Article by: Lina Baklouti
Over the last previous years, the used-textile sector in Tunisia is growing so fast in terms of innovation and creativity.
Many Tunisians have launched businesses of used-textile in Tunisia as it is a land of opportunities for them, especially due to the economic and financial crisis that disallows the citizens to buy brand new clothes. Along with that, especially on the aftermath of Covid-19 pandemic, a surge in online purchases and recycling of clothes has emerged.
The reuse and enhancement of the old clothes, upcycling, came to light. It is the creative recovery of fabrics or clothes either personal or bought. By this technique, used clothes will be transformed into new collections that appeals to modern aesthetic fashion-ism and middleclass clothes buyers.
According to Rihab Boukhayatia, a Tunisian journalist and specialist in law, thrift shopping started in Tunisia after the Second World War as the economic state of Tunisia was in down terms. Therefore, the concept has been already rooted among the Tunisian citizens. Throughout the years, the thrift shoppers’ category has changed from lower to middle and upper class citizens. A survey done by Boukhayatia states that 94% of Tunisians are thrifting consumers.
Thrifting or, in Tunisian terms, “Frip” is a word borrowed from the French word “fripperie”. Used clothing has many advantages such as : affordable prices, of course, depending on the condition of the product and its initial value, original clothing and unique pieces such as vintage and brand name clothes ect.
Within the past few years, many fashion lovers and thrifting addicts launched online businesses to sell used clothes especially on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok.
Those pages’ owners searches for second hand clothes from markets, then, creates the sketch, thus overturning the traditional process of creation and implementation that enhances the revisitation of used garments. Used textiles are first carefully sorted into a variety of items for children, men, and women, shoes, etc. Then, they’re sorted carefully according to a quality degree, fashion aspects and trends, clothing styles, colors, the needs and preferences of the customers, and market destinations.
It is undeniable that those businesses are taking off, especially when one checks the prices of the proposed items in those pages. Tunisian Instagrammers and Tiktokers are doing thrifting hauls, making this business quite “trendy”, and attracting all possible categories of buyers who are in search for originality.
One of the main pages that sell second-hand clothes are:
- Poupouma
- Good Tunisian
- Lou vintage
- Soukmachine
- Paradis sur mer
- Vintage Bae Studio
- Phoenix’s Daughter
- El mamou
- Aubaine
I personally advise all of you to have a look at each of these pages, especially that each one of them, and more, commonly do many events such as “Christmas Market” in Blue café, Sidi Bou Said or “Love 2 Upcycle” in L’Agora café in el Marsa, Tunis.
Lina Baklouti is a student of English Literature, Civilization and Language in the Faculty of Human and Social science in Tunis (9 Avril). She is into acting and writing.
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