Lagosians Buy Second Hand Clothes For Christmas

The country’s economic downturn is taking a toll on Lagosians as most of them have resorted to buying second hand clothes for themselves and their family members just five days to Christmas.

Our correspondent who visited the Super International Market, popularly called Katangowa Market, on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, as well as the Ikotun Market, located in Ikotun area of the State, reports that the markets were filled to the brim with buyers and sellers doing brisk businesses

Some of the buyers, P.M. NEWS observed, even went to the markets with their family members.

Before now, it was believed that these clothes, often called “bend-down select” are meant for poor members of the society and its patrons usually discreetly bought the wares to avoid been seen by their friends.

This has however changed as this year’s shopping involves both the rich and poor.

Sellers of used clothes in the two markets explained that this year’s business is better than last year’s.

They also explained that the increase in the number of buyers had to do with the high prices of ready made clothes.

“Before coming here, you should try and visit boutiques so that you can compare the prices of clothes they sell and those we sell here,” Emeka Madunagwu, who sells used clothes at the Katangowa Market, told P.M. NEWS.

According to him, the buyers have realised that they spend more money buying new clothes than they do when they buy second-hand clothes.

“I can also assure you that most of the new clothes they buy from the boutiques are not better in quality than what we sell.

Another seller of used clothes at the Katangowa Market, Jim Nnaemeka, explained that: “beginning from last week, I and my colleagues have been smiling as our business keeps booming. I get delivery almost everyday now because our buyers have increased,” he explained.

He added that people from other states also visit the market to buy goods which they re-sell in their states.

Mrs. Adunni Joy, who was at the market with her four children and two relations explained that it was more economical patronising fairly used goods considering the economic situation in the country.

“Just imagine me with four children and another two from the village. Where do you think I would get the money to visit boutiques?

“Children’s clothes are almost more expensive than clothes for adults these days. If I want to do real shopping for these children, I know how much I would spend, but here, with N20,000, you would have satisfied the children,” she said.

Jane Ukanah, a buyer at the Ikotun Market, told P.M.NEWS that she was going to share the clothes among her younger ones when she gets to Edo State for the celebration.

Another resident of the state, Simeon Oguntuwase, who was seen buying stock jeans, told P.M.NEWS that there is little difference in the quality of wares sold at the bend-down select market and the boutiques.

He also said the prices of the fairly-used goods is encouraging.

—Eromosele Ebhomele