I went with my Aunt to a very big market in Lagos to purchase some Nigerian fabrics. One thing I learned was that the more stones the fabrics had, the more expensive it was. In fact I didn't know that there are pieces of fabrics that are really expensive, I have been used to regular shirts or just cotton, polyester material, and nothing more. All my life, I'm not sure I've really worn anything so expensive. It's not my thing, I prefer simple cotton materials that are mainly just comfortable, no matter how cheap they are, provided they look good.
I used to have a cousin who wouldn't buy clothes if the price was quite affordable or cheap. He'd think it wasn't worthy of his status. At first, I thought it was because he was earning way more than I was, but when I found myself in that level of affordability as him, I still found myself preferring cheap clothes and footwear, especially if they were good, how cheap didn't really matter to me.
Maybe it was humble beginnings or just the fear of going broke. However, on special occasions, people would spend money on clothes even if it's way out of their budget. My aunt says it's because ceremonies aren't every day and when you're doing one, you must've spent to look your best. I do not agree. The reason is that I don't have a fling or vanity for clothes.
While there are people who would spend everything they have to impress others and make a statement, I think life's too hard and money is hard to make to just spend it at the behest of things to wear. However these fabrics are beautiful, I've never seen anything like them, maybe it's because I never really go to events, weddings, graduations, anniversaries and so many others. (Health issues and mainly because I'm an introverted person, again I'm not so because I completely want to be) The fabrics are graded and while I'd like to have the most beautiful on the lineup, my aunt and I only went for the medium prized ones.
.As someone from the Eastern part of Nigeria, I think we have the costliest set of clothes, and this is because I have worn the clothes of other tribes and it wasn't as expensive as what we got on this lineup. I could not believe that they cost so much and for people who are aiming to buy a lot, they'll be spending a fortune. It's good to spend money on the good things in life, a lot of people have this notion.
I feel it's mainly vanity, not because I can or cannot afford it, I just feel like what we mostly like to spend on as humans is not really important or necessary to guarantee our happiness hence spending so much money wouldn't be worth it. Nevertheless, it's custom, that nobody takes you seriously when you attend occasions not wearing something expensive.
There's this preferential treatment given to people who wear expensive clothes and cologne. However, it was an eye-opener for me. There are so many things that are very expensive in life, human clothing is one of them and it is a big and thriving industry, but they're beautiful, and whoever can afford anything expensive, then by all means. Money is meant to be spent anyway.
Interested in some more of my works