A study on relevance of second hand clothing retailing in Ethiopia
Research Journal of Textile and Apparel
ISSN: 1560-6074
Article publication date: 13 September 2019
Issue publication date: 5 December 2019
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to highlight the relevance of second-hand clothing (SHC) in the Ethiopian textile and apparel value chain by investigating its potential and establishing a connect to sustainability from a consumption point of view.
Design/methodology/approach
Primary and secondary methods of research were used in this research. Structured observational technique was used to identify the retailers in the city. In total, 70 retailers of SHC were identified and 15 big size retailers were interviewed with open end questions through judgment sampling method.
Findings
From the analysis of the field research and scientific literature, the authors strongly believe that SHC has an important space in the consumer retail segment of the country. This trade remains in the shadow but is sustaining livelihoods of citizens. The SHC trade provides an automatic balance to the future excessive consumption which is a result of mass production and hence should be encouraged further on various dimensions.
Originality/value
Existing literature exhibits statistics of the trade and impact in East African Community (EAC) missing out on Ethiopia as it is not a member of the EAC. Moreover a connection of SHC to sustainability established has never been established in the past for under-developing countries, and it is one of the critical factors in the success of used clothing and future of textile and apparel business. This research also provides channelized solutions to the business for smooth implementation of SHC in Ethiopia and other under-developing countries.
Keywords
Citation
Khurana, K. and Tadesse, R. (2019), "A study on relevance of second hand clothing retailing in Ethiopia", Research Journal of Textile and Apparel, Vol. 23 No. 4, pp. 323-339. https://doi.org/10.1108/RJTA-12-2018-0063
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited