Inside one of the many busy open markets in Kampala, rows of hanged trousers and dresses swing in midair, casting a shadow over the colorful stacks of unsorted clothes sitting on rickety wooden stalls. Amidst the hustle and bustle, bargain-hunting shoppers rummage through the large piles of printed t-shirts, short-sleeved blouses and retro jackets in search of a great deal. This is the Ugandan capital's version of a thrift store, fully stocked with second-hand garments from the West. Here, European-made clothing, American sports jerseys and designer labels are all offered at discount prices, turning second-hand markets like this into a prime destination for cheap garments.
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Previously owned clothing is big business in Africa
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But mass influx of second-hand clothes from the West damages local industries
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Designers say cast-offs are preventing their businesses from growing
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Several African countries have banned imports of second-hand clothes
For customers in @placeholder's bustling markets, however, this is no dumping ground.
This undermined growth opportunities for many local industries and led to the closure of several @placeholder clothing factories, say experts.
Meanwhile, second-hand became a highly lucrative industry across @placeholder markets.