Textile activity fell 20% in September compared to the previous year and 27.8% compared to 2023 / Roberto Acosta
The advancement of new ways of communicating has modified our way of experiencing the world. We are witnessing a radical change in terms of communication and technology; The textile industry is not exempt from this. With the introduction of international brands such as Shen and Timo from Asia, local producers face difficulties in producing and selling clothing. The inability to compete against large foreign companies destroys local companies. According to the figures, between January and June 2025, Argentines spent $2,196 million on buying clothes from abroad. According to ProTiger Foundation data, textile activity this year decreased by 20% in September compared to the previous year and 27.8% compared to 2023.
Diego Biancazo, director of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of La Plata, explained to EL DIA that sales failed to recover after the pandemic. He said that buying clothes is not a priority for families who have not been able to cover their expenses for a long time. On the other hand, Valentin Zhilchinsky, representative of the Federation of Entrepreneurs of La Plata (FELP), told this newspaper that such a bad season has not been seen for many years and that companies are surviving with great difficulty.
Parallel to the difficulty of local businesses and competition with international imports, there are circular economy businesses that have taken over the city. With steady customers and prices more in line with the economic crisis our country is going through, dozens of American galleries are beginning to emerge. One of the fundamental movements was the relocation of the galleries that had inhabited Plaza Italia, Plaza Rocha and Plaza San Martín. The Commune created a space for vendors at the fairgrounds in the Meridiano 5th district, providing an organized and regular space for the workers.
The so-called American fairs not only combine this sense of interest in clothing with another alternative to mass markets; It also creates community.
This is how neighbors meet at city fairs – such as Parque Saavedra or Meridiano V – every weekend. They invite us to meet others, drink wine and listen to music as well. A ritual that seems lost in an age of over-stimulation and outrageous individualism.
When we talk about vintage clothes, we are not just talking about an aesthetic issue: it is the response against the production called “fast fashion” where we consume poor quality clothes at low prices and in exorbitant quantities. They do not wonder how and where these clothes are produced, whose factories are usually in countries with high rates of poverty and child labor.
Where to start?
If we think about our city, we cannot fail to mention the Salvation Army (diagonals 77 and 4), a leading organization not only in the resale of textiles but also in the field of furniture and even technology. From the charitable mission, you can visit this headquarters to obtain materials at low prices and also to donate. The difference is so small that we can find, for example, pants for 20,000 pesos considering that there is no major brand store for less than 100,000 pesos. They are long shelves containing different types of clothes arranged by color and category. In addition, we are surrounded by a somewhat chaotic atmosphere, but with nostalgic remnants of video game consoles from decades ago, and even vinyl toys.
Currently, another different option is Cocoliche (dia. 77 and 11). Under its slogan “Second Chance Clothes,” it invites us to immerse ourselves in a place that, at first glance, appears to be made of traditional clothing. Numerous racks of brand clothing in excellent condition reveal the selection process of those who work in the store. They have online sales of products on their website, but they also have specific requirements when donating clothes. The prices in this store are close to traditional prices, but taking into account the clothing processing carried out by this company, they produce high quality and reused clothing in excellent conditions.
Mabel Gallery is located at 1 and 39 and is known to all the residents of the Barrio Hipódromo. Her dream, the beloved neighbor, welcomes us into the corner surrounded by different clothes where we can search until we are tired. Mabel, like many city fairs, selects a certain amount of slightly higher priced clothing precisely because of her selection. The gallery also has a section where we can find space to donate.
Celeste Colisigno, a Neuquén native, attends La Celo Feria, who explained to EL DIA the importance of the circular economy in the city. We can find it during some events and exhibitions at Casa Trama, a cultural center located at 7th and 65th, but we can mainly find it virtually. Celeste also selects clothing that is in the best condition and sets prices accordingly. We talked about the taboos present in wearing clothes used by others. Celeste posts products, tips, and even recommendations from other businesses on her Instagram and Tik Tok accounts.
Make it last long
We are consumed by the speed at which we live as nothing is constant and everything goes out quickly. Over-connection means that we are increasingly removed from what is real, what is ongoing, and what needs to be cared about.
According to Statista data, the average person spends at least 150 minutes a day on social media. The number of hours devoted to networking often creates anxiety and isolation, without taking into account the passage of time. This happens with our social relationships, but as far-fetched as it may seem, it also happens with the clothes we wear. Clothes of little use, which have nothing to do with our national identity and industry, have invaded our way of dressing and showing ourselves to the world. Celeste Colisinho also highlighted the toxic materials these universal disposable clothes are made with, plus we buy clothes that we know will only last a few washes.
Life has been presented to us as a scenario where everything can be thrown away and replaced with something better. In this sense, purchasing clothes that have been cared for, worked on and improved is an act that has to do with resisting this logic of disposal. The return of vintage is not just a matter of aesthetics.
Our actions and consumption seem to have no impact on such massive phenomena. But it starts somewhere.