Clothes of the dead come in handy and cheap for the living

A local market selling the clothing of the dead has become increasingly popular with the living, especially the poor.
Al-Sawareekh Souk (The Rocket Market) is one of the biggest and oldest markets in the Kingdom and has a huge used clothing section.
It is known locally as the "dead man’s" clothing market because most of the clothes on sale belonged to people who have passed away. The traders pile all the clothing on the ground and sidewalks.
Most of the traders are Africans who trade after Friday prayers. Saudis and expatriates often donate old clothes to these traders, especially those of their deceased relatives. Prices range from SR2 to SR100.
Saudis generally look down on these markets. They consider them the preserve of expatriates and the poor. "The market is crowded with people who want to buy used clothes," said Abu Ruhman, a 53-year-old Yemeni who works there.
"Most of our customers are Asians and Africans and come here to buy gifts for their families back home. They come here because they can buy in bulk for cheap," he said.
An Arab expatriate worker said the traders do not really know where most of the clothes come from. However, he confirmed that people whose relatives have died donated some clothes.
"When people ask me whether the clothes belonged to a person who died, I just tell them all my clothes are imported from abroad,” he said.
Um Hasan, an Arab expatriate, said she buys clothes cheaply for her children.
"The clothes are in good condition and there is a wide variety. I found a wedding dress for my daughter for SR90. If I bought it from a store, it would have cost me over SR3,000. I avoid buying used clothes that belonged to the dead," she said.
Ahmad Faouq, a skin disease specialist at a local hospital, warned that wearing used clothing could see people pick up harmful bacteria and diseases. "I suggest people wash them in hot water and put them out into the sun."
Meanwhile, many charities have stopped accepting used clothes for the poor.
Mosques are now filling this role. They have big boxes where citizens and expatriates can place their old clothing. The clothes can be taken by anyone wanting to sell them.
There are more than 80 private charities operating in Jeddah but no precise statistics on beneficiaries. Most of these charities support the poor in the Kingdom.