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How would you feel if you had to get your clothes from the
flea market? How about if that was your only practical choice because of income
constraints or because of distance? And what if you had to purchase underwear
from there too?
I came across a short article in the Stylist a couple of
weeks ago in their “elsewhere” section in which they briefly discussed this
subject. The article spoke about women (and men) potentially putting themselves
at risk by purchasing and using used underwear. For this very reason the Zimbabwean
government has just brought in a new law that prevents such sales due to health
and safety concerns, following in the footsteps of Ghana who implemented such
measures in 1994.
As a woman, it is a chore sometimes to go out and buy
underwear. I tend to go to my good old favourite, M&S. It’s been tried and
tested, I know their range, I know it will fit and I know that I won’t need to
spend valuable time trying on – that is just pure hassle. But even then, there
are sometimes I go into the store, during sale periods of course, and I don’t
find my size. Now just imagine what some women in developing countries must be
facing! In amongst the piles and piles of clothes, they must rummage for
something suitable. I’m sure not much thought goes into whether they should get
the matching pair or not.
I am uncertain if I fully agree with the ban. I understand
the welfare reasons behind it, but it will have different impacts on the
different groups in society. The individual traders who once made a living from
this source must now find alternative means and women who genuinely do not have
the means to purchase new wear will now be left worse off. In addition I agree
with this line of argument:
As rational agents, we aim to maximise our consumption based on our budget constraints. Therefore if second hand clothes come in at cheaper than their local substitutes, demand will respond accordingly (Source: Unknown).
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The international market for second hand clothes is large.
Some estimates show it to be worth more than $1 billion a year making up 0.5%
of the total value of trade textiles. This industry’s success has correlated
with the decline of the once prosperous sub-Saharan African textiles industry.
The rise of the second hand market has not been the main cause of this decline,
there were other contributing factors including major structural policy
changes, the introduction of the Multi Fibre Agreements (MFA) and increased
liberalisation of the market which brought competition from Asia.
Nevertheless, second hand clothes will for the time being at
least remain on the scene in sub-Saharan markets. In some instances residents
have shown a preference for second hand clothes because they are of better
quality (perceived or otherwise) and cheaper than the imports received from
China. The decline of the textile industry means that at present only about 5%
of cotton produced on the continent is transformed into a form of textile. The
rest is exported.
Sources:
Baden and Barber (2005), The Impact of Second Hand Clothing on Developing Countries, Oxfam
