BAKU — Interest in second-hand clothing is growing in Azerbaijan. Many shoppers argue that instead of spending 30–40 manats on a single item, it makes more sense to purchase several pieces of used clothing for the same price.
Yet one key question remains: how safe is second-hand clothing from a hygiene perspective?
According to sellers, garments arriving in stores are disinfected at warehouses and accompanied by hygiene certificates.
However, dermatologist Bakhtiyar Pashayev warns that second-hand clothes can still pose health risks.
“We cannot know what illnesses their previous owners may have had. Clothing can carry fungal and viral infections, as well as parasites. That is why specialized chemical disinfection measures are essential,” he cautioned.
An unusual perspective came from bioenergetic specialist Ahmed Ahmedov, who suggested that clothing can also carry the “energy” of former owners.
“Wearing someone else’s clothing can sometimes cause discomfort. To cleanse its energy, one can soak the garment in water or fumigate it with the smoke of sage, juniper, or harmala,” he said.
Another issue concerns import oversight. The State Customs Committee confirmed that only children’s clothing is subject to sanitary control. Adult second-hand clothing does not require a hygiene certificate before entering the market.
