A few years ago, Evo’s government passed a decree banning the sale of used clothes in Bolivia. The rationale was to give incentives for local clothing producers (Bolivia has a relatively small, struggling textile industry). Used clothing—mostly from the US—was cheaper than imported clothes, but undercut nationally produced clothing. The rule is not strictly enforced, but there are no longer large “American used clothing” markets like before. But it seems used clothing speakeasies are popping up.
I was walking along, on my way to lunch, when a young man handed me a flier. These are common enough in La Paz (as in any city around the world) advertising all sorts of grant openings, promotional discounts, etc. This one, however, caught my eye.
The flier had “Liquidación” in bold letters at the top. But it was followed by announcement for “Ropa americana – Zona Sur” that was new & “semi-new” at El Alto prices. I assume this was used clothing from the US (which always included some new or barely-used items). But there was no address. There was just a phone number to “call now” that would give you (or a small group of friends/family) to have the locale all to yourself “without anyone else there.”
Basically, a used clothing speakeasy. But one that was more or less out in the open. I assume the young man sized me up & figured I wasn’t a narc. And that perhaps I might be interested. All part of the very interesting “gray” economy in Bolivia.
This is wired. Why would someone want to have only scheduled clients. It's not like they were some top clothing firm from USA or something...
Cazare Muntii Apuseni
I cannot understand this at all. Why would they ban selling used clothes. I think a lot of people need these clothes.
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