Comments on: U.S. consumerism and the concept of ‘mitumba’ http://the-fuqua-experience.com/blog/2009/10/01/us-consumerism-mitumba/ Duke Cross Continent MBA Sun, 05 Sep 2010 23:31:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: ovadje1 http://the-fuqua-experience.com/blog/2009/10/01/us-consumerism-mitumba/comment-page-1/#comment-135 ovadje1 Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:37:31 +0000 http://the-fuqua-experience.com/?p=1033#comment-135 I'd say it depends on where you are in Nigeria. In the more urban areas, western clothes are definitely the norm in terms of daily dress. Traditional outfits are mostly worn on special occasions such as weddings, and other ceremonies. It is also not uncommon to find political figures dressed in traditional attire on a regular basis. There really isn't resistance to western clothing as both forms of clothing are widely accepted. I’d say it depends on where you are in Nigeria. In the more urban areas, western clothes are definitely the norm in terms of daily dress. Traditional outfits are mostly worn on special occasions such as weddings, and other ceremonies. It is also not uncommon to find political figures dressed in traditional attire on a regular basis.

There really isn’t resistance to western clothing as both forms of clothing are widely accepted.

]]> By: abeautifulmind1 http://the-fuqua-experience.com/blog/2009/10/01/us-consumerism-mitumba/comment-page-1/#comment-134 abeautifulmind1 Sun, 04 Oct 2009 07:53:29 +0000 http://the-fuqua-experience.com/?p=1033#comment-134 Just like the "Okrika" markets in Nigeria and the "Mitumba" markets in Tanzania, we have a similar market in India. The people trading in these markets are called "Bhandi-wala"s (we usually add 'wala' in Hindi just like we add 'er' in English e.g. Keep-er, Deal-er, etc.). So may be we can call it the "Bhandi" market, but this word can have a different meaning when used independently. In this market, the Bhandiwalas source used clothes from people's residences. They visit residential colonies carrying new utensils and more recently I have seen them carrying toys as well. They exchange these items for used clothes. Then they sell those used clothes in their own markets at constantly varying prices (just like in the Mitumba markets). The prices are determined by many factors - like latest trends, type of clothes or dress, material, etc. (e.g. the prices of silky clothes are higher than that for cotton clothes). So the sellers market (or may be selling side market) is a completely free market as the buyers of these clothes are many. In India, there are people/families from all economic/financial circles. From people earning $1 a day to people earning in billions every year. On the buyers side (sourcing side market) as well the market is completely free. Here the people who give these used clothes have the choice to choose the utensils or items and negotiate freely. The demand is high and so is the supply. The quality of the clothes also depends on living standard of the family giving them. It also depends on how much old the clothes are or how much are they in demand in the current fashion circles. A wealthy family can engage in such deals frequently. So all these factors determine the size, type, color,etc of the items that will be exchanged. However, this market is nearly disappeared from the metros (most urban areas) like Mumbai and I haven't seen a "Bhandi-wala" in around 5-7 years in Mumbai. But I live in a small city close to Mumbai and the market in my city (Ulhasnagar) is still present and running. Whether the market will continue to flourish or not is a different debate altogether. Just like the “Okrika” markets in Nigeria and the “Mitumba” markets in Tanzania, we have a similar market in India. The people trading in these markets are called “Bhandi-wala”s (we usually add ‘wala’ in Hindi just like we add ‘er’ in English e.g. Keep-er, Deal-er, etc.). So may be we can call it the “Bhandi” market, but this word can have a different meaning when used independently.

In this market, the Bhandiwalas source used clothes from people’s residences. They visit residential colonies carrying new utensils and more recently I have seen them carrying toys as well. They exchange these items for used clothes. Then they sell those used clothes in their own markets at constantly varying prices (just like in the Mitumba markets). The prices are determined by many factors – like latest trends, type of clothes or dress, material, etc. (e.g. the prices of silky clothes are higher than that for cotton clothes). So the sellers market (or may be selling side market) is a completely free market as the buyers of these clothes are many. In India, there are people/families from all economic/financial circles. From people earning $1 a day to people earning in billions every year.

On the buyers side (sourcing side market) as well the market is completely free. Here the people who give these used clothes have the choice to choose the utensils or items and negotiate freely. The demand is high and so is the supply. The quality of the clothes also depends on living standard of the family giving them. It also depends on how much old the clothes are or how much are they in demand in the current fashion circles. A wealthy family can engage in such deals frequently. So all these factors determine the size, type, color,etc of the items that will be exchanged.

However, this market is nearly disappeared from the metros (most urban areas) like Mumbai and I haven’t seen a “Bhandi-wala” in around 5-7 years in Mumbai. But I live in a small city close to Mumbai and the market in my city (Ulhasnagar) is still present and running. Whether the market will continue to flourish or not is a different debate altogether.

]]> By: Randy Zwitch http://the-fuqua-experience.com/blog/2009/10/01/us-consumerism-mitumba/comment-page-1/#comment-131 Randy Zwitch Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:22:16 +0000 http://the-fuqua-experience.com/?p=1033#comment-131 Thanks for the insight Stephen! Your example about the used clothing market in Nigeria makes more sense with what I would've expected overall in terms of the cultural aspects of the used clothing. I was quite surprised to read that the mitumba market in Tanzania was actually celebrated; growing up in the U.S., and basically having everything available to me at my fingertips, I couldn't imagine being happy with the implications of getting the "first-worlds" hand-me-downs. I could imagine being <i>accepting</i> of it, but certainly not celebrating it. Perhaps the book overstates the true feelings of the general populace, or just presents a limited viewpoint. Since we're talking about Nigeria, how are the counterfeit designer clothes viewed vis a vis traditional dress, or just Western clothes in general? Are the Western clothes generally accepted for daily dress, or is there some resistance? Meaning, is there a desire by some people to hold on to traditional dress everyday, or is traditional dress more for traditional ceremonies/special occasions? Thanks for the insight Stephen! Your example about the used clothing market in Nigeria makes more sense with what I would’ve expected overall in terms of the cultural aspects of the used clothing.

I was quite surprised to read that the mitumba market in Tanzania was actually celebrated; growing up in the U.S., and basically having everything available to me at my fingertips, I couldn’t imagine being happy with the implications of getting the “first-worlds” hand-me-downs. I could imagine being accepting of it, but certainly not celebrating it. Perhaps the book overstates the true feelings of the general populace, or just presents a limited viewpoint.

Since we’re talking about Nigeria, how are the counterfeit designer clothes viewed vis a vis traditional dress, or just Western clothes in general? Are the Western clothes generally accepted for daily dress, or is there some resistance? Meaning, is there a desire by some people to hold on to traditional dress everyday, or is traditional dress more for traditional ceremonies/special occasions?

]]> By: ovadje1 http://the-fuqua-experience.com/blog/2009/10/01/us-consumerism-mitumba/comment-page-1/#comment-130 ovadje1 Sat, 03 Oct 2009 04:56:58 +0000 http://the-fuqua-experience.com/?p=1033#comment-130 This is quite interesting. A similar concept exists in Nigeria, and the used clothing is called "Okrika" or "Bend down boutique" - a reference to the fact that customers have to bend down to sort through bales of clothing that have been rated or graded based on the quality of the clothes. There is however, a stigma associated with wearing "okrika". In recent years, this market has faced competition from imported counterfeit designer clothing which can also be gotten for cheap. I agree with you that the mitumba markets are indeed functioning as they should in providing goods people want at prices they can afford. The existence of Mitumba should not inhibit the development of a successful textile industry. African people are generally very proud of their heritage and celebrate their culture through their traditional dress. Afterall, Mitumba clothing do not satisfy the need for locally produced traditional attire which a local textile industry can by providing raw materials to local designers / tailors. This is quite interesting. A similar concept exists in Nigeria, and the used clothing is called “Okrika” or “Bend down boutique” – a reference to the fact that customers have to bend down to sort through bales of clothing that have been rated or graded based on the quality of the clothes. There is however, a stigma associated with wearing “okrika”. In recent years, this market has faced competition from imported counterfeit designer clothing which can also be gotten for cheap.

I agree with you that the mitumba markets are indeed functioning as they should in providing goods people want at prices they can afford. The existence of Mitumba should not inhibit the development of a successful textile industry. African people are generally very proud of their heritage and celebrate their culture through their traditional dress. Afterall, Mitumba clothing do not satisfy the need for locally produced traditional attire which a local textile industry can by providing raw materials to local designers / tailors.

]]> By: Mitumba… « Rocky’s Journey to an MBA http://the-fuqua-experience.com/blog/2009/10/01/us-consumerism-mitumba/comment-page-1/#comment-124 Mitumba… « Rocky’s Journey to an MBA Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:42:47 +0000 http://the-fuqua-experience.com/?p=1033#comment-124 [...] by Rocky Balboa on October 1, 2009 … want to know what it means? Go here and find [...] [...] by Rocky Balboa on October 1, 2009 … want to know what it means? Go here and find [...]

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