Open
since 1986, The Garment District Inc. is one of the most unusual department
stores in existence. A staff of 40 busily maintains a huge retail space
with over 40,000 pieces of vintage and contemporary clothing on sale on
any given day. The Garment District started as an offshoot of a textile
company which produced wiping cloths for industry. When manufacturing
moved out of Massachusetts in the 1980's, the textile business was sold
and The Garment District was opened to complement early retail activities
of Dollar-A-Pound+. The Garment District immediately caught the fancy
of savvy clothing buyers in New England and it has expanded steadily to
become one of the largest operations of its type in the world. |
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At
present, The Garment District Inc. processes several million pounds of
clothing a year. Much of it purchased from charitable organizations,
providing them with sorely needed revenue. As it comes in, the clothing
is carefully sorted and categorized. Approximately one piece in thirty
is selected, steamed, and tagged for sale in the store. Other useable
items are sold through Dollar-A-Pound+. Clothing not stylistically interesting
to retail customers is baled and shipped to the developing world for reuse.
Items which are unrepairable or soiled are sent to a "shoddy mill" and
are ground up for other "post-consumer" uses. Over time The Garment District
has also developed a very substantial consignment department, and consignors
are always welcome to call. We also sell new shoes, clothing and accessories.
The staff is committed to the mission of being an ethical recycling company
which offers "high quality clothing for any taste". |
