In the bustling secondhand clothing market of Accra, Ghana, early-morning shoppers sift through heaps of garments, searching for bargains or designer treasures among the imported used apparel. Just steps away, a vibrant upcycled fashion and thrifting festival transforms discarded materials into eye-catching designs, bringing glamour and sustainability to the streets.
At the Kantamanto market, designers showcase their creativity at the Obroni Wawu October festival, which translates to “dead white man’s clothes” in Akan. Models strut down a makeshift runway wearing reimagined floral blouses, denim jeans, and leather accessories crafted from discarded textiles. Richard Asante Palmer, one of the designers participating in the event organized by the nonprofit Or Foundation, explained the initiative’s purpose: “Instead of allowing (textile waste) to choke our gutters or beaches or landfills, I decided to use it to create something … for us to use again.”
The festival sheds light on Ghana’s role as one of Africa’s largest importers of used clothing, much of which arrives from countries like the U.K., Canada, and China. While some of these items are reshipped to other markets, many are discarded due to poor quality. The Ghana Used Clothing Dealers Association reported earlier this year that 5% of imported bulk clothing is immediately unsellable, though other estimates suggest as much as 40% of weekly imports end up as waste, according to Neesha-Ann Longdon, business manager for the Or Foundation’s executive director.
