Sidebar #42 - Ropa Americanas

Despite Costa Rica’s status as a high-income country, the thrifting culture for clothes is quite robust here, which speaks to the country’s sustainability efforts. It also probably indicates the excess consumer culture the US boasts. High-end retail shops exist in Costa Rica as well, but oftentimes those items are luxuries. Many Ticos shop at what are called Ropa Americana stores, or “American Clothing” shops. As the name suggests, these stores carry lots of styles that are worn by Americans. Typically, these are clothes that are still in good condition but have been donated or discarded. Because of that, it’s not uncommon to see a t-shirt of a particular American sports team or university in some extremely rural town in Costa Rica. Sometimes I’ll see someone in a St. Louis Cardinals cap or an Arkansas Razorback shirt on the street, and I’ll get excited and ask the person if they like those teams too, but usually they simply found the article of clothing at a Ropa Americana. Those stores are ubiquitous throughout the country and provide Ticos with a cheap and sustainable option for clothes.



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