Bemused Iraqi shepherds watched as second-hand clothes were paraded down an unplanned runway in a palm grove just north of Baghdad. This was to increase awareness about the environmental impacts of fashion.
As models walk down the runway in upcycled outfits made entirely of used clothing, Haute Couture has been replaced. This is a testament to the increasing popularity of vintage fashion among young Iraqis.
Mohamed Qassem (25), a hairdresser who also organizes the Al-Hussainiya fashion show, stated, “We don’t want to overproduce clothes. We have to reuse them.”
According to World Resources Institute 2019, two percent of the greenhouse gases emitted by global fashion industries was caused by them.
A push for sustainable fashion has been led by campaigners as well as a growing group of climate-conscious social media users.
Qassem and many other young Iraqis are passionate about vintage clothes.
Palm grove featured a wide range of traditional and innovative costumes, such as long-sleeved blazers with double breasts and fluorescent green puffer jackets.
Many areas of Iraq have been devastated by years of war. Peaceful rhythms are slowly returning to normal life. Secondhand clothing is an option for aspiring fashionistas who want to be creative.
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Climate dangers
Baghdad is seeing more imported and “fast-fashion” brands on its streets, so the Al-Hussainiya show outfits are mainly made of green materials, as a nod towards the environmental message.
Iraq is a country synonymous with date-producing. It has now seen the iconic date palms put under pressure by climate change and decades of conflict.
Qassem stated, “The goal isn’t to concentrate only on clothing, but abandoned orchards and palm trees that disappear daily.”
United Nations states that oil-rich Iraq is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. It has already been experiencing extreme summer heat and frequent droughts. Desertification and dust storms are also common in Iraq, according to UN. These will increase as our planet heats up.
It will be impossible to sell the designs displayed at this fashion show.
The symbolic parade is a way for people to be more aware of the event, according to organizers.
An ensemble of youth organized a fashion event featuring vintage outfits that they had gotten from thrift shops. Photo by AFP
Ahmed Taher (22-year-old stylist) assembled the set for the show. He said that “secondhand clothes are clothing of exceptional quality”.
These clothes give the illusion of luxurious clothing. They are different than what you can find in shops.
A business student, Taher offers Baghdad’s hipsters vintage clothes on Instagram – where he has around 47,000 followers – selling pieces for around US$20 (RM89).
He said, “We like to be unique and wear different clothes.”
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‘Last a lifetime’
Safaa Haidar was a student who became a model. She said that vintage clothing appealed to her because she could choose “according my personal style”.
Many Iraqis wear clothes out of necessity, as the UN has estimated that nearly one-third (42 million) of them live in extreme poverty.
The second-hand clothing market in central Baghdad is crowded every Friday. There are stalls selling jeans, clothes, and shoes. Shoppers check sizes with the vendors.
A shirt here can be purchased for just US$2 (RM9). Other pieces, however, can go up to US$60 (RM265) and even US$200(RM885).
Mohamed Ali is a student in engineering at 20 years old and came here to purchase shoes.
He stated, “It’s no that we don’t have the money to buy new. But here we find better quality pieces and unique pieces.”
Ali told the story of his parents during the 1990s when Western sanctions on Iraq forced them to wear clothing even “inside-out” until they became worn out because they couldn’t afford new ones.
Ali, along with his friends, now shop for vintage clothes because of their style and durability, he explained.
Merchant Hassan Refaat (22), sells used clothes that are imported from overseas and finds new life in Iraqi wardrobes.
Additionally, he imports products from Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan Region. This region borders major textile producer Turkey.
He said that second-hand clothing is of higher quality than newer clothes on the market.
They are often branded pieces and last for a long time. – AFP