yovo: n. (yoh-voh) 1)white man 2) cunning dog
The dead yovo market in West Africa is the best place to buy western clothing. Clothing vendors buy shoes, pants, and other clothes by the pound to distribute to the public. I once bought a pair of Christopher & Banks slacks for $3. Apparently, the clothing in the dead yovo market comes from the merchandise that Goodwill and other clothing donation sites are unable to sell.
People call this area of the regular marketplace the "dead yovo market" because they can't imagine people getting rid of such nice clothes unless they are dead.
I just discovered a dead yovo market right here in our town. A friend took me there and I'm completely hooked. It's behind our regular Goodwill and it's called the Goodwill Outlet Store. It, like the dead yovo market, sells the things that didn't sell at Goodwill, by the pound. My friend calls shopping there "dumpster diving."
This type of shopping is neither for the faint of heart nor for those who have a specific need. For example, if you're looking for a fancy dress to wear to your nephew's wedding, you might want to go elsewhere. But if you're in the market for used clothes for yourself, your family, or someone you met at a potluck (or if you're a bargain hunter and enjoy the hunt more than the final product), then this kind of shopping is a blast.
All the clothes are dumped in huge bins and it's every man, woman or child for himself. Yesterday, we bought 50 pounds of clothes between us, for a total of $37. My portion of this take was only about 7 pounds, but I'm happy with my finds: a pair of REI shorts for Edwin, some shorts and jeans and pajamas for the twins, 3 dresses and a vest for the little one, a pair of hiking pants for me. The piece de resistance yesterday was a burgandy silk cocktail dress with black beaded fringe that Jessica is going to drool over.
Total cost: $4.32, to be paid to my friend in the form of fresh lettuce.
Oh, and the other day, I bought a pair of brand new Christopher & Banks jeans. They probably cost me a quarter.
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