The Secret Life of Your Clothes | This World

Duration: 58'51''

Synopsis

Documentary in which Ade Adepitan explores the afterlife of some of the clothes we donate to charity shops. He follows the trail to Ghana, the biggest importer of our castoffs.

Further Information

More clips from This World

A History of Syria with Dan Snow | This World

A History of Syria with Dan Snow | This World

BBC HD | 2013 | 59'15''

Dan Snow travels to Syria to see how the current civil war has been shaped by the country's tumultuous history, unpicking the h...

After Brexit: The Battle for Europe | This World

After Brexit: The Battle for Europe | This World

BBC Two | 2017 | 59'05''

The European Union faces the biggest challenge in its 60-year history, with the rise of populist eurosceptic movements acros...

America's Stoned Kids | This World

America's Stoned Kids | This World

BBC Two | 2013 | 58'57''

Professor John Marsden heads to Colorado, which voted to legalise the recreational use of cannabis in November 2012, to investigate the im...

Average number of babies born per woman | This World

Average number of babies born per woman | This World

BBC Two | 2013 | 2'40''

Using 3D graphics, Hans Rosling demonstrates the change in life expectancy and the average number of babies born per wom...

British colonialism and Kenyan tea | This World

British colonialism and Kenyan tea | This World

BBC Two | 2014 | 5'46''

Simon Reeve investigates the colonial history that has shaped both the landscape and tea trade in Kenya.

Building boom | This World

Building boom | This World

BBC Two | 2014 | 5'46''

An exploration of China's out of control building boom.

Child labour | This World

Child labour | This World

BBC Two | 2014 | 5'03''

Simon Reeves investigates child labour on tea plantations in Uganda.

Child survival | This World

Child survival | This World

BBC Two | 2013 | 3'44''

The impact that better healthcare is having on child survival rates and thus population.

Corruption and the Rana Plaza | This World

Corruption and the Rana Plaza | This World

BBC Two | 2014 | 5'11''

Power and connections allowed Sohel Rana to cut corners with his clothing factory complex, the Rana Plaza.

Cuba with Simon Reeve | This World

Cuba with Simon Reeve | This World

BBC HD | 2012 | 58'58''

Simon Reeve heads to Cuba to find a communist country in the middle of a capitalist revolution and asks if the new economic openness could...

Dan Snow's History of Congo | This World

Dan Snow's History of Congo | This World

BBC Two | 2013 | 59'15''

Dan Snow travels to Congo to reveal how its troubled history has turned one of the world's potentially richest countries into one of...

Development in Mozambique | This World

Development in Mozambique | This World

BBC Two | 2013 | 13'30''

How life in Mozambique has changed in the last 30 years, in both urban and rural areas.

Don't Panic - The Truth About Population | This World

Don't Panic - The Truth About Population | This World

BBC Two | 2013 | 59'20''

Statistician Professor Hans Rosling presents a spectacular portrait of our rapidly changing world, showing how the prob...

Economy and employment in the new city | This World

Economy and employment in the new city | This World

BBC Two | 2012 | 2'19''

How the economy is developing in the new city and supplying new job opportunities.

Education | This World

Education | This World

BBC Two | 2013 | 2'04''

The important role that education is playing in reducing population.

Eviction | This World

Eviction | This World

BBC Two | 2017 | 4'20''

The process of evicting migrants from the Calais Jungle.

Exploitation on tea plantations | This World

Exploitation on tea plantations | This World

BBC Two | 2014 | 6'46''

Simon Reeve visits a Unilever tea plantation and talks to labourers about the exploitative conditions they work under.

Food and supplies | This World

Food and supplies | This World

BBC Two | 2017 | 2'47''

Food and supplies given to migrants arriving at the Calais Jungle.

Impact of the new city | This World

Impact of the new city | This World

BBC Two | 2012 | 3'49''

How the new city has impacted different families from White Horse village.

Impacts of the Calais Jungle eviction | This World

Impacts of the Calais Jungle eviction | This World

BBC Two | 2017 | 3'19''

Nine months after the Calais Jungle eviction, migrants are still arriving in Calais.

More resources about Sustainable resource management

Fashion's Dirty Secrets | Stacey Dooley

Fashion's Dirty Secrets | Stacey Dooley

BBC Three | 2018 | 57'57''

Stacey Dooley uncovers the shocking environmental impact caused by an insatiable appetite for cheap clothing.

3: Food, Fire and Water | Supersized Earth

3: Food, Fire and Water | Supersized Earth

BBC One | 2012 | 58'06''

Dallas Campbell examines what it takes to keep seven billion humans alive with food, energy and water.

Arguments against wind turbines | Power to the People

Arguments against wind turbines | Power to the People

BBC Four | 2015 | 3'01''

Arguments for and against building more wind turbines in Scotland.

03: Laying the Foundations | Building the Olympic Dream

03: Laying the Foundations | Building the Olympic Dream

BBC Two | 2009 | 58'23''

With nine billion pounds to spend on creating an Olympic Park, London 2012's bosses face some big challenges.

Belfast City: Mud, Sweat and 400 Years

Belfast City: Mud, Sweat and 400 Years

BBC One Northern Ireland | 2014 | 58'57''

Presenter and engineer Dick Strawbridge returns to Belfast to tell the story of one of the world's most important seaports. Using stat...

Early stages of toilet roll production | Inside the Factory

Early stages of toilet roll production | Inside the Factory

BBC Two | 2020 | 5'12''

Gregg Wallace visits a sustainable forest in Sweden and then a pulp mill where the offcuts from the trees are tur...

3: Loch Lomond and the Trossachs | Tales from the National Parks

3: Loch Lomond and the Trossachs | Tales from the National Parks

BBC Four | 2011 | 58'44''

In Tyndrum gold fever has gripped the village's residents, but will the Loch Lomond Park Authority give perm...

Episode 1 | Shop Well for the Planet?

Episode 1 | Shop Well for the Planet?

BBC One | 2021 | 58'11''

The gang help a family go green and save some cash. Eco toilet roll and natural deodorant are put through their paces, and how will the...

Episode 2 | War on Plastic with Hugh and Anita

Episode 2 | War on Plastic with Hugh and Anita

BBC One | 2019 | 58'06''

Hugh and Anita's attempts to solve our plastic problems continue. Anita tackles bathroom plastics whilst Hugh learns that micr...

Episode 3 | War on Plastic with Hugh and Anita

Episode 3 | War on Plastic with Hugh and Anita

BBC One | 2019 | 58'03''

In this final episode, Anita looks at single-use toys whilst Hugh reveals the plastics industry's plans to dramatically increa...

Episode 4 | Future Earth

Episode 4 | Future Earth

BBC News | 2023 | 25'50''

Carl Nasman finds out how the food and drinks we consume and produce impact the planet. He explores some of the solutions on hand to look after the ...

02: Siberia | Kate Humble: Living with Nomads

02: Siberia | Kate Humble: Living with Nomads

BBC Two | 2015 | 59'09''

Kate Humble continues her travels with the Nenets reindeer herders deep in the Siberian tundra, but plummeting temperatures jeo...

3: Shifting Nature | China

3: Shifting Nature | China

BBC Two | 2006 | 59'03''

China is trying to feed 20% of the world's population on 7% of the world's arable land. And a third of the world uses water from China's rivers. R...

4: Fire | How Earth Made Us

4: Fire | How Earth Made Us

BBC Two | 2010 | 59'03''

Professor Iain Stewart explores man's relationship with fire. Along the way he dives in a mysterious lake in Oregon, climbs a glacier of salt and...

6: Fragile Paradise | South Pacific

6: Fragile Paradise | South Pacific

BBC Two | 2009 | 58'37''

A look at what is being done to preserve the South Pacific and its wildlife in the face of fishing fleets and other insidious threats to ...

Composting | Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

Composting | Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

BBC Four | 2020 | 4'36''

Dr Tara Shine discusses the renewable possibilities of composting food waste.

Episode 2 | Shop Well for the Planet?

Episode 2 | Shop Well for the Planet?

BBC One | 2021 | 58'01''

The gang help a family at different stages of their eco journey. Reusable kitchen roll is put to the test, and we get some top tips on ...

Episode 3 | Shop Well for the Planet?

Episode 3 | Shop Well for the Planet?

BBC One | 2021 | 58'02''

A young family are challenged to cut their carbon footprint and save money. Can they be convinced that being green doesn't have to cost...

Growing Up Green

Growing Up Green

BBC Scotland | 2021 | 28'07''

Documentary investigating life as a young person growing up at the Findhorn Foundation, a remote Scottish community focused on spirituality and sustainable ...

Heat stored in mines | Great British Railway Journeys

Heat stored in mines | Great British Railway Journeys

BBC Two | 2024 | 5'22''

In parkland above the pits en route to Cuningar Loop, he finds Glasgow's geoenergy observatory, where the British Geolo...

More from Ade Adepitan

Restoring Our Rivers | Our Changing Planet

Restoring Our Rivers | Our Changing Planet

BBC One | 2025 | 58'20''

Liz Bonnin and Ade Adepitan investigate two ambitious river restoration projects: in the US, the largest dam removal in the world,...

1: The Solomon Islands and Australia | Climate Change: Ade on the Frontline

1: The Solomon Islands and Australia | Climate Change: Ade on the Frontline

BBC Two | 2021 | 58'53''

Ade Adepitan sees the damage that climate change is causing, and finds out how we can fight it - ...

Dubai Miracle Garden | The Travel Show

Dubai Miracle Garden | The Travel Show

BBC World News | 2020 | 3'45''

Ade Adepitan visits the Dubai Miracle Garden, a vast garden with enormous vegetation sculptures.

Britain's picky fruit and vegetables preferences | What Britain Buys and Sells in a Day

Britain's picky fruit and vegetables preferences | What Britain Buys and Sells in a Day

BBC Two | 2019 | 2'08''

Ed finds out why Britons are so picky with their food and how this affects where out ...

Episode 2 | Africa with Ade Adepitan

Episode 2 | Africa with Ade Adepitan

BBC Two | 2019 | 59'04''

Ade Adepitan embarks on the second leg of his journey around Africa. This time he is in Central Africa, travelling from Gabon to Uganda,...

China and Hong Kong | World's Busiest Cities

China and Hong Kong | World's Busiest Cities

BBC Two | 2017 | 3'15''

Dan Snow investigates Hong Kong's precarious relationship with China.

New York: America's Busiest City

New York: America's Busiest City

BBC Two | 2016 | 59'04''

Anita Rani, Ade Adepitan, Ant Anstead and Dan Snow try commuting New York-style, joining 5.5 million commuters on the iconic Staten Island f...

Ade Adepitan, Paralympic Champion | Spark

Ade Adepitan, Paralympic Champion | Spark

BBC Two | 2012 | 4'34''

Ade Adepitan, a Paralympian volleyball champion, could not use his legs, but he never lost his determination to make it as an athlete.