Secondhand clothing adds billions of dollars to Europe and Africa's GDP by 2023. It has also created opportunities for many environmentally friendly jobs. The secondhand fashion industry plays a significant role in the global circular economy, especially in European and African countries. The European Union and the United Kingdom have generated direct income of 3.2 billion dollars from this sector. And secondhand fashion added a total of 7.6 billion dollars to the GDP of these countries. Secondhand fashion earned Germany $720 million and the UK $450 million last year.

Secondhand clothing

This sector will create 150,000 jobs in European countries by 2023. Of these, 1 lakh 10 thousand are green jobs. Note that environmentally friendly jobs associated with recycling, upcycling, decluttering are basically green jobs. 8 out of 10 of those who get such new jobs are women. This fashion sector has created many opportunities in low income countries like Bulgaria, Romania and Poland.

These data emerged in a new report titled 'The Socioeconomic Impact of Secondhand Clothes in 27 Countries in Africa and the European Union' by Oxford Economics. This report was commissioned by Humana People to People and Symphony.

This is the first report to highlight the overall value chain and socio-economic impact of the clothing sector on two continents. The report glaringly points out our lack of knowledge. Also taught to observe with a subtle eye, to a degree that no one had thought of before.

The report focuses on the European Union and Ghana, Kenya and Mozambique. Ghana earned $35 million, Kenya $17 million and Mozambique $10.7 million from secondhand clothing last year. In parallel, many environmentally friendly jobs or green jobs have been created in these countries.

Compared to other years, 47 percent more secondhand clothes were imported into Ghana from European countries. Imports to other African countries also increased last year. A good value chain between the countries of the global north and south has led to economic growth, as well as new jobs.

Second hand clothes go from north to south countries according to demand. Circular fashion will increase demand for affordable and high-quality fabrics in global production; Which is also environment friendly. However, if the secondhand fashion market is left in the hands of any country without a strong control structure, this positive effect cannot be sustained. The secondhand sector has therefore sought legal assistance from policy makers.