Some people swear by thrift stores, but I have never been a fan of them, even though I grew up having 6O% of my dresses bought from the thrift store, trust me, I had genuine reasons. However, they were cheap and affordable to low-income earners, which my parent were, but I still considered it a waste of money, as mum could buy a dozen dresses with the amount not even worth a dress at the new ready-to-wear sections. Still, they also faded as soon as they came, and the few that escaped fading would somehow end up torn.
My mum would always take me to some of these market trips to the thrift market, popularly known as "Kantangwa". I've never seen traders who take pride in what they sell more than these thrift traders; they even make those who choose to buy from the boutique feel like they are being cheated and just wasting. money.
Bell on one hand, gbagaun! gbaguan!! "Come buy first-grade blouse, na mumu dey go boutique"(Meaning the unwise go to the boutique). Once you hear the word first grade, they make it sound like it is a never-worn, lucky clothing, so you feel lucky to buy it, though they are often more priced than the regular, second-grade and below.
"Lord! make me have money, so I can afford a new dress." I would always pray in my heart, but here I still was, my sophomore year in school, and still in a thrift market, this time by myself, not even led by mum anymore.
"All female choir members are to come dressed in an emerald green long dress for our anniversary next Sunday." What! I answered more audibly than I intended to. Receiving several stares from some of my fellow choir members, but I can bet that Emediong's face matched mine; she was a fellow soprano singer. "Emerald green," Our choir coordinator repeated again, without a care whether everyone sitted here had such colour of dress at home. In his usual way, he dismissed the meeting and went to attend to one of the minister's calls, leaving some of us excited about the forthcoming anniversary, and the rest, like me, frustrated because I didn't have any green, talk more of an emerald one at home, what does that even mean?
"Me, I'm not coming to church in that case," Emediong replied to no one in particular angrily, I don't have any green dress at home, and can't afford to buy one now, let's use our black and white uniform.
"Bush girl," Mary, another chorister, retorted, "didn't you hear it's anniversary week, we are supposed to look different and beautiful, and it will be an opportunity for you to add a new dress to your wardrobe."
They kept on bantering forth and back, I just stayed silent with a heavy heart because i had looked forward to this anniversary, we would singing alongside some popular gospel singers, i couldn't just dismiss myself like Emediong, i really want to be in church, but I also could not afford a new dress t that moment, I had just paid my school fees and bought some textbooks, it will be insensitive of me to worry my parents again so quickly.
Then I remembered how mum used to take me to the thrift market for cheaper clothing, and I just prayed luck shone on me to see an emerald green dress.
I had walked back and forth in the market but didn't find any emerald green dress and almost started shedding tears in defeat, when I spotted the hidden gem, beneath a pile of outdated clothes I had almost given up on since I've checked several piles as this before. It was a simple flare dress, yet elegant, with a timeless quality to it that caught my attention. I wasn't looking for any special design, just an emerald green colured dress, but this dress I found was beyond special, it was made with brocade fabric and had chantily lace around the neckline area, , the flare was pleated in boxes, but the sleeves also made of the chantily and flared base had some few torn parts, and It was also a bigger size than me.
Using the torn area as an edge when bargaining with the seller, I paid quickly before she changed her mind and rushed home with plans to put my hand sewing needle and thread to work. I cut out the torn lace sleeve part, and sewed the flared part up, imitating how I had seen my mum amend our dresses back at home. I sewed both sides to fit me, staring at myself in the mirror, I couldn't believe I got this timeless piece for less than a dollar.
On Sunday, I wore the dress to the anniversary celebration, with a matching pair of shoes,and carried my bible bag. I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. There was excitement, of course, but also a hint of nervousness. What if someone noticed the alterations? What if they didn't like the way I styled it When I arrived at church, my nerves almost made me trip, but as soon as I walked in, I received compliments left and right.
"Ahahn! Your dress is so beautiful," our coordinator spoke first, and you said you didn't have an emerald green dress." So he actually heard us complaining but chose to turn a deaf ear. People stopped me to admire my dress, asking where I got it and how I managed to style it so beautifully. I felt like a queen, with my timeless dress and my newfound confidence.
Emediong also appeared after a few minutes in a beautiful mermaid emerald green dress, but her eyes widened in surprise when she saw mine. 'You look beautiful, I complimented first. "You girls can lie ehn!" Mary interrupted us with a scorned look on her face." We both looked at each other and burst out laughing,
, "If I tell you the story of how my dress came about, you won't believe," Emediog said to me. "Wait till you hear mine I replied with a giggle, as we both joined hands to go take our place beautifully at the soprano section as the pastor started with the opening prayers.
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