In the suburbs of Senegal’s capital, Seynabou Sarr’s second-hand shop is bustling with customers just before the big Muslim festival of Tabaski.
Sarr, 30, started her boutique in 2018 and now juggles phone calls and customers seeking second-hand boubous, traditional robes worn for special occasions. Tabaski, celebrated with much fanfare, often pressures families to spend on new clothes, and wearing the same outfit two years in a row is looked down upon.
“People used to feel embarrassed about wearing second-hand clothes,” Sarr said. “But now, many see their benefits.”
For Tabaski, customers want luxurious boubous without the high price. While new boubous can cost up to 250,000 CFA francs ($405), Sarr offers them for as low as 90,000 CFA francs.
Sarr started her business online in 2018 and opened a physical store in 2022. She has over 80,000 followers on TikTok. This year, customer Abdou Fall bought a second-hand tunic for 60,000 CFA francs instead of 130,000 CFA francs new.
In Senegal, second-hand clothing is popular mainly for financial reasons. Customer Matar Sarr believes, “With a little money, you can look just as good as everyone else.”
Another customer, Khady Djiba, found a wedding dress for her sister for 75,000 CFA francs. Though it has minor flaws, some alterations and dry-cleaning will make it look new. “It’s a good deal,” she said, smiling.
Credit: France 24.
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240616-senegalese-eye-elegance-for-eid-at-half-the-price