A groundbreaking initiative is tackling the growing textile waste crisis in Chile’s Atacama Desert by making discarded clothing available to the public. Launched by VTEX, Fashion Revolution Brazil, and Desierto Vestido, the project aims to address the estimated 39,000 tonnes of clothing dumped in the region each year—much of it originating from the US, Europe, and Asia.
Through Re-Commerce Atacama’s website, salvaged garments are offered for free, with consumers only required to cover shipping costs. Each item undergoes careful selection, cleaning, and repair before being listed, ensuring quality and longevity.
The project’s debut release was a resounding success, with all items claimed within five hours and shipments reaching more than ten countries.
“We believe that every garment has a story and a purpose. Our mission is to rescue these garments and give them a second chance, raising awareness about the excessive consumerism that the current fashion industry promotes,” says Mariano Gomide de Faria, CEO of VTEX, which developed the platform.
“Initiatives like Re-Commerce are essential for rethinking the way we consume fashion. The environmental impact of the textile industry is enormous, and promoting sustainable alternatives is a way to reduce waste and preserve natural resources and local communities, which are affected by these issues,” says Ángela Astudillo, co-founder of Desierto Vestido, a non-profit organisation dedicated to education, awareness, and encouraging the circular economy in the textile industry.
“We want to go beyond e-commerce: our initiative invites reflection on the consequences of our current model of production, consumption, and unbridled waste. We are living in a climate emergency, and the fashion industry needs more robust commitments. This action is a way to draw attention to what is behind the clothes and provoke new ways of dealing with them,” says Fernanda Simon, Executive Director of Fashion Revolution Brazil.
Rodrigo Almeida Monte, CCO of Artplan, emphasises the power of creativity in storytelling. “We took a real problem and turned it into a story that connects, engages, and raises awareness. Atacama Re-Commerce is not just a reuse project but a way to give a voice to discarded items, to tell the story of these clothes, and at the same time, encourage a more critical view of consumption. The campaign proposes a new meaning for what is considered waste, showing that each piece carries value, memory, and potential for a new beginning.”
By turning waste into opportunity, Re-Commerce Atacama demonstrates that sustainability and innovation can coexist. As the fashion industry confronts its environmental impact, initiatives like this set a benchmark for more responsible consumption and production. With increasing global attention, the project has the potential to drive further change, reshaping perceptions of discarded clothing and redefining the future of fashion.
