Thanks to growing awareness on the negative impacts of fast fashion, more and more young Egyptians are starting to forego international clothing brands in lieu of local counterparts and even thrift shops. New local clothing outlets pop up in Egypt every day, but what are the pros and cons of shopping locally? Pro: You’ll be helping a small business In general, ethical shopping is based on giving your money to hardworking individuals rather than the already rich CEOs of massive companies. More often than not, buying from a large chain store won’t benefit the workers who made them, who are usually paid very little and forced to work in terrible conditions. This concept of shopping from small businesses doesn’t just apply to clothing; consider buying groceries from the neighborhood market instead of large supermarket chains, for example. The local market owner (baqqal) will appreciate a sale because it’ll help him put food on the table and pay for his children’s education. Each small shop in any Egyptian neighborhood exists to help a family survive. Con: You’ll pay a bit more… Let’s face it, a small clothing brand can’t possibly compete…
