Ondangwa Vintage Clothes Market

If you consider yourself on point when it comes to fashion, there is a good chance you will be ringing in the New Year... in old clothes. Because more fashionistas adopt the growing trend to wear vintage, secondhand or upcycled clothing. This trend really started to take off in 2020 as more people realised that pre-loved items mean less concern about the environmental impact of overproduction of clothing.

Fast fashion (referring to fast-turnover high street retailers) is not a friend of the environment. According to the United Nations the fashion industry accounts for 8-10% of the world’s carbon emissions. This puts fast fashion second to oil production in terms of impact on our planet. A 2018 report revealed that the fashion industry consumes more energy than the shipping and aviation industries combined. Water consumption figures are shocking too: it is reported that 8000 litres of water are needed to make a single pair of jeans.

This is the main reason why thrift fashion is ramping up in popularity. According to GlobalData, thrift fashion is expected to overtake fast fashion in the near future and probably be almost double the size of fast fashion by 2029. Especially when we hear that researchers estimate that clothes filling an entire garbage truck are burnt or sent to a landfill every second of every day.

Namibia is closely following this global trend and according to Business Insider US spent N$17.9 million on importing vintage clothing between 2016 and 2020. This is seen in the growing number of vintage, secondhand or up-cycled clothing stores around the country. The biggest of which is found in Ondangwa.

So, if you’re looking for something out of the ordinary to do on your next visit to the north, why not stop in at the Ondangwa Open Market in the Ondjondjo part of town. The market stocks an overwhelming array of vintage and previously loved clothing in an open-air setting.

Most of the vendors are women. Their stalls consist of piles and piles of clothing. You can find anything from glamorous evening wear to chic winter coats. From mountains of baby clothing to endless rail of blouses and jeans. Looking for a stylish kimono that you just can’t seem to find in retail fashion outlets? I found the most beautiful one at the Ondangwa Open Market.

Besides the endless options of earth-friendly fashion, the market itself is a memorable experience. Yes, there are goats bleating just outside the realm of the unending fashion rail, and the scent of delicious fresh fruit, also sold at the market, wafts through the air. While you shop, the vendors sing together, making this shopping excursion a feast for the senses.

Do yourself, and the environment, a favour when you’re next in Ondangwa, and visit the Ondangwa Open Market (for directions see Google Maps) on your next trip north. While you are there, you can also shop for traditional Oshiwambo crafts such as baskets, clay pots, wooden carvings and more.

Kirsty Watermeyer