Used clothing creates opportunities in Maputo

Amid the frenzy that characterizes the Xipamanine market, Maputo's largest informal market, Olinda Matule sells used clothing and supports her children alone, a vivid portrayal of an activity that generates income and opportunities for thousands of Mozambicans.

"[By selling clothes] I was able to build my home and raise my children, because I'm a single mother and a widow at the same time. I was able to accomplish a lot," Olinda Matule told Lusa, during another visit to the warehouses of the international non-governmental organization ADPP, where she has been buying bales for at least three years.

Having sold for over 30 years at the Xipamanine Market, one of the largest in the Mozambican capital, nestled against one of the square's numerous infrastructures, Olinda, 59, explains that she has never faced prejudice for her business, mainly because she always has "clean, beautiful clothes" on her stall.

According to the woman, the most sought-after clothes are swimsuits and Indian clothing, and sometimes it is possible to find clothes from famous brands inside the bales.

Saquina Davide, 27, also decided to enter the second-hand clothing business a few months ago, despite having frequented the ADPP store located in the Machava neighborhood, on the outskirts of Maputo, for at least two years, where there are “several benefits”, notably the price, quality and exclusivity of the pieces.

"I started [the business] just this year (...) for example, today, [the clothes] are 25 meticais [0.3 euros]. I can buy twenty pieces, but when I resell them, of course the price won't be 25 meticais, but 100 meticais [1.3 euros]," Saquina tells Lusa, his eyes still fixed on the hangers full of colorful fabrics, searching for the most unique pieces to satisfy his clientele.

Vasco Muchamo, 36, also shops at the same store and searches through the clothing, mainly for men's t-shirts.

With his focus on the children's section, Muchamo explains that he forgot the year he started the business, saying only that "it was a long time ago."

"You have to be patient, even when choosing, it's not easy. It takes a lot of patience," he stressed.

For Vasco, stores selling this type of clothing greatly help people with fewer resources dress well, since there are those who "don't have the money to go into stores and buy at a high price."

Stories like these are repeated in ADPP stores and wholesale outlets throughout the country where, in addition to clothing, hope and opportunities are offered to more than 200,000 people, who benefit directly and indirectly from this business , according to Damião Mabote, Program Officer at ADPP Mozambique.

"With this income, they educate their children. We have success stories of even young graduates (...) based on the sale of used clothing," explained the official.

According to Mabote, the clothing sales project, introduced in the country over 30 years ago, serves to support social and educational projects.

"ADPP operates 11 teacher training schools, which also depend on revenue from the sale of second-hand clothing. But it also has other education projects that also rely on funds generated from the sale of used clothing," he said.

For the representative, the “reuse” of used clothing also has a great impact on the environment.

"We know that producing new clothes requires a lot of resources. Mainly, it uses a lot of water. So, when we reuse secondhand clothes, we avoid the production of new clothes and also harm the environment," he concluded.