Secondhand clothing was popularized across Africa when liberalization policies spearheaded by the World Bank were introduced in the late 80s and 90s, ushering in a new age of competition in local clothing industries. This meant that African governments removed barriers to trade between Africa and developed countries, and free trade was encouraged. Today, according to reports from Oxfam, it is said that more than 70% of clothes donated globally end up in Africa. 

Increased concerns surrounding overconsumption and the environmental impacts of the fashion industry have brought the conversation around secondhand clothing and circular fashion to the fore. Globally, a growing interest in secondhand clothing in the West has led to a mainstream shift; in 2021, luxury group...