Everything competes with food in Nigeria. Infact, there’s a popular Yoruba saying that is loosely translated as- a person’s stomach cannot be empty and any other discussion will get assimilated. So, despite clothing and shelter sitting on the same level on the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, food just seems to always edge out the other needs, and this is understandable when you consider that the average Nigerian spends approximately 62 USD, about 90,000 Naira, worth 59% of their monthly income on food.
More than anything else, this bleak economic reality contributes to Nigerian’s extreme reliance on imported cheap textile, second-hand clothing and in effect high volume of fashion wastes. Nigeria currently spends about $6 billion annually on textile imports, and ranks top 5 importers of second-hand clothing in Africa. This reality however does not excuse us from striving to eliminate fashion wastes, it simply means that our solutions and methods have to be practical. And here are a few practical solutions to eliminating fashion wastes in low-middle income countries like Nigeria.
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Mainstream Repair Centers and Marketplaces: We need innovative solutions that will bring repair workshops closer to extend the lifespan of clothing without robbing consumers of the convenience they enjoy with new purchases. This will reduce the rate of disposal of fashion wastes while also ensuring sustainable income for the millions of repair service providers we already have in the informal economy.
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Promote Repurposed and Upcycled Clothing Styles: We need to mainstream a culture where used clothing are transformed into new designs. Imagine a worn out jean trouser being converted to a top, or a shirt to something for your child. Propping up this practice can decrease reliance on imported clothing and enhance local industry growth.
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Establish Clothing Recycling Centers: Thanks to more technology innovation, old clothes can now be re-spun into new yarns or shredded and made into bricks for interior decorations. Investing in cloth and related fashion wastes recycling facilities will eliminate end-of-life fashion wastes and boost local circular economy growth
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Invest in Local Textile Manufacturing Hubs: There is a need to revitalize Nigeria’s once bustling textile industry to can create jobs, reduce import dependency, and provide affordable clothing options tailored to local preferences. This will require more sustainable intervention program, investment and national re-orientation.
Implementing these strategies require multi-stakeholder collaboration among government agencies, private sector stakeholders, and local communities to create a sustainable and economically viable fashion ecosystem in Nigeria, without wastes. It is paramount that in leading actions against climate change and driving towards zero waste, our solutions must remain nuanced and not leave anyone behind.
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