Buenos Aires, November 13, 2019 - As Argentina grapples with its worst economic crisis in decades, hard-pressed citizens are increasingly flocking to second-hand clothing markets in search of affordable apparel and to earn extra income by selling their old garments.

With inflation soaring over 140%, Argentines are feeling the pinch of skyrocketing prices and a looming recession that is reshaping the country's upcoming presidential election run-off.

Aylen Chiclana, a 22-year-old student in Buenos Aires, lamented the prohibitive cost of buying new clothes. "Today prices are unthinkable. You can't just go to the mall and buy something you like as you did before," she said. New jeans, for instance, now cost more than double the price from a year ago, amounting to over one-third of Argentina's monthly minimum wage.

The country has long battled persistent inflation, attributed to currency depreciation and a lack of confidence in the local peso. Over the past year, inflation has accelerated, reaching its highest level since 1991.

In order to make ends meet, many Argentines, including Beatriz Lauricio, a 62-year-old semi-retired teacher, and her husband, have turned to selling old garments at weekend clothing fairs. Lauricio emphasized the importance of these fairs for their financial stability, saying, "We're middle class, lower middle class... We do it out of daily necessity." The cancellation of the fair due to bad weather one weekend severely impacted their finances, highlighting the reliance on this additional source of income.

María Silvina Perasso, the organizer of a clothing fair in Tigre, a suburb of Buenos Aires, acknowledged that the rise in prices far outpaces salary increases, prompting many people to seek more affordable clothing options. The restrictions imposed by capital controls on foreign exchange transactions further exacerbate the situation, with the local monthly minimum wage of 132,000 pesos equivalent to only $377 at the official exchange rate and half that at real street rates.

María Teresa Ortiz, a 68-year-old retiree, shared her struggle to make ends meet on her pension and meager wages from casual sewing work. She attested to the necessity of shopping at these fairs, emphasizing, "You simply can't buy new things...You have to look for them at the fairs."

The economic downturn in Argentina has pushed citizens to explore alternative options, with second-hand clothing markets providing a means to procure clothing at a fraction of the cost from traditional retail outlets. While many view it as a temporary solution born out of necessity, others find it a practical way to embrace sustainability by reducing waste and recycling clothing.

As Argentina faces its economic challenges, the resilience and adaptability of its citizens become evident as they navigate through difficult times in search of affordable clothing options.