Where do thrift stores find their merchandise at such low prices? I’ve noticed several Instagram thrift stores selling new clothing items for incredibly cheap prices. How do they manage to do that? It can’t be from AliExpress; I’ve checked, and the shipping costs and product prices are already too high.
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Those are secondhand clothes with logos added.
Secondhand clothes (mtumba) are donated items; some are newer, so sellers sift through bales to select those that appear “brand new.”
In Kenya, the local textile industry suffered due to a preference for shortcuts and cheap goods. Originally intended for charity or those in need, mtumba are now popular, especially among women, who often accumulate more clothes than they need.
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Not really. Many international fashion brands are actually made in Kenya. Kenyans simply lack purchasing power to buy $500 sneakers and $200 trousers. The textile industry is vibrant.
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That’s not entirely accurate; it’s more like exploiting free labor. Secondhand clothing (mtumba) wasn’t as prevalent in the past as it is now. It’s challenging for any business to compete when others can source decent-quality finished products essentially for free. In the long term, this practice harms the industry by reducing demand, leading to job losses, revenue decline, and fewer employment opportunities.
Additionally, even those with the means and buying power choose to purchase secondhand clothing.