Kenya is one of the largest importers of second-hand clothes in Sub-Saharan Africa. The second-hand clothing industry is the breadbasket for about 2 million Kenyans. Still, under the informal sector, the industry is a blend of skilled and unskilled labour from different sectors. Most households buy new clothes only when required. Mitumba is not just a clothing culture in Kenya. On the reverse side, quality is one of the main challenges when assessing Mitumba: a consistent portion of the clothing in imported bales is such poor quality that it is immediately dumped in landfills or burned.
Michele Camicia (b.1995, Italy) is an Italian photographer based in Milan, where he works on various projects both locally and internationally. His personal work focuses mainly on short and long terms documentary projects in which he explores social issues. After his studies in Communications, he attended photography courses at the John Kaverdash Academy in Milan.
