The Influx of Second-Hand Clothing Trade and Its Impacts on the Growth of the Local Textile Sector in Tanzania

Mwasomola, Ulimboka Lugano; Ojwang, Enock Alfred

doi:10.54156/cbe.bej.10.2.295

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The overwhelming majority of SHCs are processed for resale in emerging markets, a crucial step in delivering fashion products to customers in under-developed African nations (Katende-Magezi, 2017;Mhango & Niehm, 2005). More than 80% of the African population is believed to be wearing SHCs, imported chiefly from the United States, China, UK, Germany, Korea, etc., as shown in Figure 1 (Mwasomola & Ojwang, 2021;Statista, 2022). There is an immediate market for these garments across Africa because they are less expensive, durable, and more fashionable than those produced locally (Emefa et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

The Retail Second-hand Clothing Sector in Developing Economy: Case study of Liberia

Sumo

2022

Croatian Regional Development Journal

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The proliferation of environmental awareness and the growing recognition of the significance of sustainability has resulted in a new trend of retailers embracing secondhand reselling from unsold or unwanted inventories. Their numbers are increasing while also leveraging various business models, strategies, and procedures. This study uses a survey data of 154 responses from retailers of second-hand clothing across four cities in Liberia to evaluate the used clothing sector in the country. Findings from the survey highlight that while the SHC value chain encourages sustainable consumption, it is also a promoter of economic growth, particularly for developing countries emerging from war. Its retail growth potential is closely tied to the level of economic development geared toward supporting subsistence activities. Findings also show that respondents strongly oppose banning the importation of used clothes and the notion that second-hand undergarments pose health challenges. These findings are essential for providing business owners with understanding of the retailing process and how they can strengthen their foothold in the used clothing sector. They also emphasize the used clothing industry’s significance in Liberia and create avenues for future research.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

The Retail Second-hand Clothing Sector in Developing Economy: Case study of Liberia

Sumo

2022

Croatian Regional Development Journal

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“…There is a soaring demand for SHCs across Africa, mainly because they are longer-lasting, trendier, and cheaper than locally made clothing [21,22]. As a result, it is believed that more than 80 % of the African population consumes SHC [22,23], while also creating job opportunities for hundreds of thousands of people across the continent [24,25].…”

Section: Communitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Textile waste management and recycling opportunities and challenges for Africa

Davis Sumo

2024

Holist. approach environ.

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Global fibre supply increased to 113 million tonnes in 2021, contributing to elevated energy and water consumption levels, agricultural pollution, and post-consumer textile waste. Introducing second-hand clothing as an alternative to mitigate textile waste is advantageous for providing affordable clothing. However, the disposal of substandard and unsold garments obstructs riverways and drainage systems, leading to flooding. Moreover, incineration produces heightened greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating poverty and impeding development, particularly in Africa. Nevertheless, textile wastes present opportunities for establishing large-scale regeneration and recycling facilities, offering the potential for employment generation and skill development in Africa. This mini-review aims to underscore Africa’s potential and challenges in textile waste recycling. The findings underscore the importance of recognizing African textile waste, both as an environmental hazard and as a valuable resource for the production of new clothing. Additionally, they emphasize how efforts to add value to recovered textiles are gaining traction, particularly in East, South, and North Africa. However, no formal textile recycling facilities were identified in West and Central Africa. This mini-review is constrained by data limitations, encouraging future researchers to broaden its scope by examining individual countries and recycling companies.

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“…16 Over 80% of Africa’s population is estimated to wear SHC imported mainly from the US, Europe, India, Pakistan and China. 42,43 Challenges in various economies on the continent have made the purchase of new apparel the preserve of only a few. Most of the populace cannot afford new clothes, and there are ready markets for these SHC items across the continent since they are less expensive, easier to wear, more durable and trendier than locally manufactured ones.…”

Section: Study Themesmentioning

confidence: 99%

An assessment of Africa’s second-hand clothing value chain: a systematic review and research opportunities

Sumo

Arhin

Danquah

et al. 2023

Textile Research Journal

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A rapid change in fast fashion has significantly accelerated the expansion of the volume of discarded clothing across the globe. Africa is the world’s largest destination for second-hand clothes (SHC, sometimes known as ‘Mitumba’). However, fewer studies have been conducted on Africa’s SHC, making it challenging to evaluate the impact of the market and its value chain. This study examines the economic contribution and assessment of the SHC value chain and the resulting environmental challenges, identifies the trends of scholarly discourse on the topic in Africa, examines their methodologies and develops future research opportunities. The study shows that the SHC trade is an essential supply chain connecting developed and developing countries and a valuable clothing consumption alternative for people experiencing economic decline, poverty and low purchasing power. SHC is crucial in delivering fashion products to customers in underdeveloped African countries. It also creates job opportunities for hundreds of thousands of people in the trade, distribution, repairs, laundry services and upcycling. Results further show that Africans are being enriched with new skills and knowledge of the SHC trade, which is expected to help grow and promote small- to medium-sized enterprises. However, poorly made Mitumba become unmarketable, creating environmental challenges in cities across the continent. The study found fewer empirical studies, due largely to limited data on Africa’s SHC trade. This calls for more empirical studies to scale the SHC trade in the region, expand the boundaries of entrepreneurial opportunities for Africa to interact with the global market, and alleviate the widespread problem of extreme poverty while also addressing the environmental challenges posed by SHC.

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The Influx of Second-Hand Clothing Trade and Its Impacts on the Growth of the Local Textile Sector in Tanzania

Cited by 5 publications

References 3 publications

The Retail Second-hand Clothing Sector in Developing Economy: Case study of Liberia

The Retail Second-hand Clothing Sector in Developing Economy: Case study of Liberia

Textile waste management and recycling opportunities and challenges for Africa

An assessment of Africa’s second-hand clothing value chain: a systematic review and research opportunities

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