The Social Life History of Second-Hand Clothing:the Trade Network of Second-Hand Clothing be-tween China and Kenya
This study delves into the intriguing dynamics of the second-hand clothing trade between China and Kenya.From the standpoint of"the social life history of things,"The present study attempts to illustrate the pro-cess in which Chinese second-hand clothing transforms from valueless items into valuable commodities in the Kenyan market.The circulation of used clothing within the trade network is not simply determined by supply and demand dynamics.Indeed,a more complex process is at play.In the process of re-commodification,the in-herent attributes and values of the used clothing are continually assessed,redefined,and altered by a matrix of varying factors including societal value systems,business rationales,and socio-cultural influences.Moreover,this study reveals that the re-commodification of second-hand clothing is intertwined with a process of localiza-tion.African nations such as Kenya are not merely passive recipients of second-hand clothes from overseas.In-stead,local societies and individuals actively mold their consumption habits and market strategies in accordance with their unique cultural norms and economic structures.In other words,local African knowledge and value systems play a crucial role in shaping the contours of this transnational second-hand clothing trade.The pres-ence of Chinese second-hand clothes in the Kenyan market signifies more than just the addition of imported con-sumer goods.These items are deeply embedded into local socio-economic frameworks and cultural productions,diversifying the available choices for local residents in their economic and cultural lifestyles.
China-Africa relationstransnational commodity flowthe social life of thingssecondhand clothing
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