismissing it as a mere “cute idea.” They preferred to purchase new items at a low cost and dispose of them after use, prioritizing their convenience and personal benefits over contributing to efforts to slow down environmental degradation. Unfortunately, many remained unaware of the seriousness of the environmental challenges we faced. Most individuals complained about their lack of time to devote to environmental causes and believed that it was not their responsibility to address such a colossal problem. Instead, they pointed fingers at others, organizations, and the government, and environmental concerns were not their top priority, except as a place to vent their frustrations or dump their emotional burdens by fearing the unknown.
However, as time passed, the impact of global warming became more apparent, and the Napa fire served as a wake-up call. About five years ago, I attended a water conference hosted by PG&E, where they emphasized the importance of conserving water using new technology but also highlighted the issue of fires caused by global warming. It was the first time I had heard the term “mega-fire,” which is caused by strong winds, drought, and fire that can spread quickly, affecting a wide range of areas and making them challenging to control.
In the past five years, residents of the West Coast have witnessed unprecedented weather conditions, including eerie red skies reminiscent of the apocalypse, devastating wildfires like the ones in Napa, and other alarming events. These occurrences have served as a wake-up call to many who had previously dismissed global warming as a legitimate concern. Consequently, there has been a growing awareness and concern about the severity of the issue, and feedback about Giftsy started to change. The government has responded by providing more grants to companies working on solutions to global warming, venture capitalists have created funds to support such initiatives, and people have become more vocal about the need for action on this pressing issue.
While it’s clear that people are more aware of the environmental challenges facing our planet, I find it ironic that many are now resigned and depressed about it, in contrast to the previous denial of these issues and their potential consequences of climate change. It’s as if we’re looking at the same coin with totally opposite reactions, yet we’re still facing the same challenges without any solutions. I understand this reaction, as we’re frozen in fear of an unpredictable future that hasn’t arrived yet. Instead of taking action to solve the problem now, we resign ourselves to the unknown and remain stuck. As someone who has experienced this fear and anxiety firsthand while building Giftsy, I know how debilitating it can be. However, through my research and work with Giftsy, I’ve learned that there are simple solutions that can make a difference.
Extending the lifespan of clothing items through reuse can significantly reduce our carbon footprint. The US Environmental Protection Agency recognizes waste reduction as a crucial method for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with the early stages of textile production contributing around 90% of carbon emissions. These stages include dyeing and finishing, fabric preparation, yarn preparation, and fiber production. By reusing clothing items, we can limit the need for new natural resources and reduce air, water, and land pollution, as well as our carbon footprint. Surprisingly, the fashion industry ranks second only to the oil industry in negative environmental impact, accounting for about 10% of annual global carbon emissions, more than all maritime shipping and international flights combined. Additionally, projections show that fashion’s greenhouse gas emissions could grow by more than 50% by 2030. Same time, Studies have shown that extending the life of a cotton jean by nine months results in a 25% reduction in its carbon footprint, with one ton of CO2e being equivalent to approximately 30 pairs of cotton jeans. If we all work together to reuse, repurpose, rehome, and extend the lifespan of our clothing items, we can offset our carbon footprint, give the Earth time to heal naturally, and allow technology to catch up to solve this enormous challenge.
By choosing to reuse and extend the life of our clothing items, we not only reduce our own carbon footprint but also play a part in addressing critical environmental challenges. This decision also holds companies accountable for producing better, longer-lasting products and being responsible for their products from the moment they are created to their end-of-life cycle. By taking ownership of our belongings and consciously deciding what we purchase, we prioritize long-term benefits that benefit ourselves and all stakeholders involved, as opposed to short-term personal gains. Opting for high-quality, sustainable, and ethical items can give us a sense of pride in our contribution to creating a more sustainable future.
The significance of this is highlighted by the fact that a mere 20% of textile production is resold or recycled, and the majority of clothing items, approximately 80%, end up in landfills, largely due to the lack of reuse options available. Giftsy provides a peer-to-peer platform for people nationwide to exchange, receive or gift clothing that may not meet traditional resale limitations. This unique platform has the potential to make a significant impact in reducing the amount of textile waste that ends up in landfills and help find new purpose for the 80% of clothing that would otherwise go to waste. By doing so, we can reduce the environmental impact of textile production and contribute towards a more sustainable future
At Giftsy, we believe in the power of sharing. Through our platform, we promote the act of sharing as a way to create deeper connections between people and Giftsy aims to combat the loneliness that can arise from disconnections between people, which can lead to excessive consumption. By promoting sharing not only of clothing but also of time, stories, experiences, memories, food and etc, we believe that these shared experiences and connections can create a sense of abundance rather than scarcity and contribute to a more fulfilling life. Through our platform, we hope to inspire individuals to connect with each other, share their belongings, and reduce their overall consumption, thus contributing to a more sustainable future for all.
