Cairo's thriving used-clothes market is a sign of the times
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Loading... - Fatima Salhi
- 03 May 2023
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Ten years ago, Wekalet El Ballah, with row upon row of second-hand clothes displayed for sale in open-air stalls, would have been beneath consideration for most affluent and fashion-conscious young Egyptians. But not these days.
Egypt’s largest market for used clothing, in Cairo’s Bulaq district, has become a major draw for even well off shoppers amid a growing interest in “thrifting” and an economic crisis that has forced people to save money wherever they can.
Until very recently, wearing second-hand clothing was seen as the mark of a lower socioeconomic class, says Salma Mabrouk, the owner of a budding thrifting brand and a regular visitor to Wekalet El Ballah.
“People used to think along the lines of ‘why would anyone purchase second hand clothes if they can afford new ones?',” Ms Mabrouk told The National.
“But recently, all that began to change and more people began to show more interest in thrifting.”
This shift has been in the making for a few years, aided by increased awareness of sustainable shopping habits.
But it has become much more apparent this year as Egypt witnesses its highest inflation in six years.
The cost of almost all goods and services has risen sharply over the past year, but some of the largest increases have been seen on imported clothing from fast-fashion brands.
Ms Mabrouk makes weekly trips to Wekalet El Ballah, or El Wekala, as it is commonly known, to buy choice items at cheap prices that she upsells through her online shop. Read More…
