RASC News Agency: In the western province of Afghanistan, Herat, a substantial proportion, ranging from 80% to 95%, of the local population is confirmed to adopt secondhand attire, as attested by various segments of the community. Friba, a resident of Herat, engaged with a correspondent from RASC News Agency on Saturday, December 30th, underscoring that due to pervasive poverty and escalating economic challenges, a majority of Herat’s inhabitants gravitate towards the purchase of secondhand clothing.
She expounded that the employment and economic prospects in Afghanistan, particularly in Herat, are progressively becoming more daunting, propelling individuals towards economically motivated decisions favoring the acquisition of secondhand and vintage clothing. Furthermore, Friba added that the price range for a new women’s shirt in conventional clothing markets spans from 250 to 800 kabuli Rupees, whereas in secondhand stores, the cost significantly diminishes. Moreover, she accentuated that in secondhand clothing establishments, the prices of items such as shirts and trousers are markedly more economical than those in upscale boutique markets, compelling both women and men to favor secondhand garments.
Mousawi, another Herat resident, informed RASC that a majority of clothing purchases in the region are made from secondhand stores. Beyond the aspect of reasonable pricing, these items are perceived to possess higher quality and durability compared to brand-new garments available in retail markets. According to him, the cost of a secondhand pair of trousers is capped at 150 kabuli rupees, while the equivalent item in mainstream trouser markets may exceed 500 kabuli rupees.
Ali Ahmad, a proprietor of a secondhand clothing store in Herat, asserted to RASC that the sales of secondhand clothes significantly surpass those of new clothing, as men and women in the community prefer secondhand attire over the pricier boutique alternatives. He further expressed that secondhand clothes exhibit superior durability and quality compared to their new counterparts, rendering them more appealing to a broad spectrum of society, particularly the lower and middle classes.
It is noteworthy that secondhand clothing, known as “leilami,” is imported from European countries to Pakistan and then traverses into Afghanistan through trade channels. Many of the secondhand stores in Herat procure this foreign commodity from Herat or Kandahar provinces, importing it to satisfy the demand in their establishments.
