Some buyers of second hand clothes in Bwari Area Council of the FCT, say they patronise the clothes not only because of their affordability but also for their upgraded standard.
The buyers spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the Dutse-Alhaji market on Sunday in Abuja.
The buyers were seen patronising the items in the market which is known for the cheap second hand clothing in the district.
Mrs Ada Micheal, one of the customers said that when it came to shoes, school or women bags especially, she prefers the second hand ones because they are almost new and lasts longer.
”Not all of these items you see here are fairly used; most of them are new or almost new.
”Some even come with tags from probably the stores they were initially hung for sale or because they were rated as substandard in the foreign market.
”Gone are the days of buying really used clothes, now we get to buy new ones, it’s just the name that has not changed.
”I have purchased so many that were brand new here and they have good quality and last longer than the so called brand new I buy from some shops. Especially children wears.
”You find good children shoes for as low as N2, 500, or N3, 000 and they are durable compared to the new ones that costs as high as N6, 000 and will only last a short while then spoil and you are back to square one,” she said.
Micheal also said that the prices of some of the items had gone up compared to previous years, adding that it was still worthwhile.
Another buyer, Mary Zaki , a student, said that she found second hand clothes “unique” with high quality, yet cheap.
According to her, the supposed used clothes are viewed before as the exclusive preserve of the low and medium income earners.
However, she added that, patronage today cuts across every social strata.
”Some of us cannot compromise quality and I believe these second hand clothes symbolises that because they are in various grades and the highest grade is expensive irrespective of how it may be perceived.
”Believe me, these clothes are also bought by highly classy people in the society. When you go to Wuse market or Garki market where these clothes are being sold, you will see the classy buyers.
“It is because of the uniqueness and quality of the wears. You find good stuff like jeans, unique tops and gowns that are not common or all over the place there, with strong fabric too.
”There are some that are compelled by economic circumstances to patronise these used clothes because, to them, they come cheaper than buying new ones. But truth is, you find even designer wears here,” she said.
Madam Rose Ugo, also called “Mama Chi” in the market, sold second hand children wears.
She described the business as a good one but a bit risky if one had to travel all the way to border towns like Cotonou to bring them in.
She said she had suppliers from both Lagos and Kaduna who sent the bale to her at a negotiable price.
She explained that in the past, she bought a bale of children’s wears at the rate of N80, 000 to N90, 000 but the same bale now costs as high as N200, 000.
She said: “The price of dollars contributed to the business.
“We used to sell these singlets for children before now for N150 or N100 but now it goes for N300. Tops for both girls and boys used to go for N300 to N500, but we now sell at N700 no less.
”The coronavirus pandemic and the border closure in 2020 also contributed to the hike in price and even the scarcity of the produce.
”Those who had, before the closure hoarded their bales until this last Christmas before they sold to us.
”This is because they wanted to sell more and because the demand is usually higher during festive season. No matter how tight the economy is , the business strives for us and we are grateful to God,” she said.
Speaking on the health effect of using second hand wears, Dr Ameh Gabriel, a Physician in Bwari, said that handling or using second hand clothes could lead to various kinds of infections on the body.
Some of such, he explained, included virginal or skin Candidiasis from both underwears and clothes.
”Fungal infections like Tinea (Ring worm) and viral infections like genital warts and even parasitic infestations such as scabies and body lice can be transferred from the clothes to the users.
”An even higher risk is when the user fails to wash, disinfect and iron the used clothes before re- using it. Bacteria is very resistant and survives extreme conditions for long, hanging on clothes.
”Washing regularly may sometimes, not get rid of some of the bacteria, particularly those that come with discharge from the body of a previous user.
”So if you must buy used items/clothes, ensure that you use strong reagents to get rid of these bacteria as well as iron properly before wearing them,” he said.
NAN reports that the common items sold in the second hand category in the market included all types of clothing, shoes, bags, children toys and under wears, including bras and panties of various sizes and grade.
