Trading Standards donates counterfeit clothes mountain to charity

Around 5,000 seized items of counterfeit clothes  have been donated to the charity Planet Zero by Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards Service.

The mainly counterfeit goods, which include track suits, t-shirts, sweatshirts and trainers, are the result of seizures by trading standards officers across the area.

On Friday trading standards officers packed a lorry bound for the charity,  which collects unwanted clothes for a good cause, full of clothes.

The clothes were stored at the service's secure compound in Somerset.

Every year thousands of products that breach trading standards legislation are seized. 

Many bear logos or designs,  like Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss and Ralph Lauren,  that infringe trademarks legislation.

Often these counterfeit products are distributed by organised criminal gangs with the proceeds used to support wider criminality.

The seizures not only remove the items from the market but disrupt the activities of these gangs.

By donating these clothes to charity they can be re-used after they have been rebranded. This helps those in need and reduces the volume of waste being sent to landfill.

Councillor John Hart, Leader of Devon County Council, said:  “The size of this consignment shows the good work that is being done by trading standards officers, to ensure that fakes are removed from sale and level playing field is maintained for honest traders.”

Councillor David Hall, Deputy Leader of Somerset County Council, said: “Counterfeiting is illegal and damages legitimate businesses. This donation is a good way for counterfeit goods to be repurposed for a worthwhile cause.”

Councillor Robert Excell, Torbay Council’s Executive Lead with responsibility for Trading Standards said: “Our shared service is pleased to be able to work with a charity to recycle items that would otherwise have been destroyed.

“The clothes will be donated to a good cause.”