Once upon a time Kenyans discovered the clothes treasure market, that is Gikomba in Nairobi. Young and old, male and female all found joy in accessing cheap clothes in Kenya that were still highly fashionable. At first, those who flocked the Gikomba market in Nairobi were poor Kenyans looking for cheap fashionable clothes. Before long, however, the middle class joined in on the buying of cheap clothes in Nairobi. But alas! So did the money hungry ‘entrepreneur’ businessmen in Kenya. Business dealers in clothes in Kenya wake up before the sun rises and set out to buy clothes in bulk from Gikomba Market in Nairobi. Then they set up shops and stalls all over Gikomba and wait for the unsuspecting shoppers. These business people in Kenya elevate the prices of clothes so much that you would be better off buying brand new clothes from stalls in Nairobi city centre. So how can you escape from the clutches of these business men and locate the cheap clothes in Gikomba Market, and still get inexpensive fashionable clothes while at it? Preparation is the key.
Clothes you put on to Gikomba Market
You want to shop for inexpensive clothes, but you are wearing a designer from a well known Nairobi clothes stall– that will not aid your quest. Dress the part! And by this I mean take out that pair of jeans that you should have thrown but somehow you keep holding on to. Take out that t-shirt that should not even be in your closet. Finally, put on a well worn jacket to complete the look. If you can add on a headscarf the better!
Shoes to wear to Gikomba Martket
The type of shoes you choose to wear to shop in Gikomba in Kenya is very vital. Gikomba Market in Nairobi is located past Muthurwa market and past Equity Bank Gikomba Branch, and most Kenyans access Gikomba on foot, so the shoes you decide to wear matter a lot. You want to wear comfortable shoes that you can walk in and navigate the paths. Put on closed flat shoes or sports shoes. This will come in handy when you are shopping for cheap clothes in Nairobi down town areas. The path is not a smooth one, and you may come across some wet surfaces. Your shoes need to provide the correct grip and also protect your feet.
Make up and accessories to put on to Gikomba Market
We get that you like looking good and that doing so may include the application of make up in Nairobi. However, if you are going to Gikomba, lose the makeup. This is a case where a lack of make up is an investment. Do not wear any accessories. This includes earrings, chains, watches…yes, I said watches. Remember, you will be shopping amongst a sea of people. You do not want your earrings being caught up in someone else’s hair. You can also be an attraction of the muggers in Nairobi with the expensive accessories. These thieves in Nairobi are common especially in Gikomba area in Nairobi.
Bags and paper bags to carry to Gikomba Market
You need a place to put the clothes you will purchase from Gikomba market. Ensure you have a large bag that is easily foldable and smaller bags preferably paper bags. These bags will come in handy as you move from clothes vendor to another clothes vendor in Gikomba market. Removing a paper bag to put in the clothes would reduce the number of times you need to open your bad. Once you finish with a clothes vendor, you can quickly put in the paper bag in your larger bag and take another paper bag for your next stop.
Shopping cash
Decide before hand what you want to buy from the Nairobi market in Gikomba and how much you intend to spend. For example, you may want to but skirts, blouses, trousers and sweaters. You need to allocate money for each of the groups of items. Go ahead and break the money in smaller denominations. You may want to, but five blouses going for shs100 each and four skirts going for shs300 each. This means you should have one bunch of cash consisting of five one hundreds and the other consisting of three bunches of three hundred. You can put the cash in different pockets inside your trousers. When you have ready money, you eliminate the chances of getting conned with fake money as you are given change. Make sure you have money for transport from Gikomba is kept safely away as you may get carried away in the course of your shopping. From Gikomba, there are usually Nissan matatus which charge Kshs 20 to Nairobi town.
The appropriate time to shop in Gikomba Market
It is best you start your clothes shopping in Gikomba Market early when the clothes vendor opens shop. This will mean you will be able to find clothes that are fresh from the container and it will also greatly increase your chances of finding inexpensive clothes before others make their pick. It is prudent to shop during dry days. When it rains, avoid Gikomba as the mud is terrible at this time.
Where to shop in Gikomba
Just before you cross the bridge in Gikomba in Nairobi, there are rows of clothes vendor who sell cheap blouses and blouse t-shirts. These go for less than shs50 and can be worn with all types of skirts, trousers and casual jeans. Once you are done with your blouse shopping you can move a little deeper to shop for skirts and trousers. If you are looking for something a bit heavy that can be worn during the colder months, you need to cross the bridge and shop for sweater blouses. These go for shs20-shs50 and are very useful during chilly weather when you do not want to wear heavy sweaters.
What to look out for in Gikomba Market
Look out for pickpockets and conmen including street kids. It would be good to make a day out of shopping and bring friends along. This way you can also have a look out person as the others enjoy the shopping. You may need to try out different clothes, and this may entail putting your bags down. A friend can help you look after your property. Be aware of your surroundings at all times and move on if you feel uncomfortable.
What to do in case of mishap in Gikomba Market
However prepared you may be, accidents can happen. You may end up falling, or someone may step on you and make your clothes dirty. Carry a handkerchief or two and a leso just in case. This way you can use it to clean yourself up. There are also shoe cleaners ever present on your way out. These can help you look more presentable. Once you are done with your shopping and you head home, your work is not yet done. You need to carefully separate the clothes and wash them. It would take longer to wash them one by one, but it will certainly save you a lot of heartache in case you find one with running colour. After washing and drying, carefully iron your clothes and pair them up how you want and get ready to enjoy them.
The best thing about cheap clothes in Nairobi is that, you can many of them and buy others after three or four months. This means that your wardrobe would always appear fresh and new and it would be very fashionable. Go ahead and apply these tips on how to shop for cheap clothes in Gikomba. After all, you need to get the most out of your shopping experience!
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