With the advent of winter, second-hand clothes markets have spring up in different parts of the city to cater to the needs of middle -income population.
The popular spots are the old Lighthouse Cinema on M. A. Jinnah Road and its adjoining lanes in the old city, Relax Cinema in the center of Nazimabad No 1, and Hydari Market on the main North Nazimabad Road. The visitors to these markets mostly belong to middle-income population.
In North Karachi, Malir and Korangi there are markets for the lower-income groups that have the capacity to buy but limited time to travel long distances to reach bigger markets.
In addition to these markets there are a number of small markets, pushcart loaded with used clothes and sellers carrying loads of clothes on their shoulders that can be seen in the city. Those who have not found place to set up a sale outlet have dumped their stocks on roadsides. In short, the business is thriving in all circumstances.
The importers say that it is mostly from the affluent western countries and from the USA that second-hand clothes come to Pakistan. It is more than a three million dollars market that meets the need of the people of Pakistan.
From Karachi consignment loaded on trucks departs to other cities where people are comparatively poor and wait for fresh delivery of low-priced second-hand clothes. The entire northern area, which is extremely cold and mostly covered with snow, is endowed by two things: natural beauty and extreme poverty. These clothes bring relief to the local people of this area and to the holiday-makers who come from the plains to experience snowfall and cold.
These are not always the used clothes that are available for sale. Expensive and out of fashion clothes comprise the major portion of these consignments. In either case these are inexpensive clothes and available in various measurements.
For men, trousers, jackets, jeans, shirts and sweaters are available in different colours; whereas, for women, good quality shawl and sweaters are in plenty. To find clothes for children is always a difficult job.
From the stock buyers can find something worthwhile for their children as well. Senior citizens are not forgotten. Woolen overcoat, woolen neckband, woolen caps are available in good quality and at affordable price.
Teenage girls often find it difficult to buy warm clothes. For them these markets, often called lunda bazar, have dedicated outlets. It is a matter of hard work and investment of a few hours in locating these places. Success can be achieved through perseverance. There are shops, which have matching shoes and sandals to meet the entire need of a customer.
People who are in the business of second-hand clothes for decades are managing these bazaars. There is a wicked circle of leading importers that do not welcome new comers in their circle.
Their investment is huge and their goods are available on credit. Those who buy in bulk and make spot payment get it cheap as compared to those who lift stock on credit pay double than the interest rate banks charge. Many shopkeepers are in debt for years. In fact they are in a cycle of payment and debt liabilities.
At the same time the wholesale suppliers feel comfortable with those who lift supplies on credit and remain in perpetual debts. It keeps money coming in slowly but regularly and that too with heavy interest.
A new comer to this market with the hope of setting up an outlet finds it difficult to buy goods in bulk. Whatever may be the mechanism, the second-hand clothes business is a prospering business venture only for those people who can get themselves assimilated into the Mafia and tow their business 'ethics'.
The margin of profit is almost 100 percent provided one knows the art of bargaining. But even than the prices are affordable and buyers have no hesitation in knowing this fact while striking a deal. Women think that they are the best bargainers as compared men, whereas, they are the ones who fall prey to these hawkish sellers.
To say this much must suffice that an unused woolen trouser is available at Rs 150 as compared to fresh stock available in posh market at Rs 700. Similarly, a used jacket is available at Rs 300 whereas a new jacket costs Rs 1500-2000. The price of jersey, sweater and woolen clothes are within reach of low-income buyers.
One is at a loss to imagine for a while had there been no lunda bazaar what would have been the plight of the low and middle-income population. The new clothes market is expensive and beyond reach of majority of people. Even ordinary unstitched material is costly and only the stitching charges are sufficient to upset the monthly budget of middle-income household.
Going by the official statistics the family size is seven persons per household in Pakistan. The per capita income if taken as $980 would mean average income of a family about Rs 5000 per month.
The stitching charge of a shirt is between Rs 150-200, trouser Rs 250-300 and a jacket Rs 1000-1500. A new sweeter of poor quality costs Rs 1000 and a warm cap for an elderly person costs Rs 250-300.
Adding up all for a family of seven persons would mean more than the salary of a month is needed to keep the family safe from the vagaries of winter. Comparing with this situation, the existence of second-hand clothes market is a blessing and should be held in high esteem.
This market in spite of its inherent failing has advantages over other markets and one should count its good points instead of feeling discouraged by its reputation. There people who are shy in visiting these markets but this shyness hardly serve any purpose. After all how many people know that their visiting cousins from the Unites States of America or from a western country bring second-hand material to present them. This is the norm. Believe it.
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