When we set out to explore Karachi’s thrift stores this week, our goal was simple: to curate four statement looks for under a few thousand rupees each. We wanted to see what the city’s “pre-loved” clothing scene looked like now that social media is filled with influencers showing off thrifted outfits tagged as #sustainablefashion. But before we even began styling, one thing was impossible to ignore: the new landa tax.
The Sindh Government’s newly imposed Rs200 tax on imported secondhand clothes has doubled what shoppers were used to paying. “It used to be 100, now it’s 200,” said a vendor at Clifton’s Playhouse, shrugging as he folded a pile of jackets. “I know about the tax but these things take time to catch up.” The markets reflected the same: full of people rummaging through piles of clothes, bargaining for coats, boots, and vintage blouses as if nothing had changed.
Other shopkeepers explained that the tax affects wholesalers more than individual sellers. “Our supplier is in Landhi,” said one vendor. “The main godowns are in Shershah, Bin Qasim Zone, Pushtoon Market in Orangi Town, and Landhi. We restock a few times a year depending on the season.” He went on to explain that the best pieces rarely make it to the open stalls. “Exclusive buyers come first. They pick out all the good stuff for their online thrift pages and then sell it at double the price.”
At Budh Bazaar, a vendor shared that his stock comes from Bolton Market in Lahore. “Some of it is completely new and comes from China,” he said. For him, thrifting is about accessibility. “People love landay ka maal because it’s affordable, stylish, and gives them access to good-quality clothes without spending too much.”
While the government’s policy aims to promote domestic textile production, what we saw in the markets told a different story. Thrifting has long evolved into a full-fledged culture driven by creativity and resourcefulness. Markets are full of young people experimenting with style, resellers building Instagram businesses, and families looking for affordable seasonal clothing. “People still bargain,” one vendor said with a smile. “But our prices are already low enough, and we keep a margin.”
At a nearby perfume stall, a woman’s voice rose above the noise. “You have two of those!” she told her young son. “But it’s so cheap!” he exclaimed.
That short exchange captured the entire mood of Karachi’s thrift markets, a mix of surprise, excitement and small victories found between racks of forgotten clothes.
Here are the four looks we came up with:
1. The office look: stylish and corporate
We started with something professional: a white blouse under a black vest paired with straight-cut grey trousers, all under Rs2,000. “People buy these to start online businesses,” the shopkeeper told us, arranging the look for us. We also picked out a white turtleneck sweater and a brown, textured midi skirt for those days you have to dress up. With a little styling, these affordable outfits easily matched the polish of a high-street brand.
2. The winter look: cozy layers, Karachi-style
Next came a knitted grey sweater and grey washed jeans for Rs2,500. Karachi winters may not be harsh, but layering is still a style statement. A crisp white button-down is your best friend for this because it can be layered with a variety of cropped sweaters.
3. The Y2K look: trendy, playful and affordable
For the y2k inspired look, we picked a green criss cross top and a cargo midi-skirt for Rs2,000. When we told a vendor we were working on a story, he smiled knowingly. “Most people your age come here to buy for resale. They post the same clothes online and sell them fast.” For Karachi’s younger crowd, thrifting is both a creative outlet and a small business opportunity.
4. The casual look: everyday comfort with a pop of colour
Our final outfit was perfect for university days and coffee runs, a breezy floral skirt, a white lacey top sweater, and kola pooris for a fusion look under Rs3,000. We added a few pendants from a nearby stall to complete the look. It was relaxed, comfortable, and full of personality.
