Low-Cost Fashion : The Political Economy of Garment Production and Distribution in Latin America

Omtale

This Element examines the dynamics of two urban marketplaces in Greater Buenos Aires and São Paulo, which sell locally produced, affordable garments. These marketplaces are central to the distribution, trade, and consumption networks of low-cost fashion. Despite the decline of the garment industry due to international competition and the rise of online retail, these production and wholesale hubs have not only persisted but thrived. The producers have shifted away from traditional garment production chains, creating new circuits that parallel fast-fashion retail, offering lower prices, unique aesthetic forms, and operating under informal conditions. This Element provides a comparative analysis of these marketplaces, exploring their development and growth within the context of globalization. It links their success to sustained demand for low-cost garments, economic cycles in Argentina and Brazil, degrees of informality in garment production and trade, and favorable state policies.