An economic necessity for some, a passion for others, second-hand clothes have become an essential part of the textile sector in Tunisia.
According to official figures, the sector directly employs between 8 and 10,000 people in Tunisia, but in total between 300 and 400,000 Tunisians work in the sector.
Second-hand clothes, shoes, bags and household linen are sold in huge dedicated markets across the country at prices that are considered low, if not reasonable.
With the economic crisis and the ever-decreasing purchasing power of Tunisians, traditional shops selling new clothes have been abandoned by customers in favor of second-hand shops.
But the second-hand clothing sector is going through a tough time. Shopkeepers are doing everything they can to strike a balance between the profitability of their projects and building customer loyalty.
Sales in the sector have fallen by 15%
Sahbi Maâlaoui, President of the National Trade Union Chamber of Second-Hand Clothing Wholesalers, spoke on Express FM on Thursday, September 12 about the importance of the second-hand clothing sector and the obstacles it faces.
He revealed that more than 94% of Tunisians buy clothes from second-hand shops, which offer clothes of various qualities at affordable prices.
He also pointed out that the second-hand clothing sector has seen a drop in sales of an estimated 15% during this period.
‘This drop is due to the current economic situation, which is characterized by the start of the new school year, which weighs heavily on Tunisian families, the fall in purchasing power and the succession of festive events that have strained the financial situation of Tunisian families,’ he said.
On another front, he said that the prices of second-hand clothes, which are subject to the rule of supply and demand, have not increased this year despite the 20% tax increase introduced by the 2023 Finance Law.
“The second-hand clothing industry is an important economic sector that exports to the African market and directly and indirectly employs 200,000 people, including 8,000 with higher qualifications,” he said.
He also paid tribute to the efforts of the Ministry of Environment, which has made it possible to convert used clothing waste into renewable energy for use by cement factories.
In this context, he called for an urgent amendment to the legislation governing the sector, which he described as outdated, citing the example of the ban on inter-governorate sales for wholesalers, which he described as “nonsensical”.
Over 90% of Tunisians buy their clothes from second-hand shops
Since 2011, second-hand shops have become an essential part of everyday life in Tunisia, according to Maaloui.
He said Tunisians spend 8% of their budget in these markets. The sector is a breath of fresh air, especially for the middle classes, who struggle to make ends meet at the end of each month due to repeated price hikes.
However, certain brands of clothing (both Tunisian and foreign) are unaffordable. As a result, second-hand clothes are an escape route for many Tunisians, who can find what they need at knock-down prices.
The sector also supports 10,000 families. The main supplier of second-hand clothing factories in Tunisia, Europe, is no longer providing sufficient quantities.
