JEDDAH: There was a time in the Kingdom when people shopping for clothes would only buy new. Saudis would never conceive buying secondhand clothing, something that has, however, been growing in popularity in recent times.
Al-Sawareekh Souk (or the Rocket Market) is one of the biggest open-air markets in the Kingdom; it also houses a huge secondhand clothing section.
The market is locally known as the dead-man’s clothing market, since most of the clothes on sale previously belonged to people now dead. The clothing section is a jumble with piles of clothes and peddlers sitting on the ground and on sidewalks selling clothes.
Most sellers, who are mainly of African nationalities, begin selling after Friday prayers. Saudis and expatriates often donate old clothes, especially those belonging to deceased relatives, to African women during the week. Clothes on sale range from anything between SR2 to SR100 and even include designer brands.
Saudis once looked unfavorably at buying used clothing; this was the realm of expatriates, especially those who are of low-income. “The market is crowded with people who want to buy used clothes,” said Abu Ghalib, a 53-year-old Saudi who works there. “Most of our customers are of Asian nationalities and they come here to buy gifts for their families in their home countries. They come here because they can buy bulk for cheap.” Another worker said most people buy used clothes during the summer. “Some expatriates buy them as gifts for people back home. Most of my customers are Filipinos and Arabs. We import these clothes from Europe and sometimes from Dubai,” he said. He added that the specific sources of the clothes are unknown. “Some of the clothes are donated by people whose relatives recently died. Some people ask me whether the clothes they are buying belonged to dead people. I just tell them that all my clothes are imported from abroad,” he added.
A Filipino shopper at the market said he comes just to buy wedding dresses. “I make a few changes to them and then send them to the Philippines. The dresses are then rented out for occasions. It is a profitable business,” he said. Umm Ahmad, who is of a non-Saudi Arab nationality, said she comes here to buy clothes for her children as she has a budget on what she can buy.
“The clothes are good and there are many varieties and choices. I avoid buying used clothes, which belonged to dead people. I found a wedding dress for my daughter for SR90. If I bought it from a proper store then it would have cost me over SR3,000,” she said.
Ahmad Mustapha, a skin disease specialist at a hospital, warned people against wearing used clothes saying this could lead to the spread of harmful bacteria and diseases. “I suggest people who buy used clothes wash them with hot water and put them under the sun,” he said.
