Arguably, secondhand clothing makes up a global market of consumption and commerce. In Australia, the history of secondhand clothing has complex links associated to tailoring, garment production, as well as couture. In Australia, secondhand clothing markets are still part of an important source of clothing. A secondhand clothing market in Sydney has expanded tremendously in its domestic scope and economic power, especially in the last two decades. The global financial crisis affects the trends and markets of secondhand clothing in Sydney. As a matter of fact, secondhand clothing booms while retailers fall out during global financial crisis.
Undeniably, the secondhand markets have developed fashion industry in Sydney. They are small scale industries and businesses, but the industry is to come to terms with various impacts of many restructuring process in domestic industries. Most research on clothing; that is textile and fashion industries have concerned industries with huge markets that are uniquely specialized (Lillethun & Welters 2011). Hence, small attention is sometimes given to peripheral and small markets dealing with secondhand clothing. As a matter of fact, issues facing secondhand clothing and fashion industry in Sydney are very common to many people, the pressure come from the changing market trends and policies implemented by the government as well as cultural policy (Mylne & Crittal 2010).
In Sydney\, today, the secondhand clothing markets is dominated by non-profit making organizations as well as textile grading firms. Certainly, charitable organizations are the source of secondhand clothes that have led to international markets. As a matter of fact, secondhand clothing trends and marketing in Sydney is very complex (Felski & Sheehan 2011). Supply of these clothes is bought in bulk by graders and textile recyclers from charitable organizations. The secondhand clothes are then sold in bulk in retail. The entire trend will in the long-run reach the global markets. Most importees of the secondhand clothes are Africa and Asia (Berkmoes 2008).
Sydney continues to be one of the main exporters of secondhand clothes. The market demands are affected by seasons and other economic issues. Production too varies as it goes with weather conditions (Clack 2005). During winter most secondhand clothes that are warm in higher demand, while during summer lighter secondhand clothes are mostly sold. As a matter of fact, women are more attracted to secondhand clothes than men; hence, production trends mostly skew towards women wear.
The exports from Sydney on secondhand clothes are facing a lot of threats from other external markets. Despite its competitiveness, the most probable threat is based on aggressiveness of prices from other nations. The global secondhand clothing market trends in Sydney shows striking characteristics. Many larger importers of secondhand clothes from Sydney include Pakistan and India (Craik 2002).
The secondhand clothes markets in Sydney target developing countries. In this case, consumers in developing countries access cheap clothes than they would purchase in their domestic productions. In fact, research shows that most of the targets explore markets in the consumption sides (Rawlings 2009). With global financial crisis, Sydney second hand clothes markets has benefited because consumers began to purchase cheap clothes.
Secondhand clothing market and trends in Sydney faces various challenges and issues. These include price controls, government policies, cultural values, stiff competition, as well as health regulations targeting secondhand clothes. Additionally, its distribution trends include various channels such as agency agreement, government tender, direct distribution, as well as quotations from the private sector (Craik & Acker 2001). Furthermore, market entry is considered important; for example, market entry in Sydney could either be selling to distributors or the local agents, as well as dealing directly to major retailers. However, market entry is dictated by pharmaceutical suppliers and Australian exporters.
Reference list
Berkmoes, R. 2008. East Coast Australia. Oxford: Oxford Press.
Craik, J., & Acker, E. 2001. Effects of Restructuring the Australian Fashion Industry: From
Industry Policy to Cultural Policy. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management. Vol:
2 Issue 1.
Craik, J. 2002. Fashion: The Key Concepts. Sydney: Wadsworth.
Clack, H. 2005. Old Clothes, New Looks: Second Hand Fashion. Oxford: Berg.
Felski, R. & Sheehan, E. 2011. Cultures of Femininity in Modern Fashion. London: Wiley.
Lillethun, A,. & Welters, L. 2011. The Fashion Reader. Cambridge: Cambridge Press.
Mylne, L., & Crittal, R. 2010. Frommers Australia 2011. New York: Springer.
Rawlings, C. 2009. Sydney. New Jersey: Oxford press.
