History of Second-hand Clothes in Nigeria and Why it is Called Okrika

For those who may not have enough money to buy brand new clothes, second-hand clothes, popularly called okrika, are usually the next option. Okrika has saved a lot of people from the embarrassment of having nothing good to wear, and it's time to trace the history of this "messiah".

Okrika clothes, also called bend down select, are imported into Nigeria from Europe, America and other continents.

Pay Attention: Legit.ng is on a mission to support vulnerable children of Calabar – join the initiative on Patreon, let’s change more lives together!

According to @edquest_ng on Instagram, the name was derived from a port town called Okrika in River state where the clothing business is believed to have started from.

The clothing business was said to have started in the 1950s in Okrika, which was the only port that could bring in used clothes from Europe.

Read also

Lady who makes bricks to send herself to school finally graduates, before and after photos warm hearts online

Due to the high cost of brand new clothes, okrika was in high demand during the 1950s as many people could not afford the former.

Now widely accepted than ever

There are those who prefer okrika to brand new clothes because they believe that the former is of higher quality than the latter.

Today, you will find okrika in different parts of the country. These second-hand clothes are also known as bend down select. This is because the sellers display the clothes in huge piles on the floor.

In the Yoruba language, okrika is also called bo si corner, meaning go to a corner. This is because buyers often try the clothes on at a corner as they are ashamed to do that in the open where people will see them.

The clothes are imported from different countries of the world, most especially from the United Kingdom and the United States.

Read also

Video shows brave moment US officers rescue dad & his daughters who were stranded on their car during flood

What lady received after ordering a dress online

In other news, online fashion stores are steadily gaining a reputation for disappointing customers as more stories of people getting bizarre packages after ordering a dress online seem to be the norm these days.

Joining the club of disappointed customers is yet another Nigerian lady identified as Idowu Toyin whose video has since gone viral on social media.

Apparently, she had ordered a two-piece outfit consisting of a crop top with long loose sleeves and a maxi skirt with a thigh-high opening in the front.

Source: Legit.ng