KENYA'S LARGEST THRIFT MARKET EXPERIENCE/ BEST PLACES TO SHOP FOR CLOTHES/ THRIFTING TIPS YOU SHOULD KNOW

Apart from the crowded state of Gikomba, the muddy roads even when it's not rainy.
My thrifting experience started when I was in college. A friend introduced me to the place and I couldn't believe how cheap everything was.From bags to shoes, it was such an amazing adventure for me. I fell in love with the place and definitely started shopping at Gikomba.
Being in college whenever I got some few coins I would find myself here, and to top it all, a business grew out of me. I remember people asking where I got my outfits, bags or shoes and most of them besides admiring they were willing to exchange them for money. I couldn't take chances, and so I started purchasing more and more stuff, and sell them to my colleagues. You would find me in the early morning hours going through the piles of clothes and waiting for the bales bags and shoes to be opened and that's how I would get (Kamera) best quality second-hand clothes, to sell to my peers, that's how I earned my pocket.

Being lucky, here, you'll even find designer items, from tops to shoes or even hats in a very unbelievable tiny price. Thrifting is definitely a real definition for treasure and in of course a budgetable price, and that's my  goal when it comes to expanding my wardrobe
                   *Getting unique staffs and
                   *Saving money
 Although the Gikomba market is not the only place you can thrift. There were other places like;
 Ngara   Market - Which sometimes, can be a nightmare, as the street vendors in most cases operate illegally without business permit, so in most cases, they operate in chaos with the city council, So this means you might either find yourself in a police car or the vendors running away with your money when they spot a city council officer. You have to be on your toes while shopping from Ngara and have some loose cash at hand so the vendor doesn't have to be looking for a change and the scattering happens.
 Toi Market - It's also a famous place for thrifting in Nairobi. I have been to Toi Market once and the prices there are a little extravagant, I have no idea why though I loved the quality of the items from there.
 So my top favourite remains to be Gikomba Market, here, be sure to get anything and everything you need.
 Being a first-time shopper at Gikomba, you might be put off by the dedication to wake up early, too much walking or rummaging through the piles of clothes, and it is very easy for you to give up finding what you want. But thrifting needs resilience and open-mindedness, otherwise, you'll end up being disappointed.

 *In terms of price, everything at Gikosh (Gikomba)is ultimately affordable, prices ranging to as low as 20ksh - 2000ksh.
 *Its also good to know that it's always muddy even when it's not rainy, so try to wear the right shoes.
 * It's important to keep your languages safe including your phone and money because not everyone has gone there to shop, people have different agendas including stealing from you. Try to dress in a simple way as some vendor may charge you depending on how you're dressed.
 That being said I put together some of the basic tips you should know while thrifting at Gikomba.
 1.Bargain - Most of the items are not usually on a fixed price, and the vendors are always willing to reduce prices to their customers, therefore try to convince the vendor to drop some few coins for you.
 2. Don't forget your shopping bag - The vendors who sell carrier bags knows you're desperate, and they sell the bags at a really high and unreasonable price. Remember one of the reasons you're thrifting is to save money, so avoid buying things like shopping bags.
3. Beware of scammers - Be careful of what you're buying, some vendors have become scammers, they will sell you the outfit you like and when they offer to pack it in your bag, they will pack a different cloth which will either be ripped or an ugly piece of cloth. And when you get home you get the shock of a lifetime (😆 lol).
4. Be an early bird - Of course, to get the best items, get up early.
5. Write down a list - Seeing a variety of clothes/items sold in Gikosh can definitely get you confused and end up not buying what you intended to, make sure you have in mind what you what to buy, cos you might even buy something that you will never wear (cos the prices are cheap you can end up buying everything)It also saves you money cos you know what you need specifically.

 6. Dress simply - Again, avoid wearing expensive stuff like jewellery to avoid being conned/robbed, also avoid too much makeup to avoid staining clothes when you're trying on.
7. Don't look stranded - There are people out there ready to take advantage of your innocence and might end up giving you the wrong direction. So don't just ask anyone for direction. Be careful who you ask for help.
8. Double-check what you purchase - Remember most of the clothes /shoes are secondhand and the probability of them being damaged is there, therefore check if the jacket has a zip or the shirts have all the buttons or there are faded regions or even if something fits. You might not be able to claim or get refunded after you've purchased. So be careful.
Are a personal shopper and I know thrifting can somehow be difficult especially if you haven't been to a thrift market before or you don't know where to start or probably needs some assistance. You can contact me and i will be more than willing to take you through the adventurous journey and be sure you'll like it.

Thanking you for stopping by, be free to share your thoughts on your thrifting experience.
Where do you guys thrift?
Feel free to comment.