We’ve launched the new Obleč Pardubice website

Pardubice has a new portal that will make it easier to donate, sort, and repurpose clothing. “Obleč Pardubice” features a clear, interactive map of collection points and helps people find an easy way to give unwanted clothing a second chance.

Residents of the Pardubice Region want their discarded clothing to continue to be of use. According to a new survey by Ipsos for the Obleč Pardubice project, 83% of people consider it important that their sorted clothing be used to help people in need and that someone else wear it.

The new Obleč Pardubice portal, which we launched in collaboration with local partners, addresses this very need. It clearly shows, all in one place, the options for where to drop off, donate, or pass on clothing and textiles in Pardubice and the surrounding area for further use.

Residents of the Pardubice Region Want Their Clothing to Get a Second Chance

Survey results show that residents of the Pardubice Region think about what happens to their clothing. 58% of people combine buying new and secondhand clothing, while approximately 39% of respondents buy only new clothing.

More than 70% of the region’s residents also regularly sort through their wardrobes—once or more per year. Most often, this is because the clothing is worn out, doesn’t fit properly, or they no longer have room for it at home.

What happens to the clothes afterward is important to them. When donating, 75% of respondents consider the opportunity to support a charity, and 79% want their discarded clothes to be properly disposed of, recycled, or otherwise reused.

“The best clothes are those that don’t end up as waste. If they no longer serve us, they can get a second chance with someone else and, at the same time, help someone in need. ‘Obleč Pardubice’ aims to show people that passing on clothes can be easy and that every item sorted has a purpose,” says Dana Pavlousková, director of the Clothing Bank.

Where to Take Your Clothes? You’ll Find the Answer in One Place

Understanding the options for where to donate sorted clothing is one of the main reasons this project was launched. Obleč Pardubice offers an interactive map that brings together all available drop-off locations and other options for donating clothes and textiles in one place.

Textile collection bins are the most common choice for residents of the Pardubice Region—64% of respondents use them as their first option. Another 31% of people donate clothes to relatives or acquaintances. Approximately one-quarter of the region’s residents try to sell clothes through online marketplaces or social media, or participate in clothing swaps.

Conversely, 13% of discarded clothing still ends up in mixed waste.

The new portal aims to show people that other options exist—and that sorting clothing properly doesn’t have to be complicated.

Helping People and the Environment

An important part of the project is also the connection between its environmental and social dimensions. Clothing that one person no longer needs can still serve someone else well.

“As a city, we want to make recycling as easy as possible for people and create conditions so that as little textile waste as possible ends up in mixed waste. Every item that can be reused or recycled makes a difference,” says Jiřina Klčová, Deputy Mayor for the Environment.

This year, the city of Pardubice has also established more effective cooperation with a new company that, among other things, collects textiles through secure containers. More than forty of the original containers have already been replaced with new ones, and more are being added gradually. There could be up to 80 of them throughout the city.

Clothing Donations Have Been Helping in Pardubice for Twenty Years

The Social Clothing Bank of the Pardubice Regional Charity, which has been operating for two decades, also plays a significant role in the aid system. Through a network of twelve donation bins, people can donate clean and gently used clothing.

Each month, approximately three to five metric tons of clothing are collected, and each year, the Social Clothing Bank provides assistance to approximately 600 to 800 people in need.

“Our day-to-day experience shows that when people have the opportunity to help in a simple, straightforward way—and with the certainty that their donation will truly serve a good cause—they are very happy to take advantage of this opportunity,” says Marie Hubálková, director of the Pardubice Regional Charity.

The social clothing bank is open to nonprofit organizations and social services departments in the Pardubice district. If a social worker knows that her client needs clothing, she can pick up specific items there.

People Mainly Look for Information Online

The residents of the region themselves confirm that a project like this makes sense. When asked how they would like to be informed about options for sorting clothing and textiles, one-third of respondents (33%) cited websites. Another 28% prefer information via social media, and 21% prefer printed materials.

That’s why Obleč Pardubice provides information where people expect to find it—clearly organized and all in one place.

Want to know where to take clothes you no longer wear in Pardubice? Visit the new Obleč Pardubice website and find the best option in your area.

Because every piece of clothing that doesn’t have to end up as waste can be given a new life. And sometimes, it can even help someone who really needs it.