So where do all the old supermarket uniforms go?

Sierra Leone, that’s where.

Last week at the same point on my walk to drop my bin bag off at the dirty box * on two separate occasions I came across young men sporting supermarket uniforms.  The first was in the distinctive navy and orange of Sainsbury’s while second was sporting a pale blue Tesco number.

The range of t-shirts you spot while walking along are amazing and are often being worn by someone totally inappropriate.  There appears to be no gender differentiation in clothing here.  You will often see young men (usually okada drivers) carrying very Pink Barbie backpacks. Leaving work the other day I passed a guy wearing what was undoubtably a shirt meant for a girl – the pattern, shape and fabric just spelt out feminine.

For a look at Freetown fashion go here.

What has brought this to mind?  Well today I unexpectedly joined a meeting in a room where the air conditioning was not working.  My colleague had taken off his suit jacket to reveal that the checked shirt below was embroidered on the breast pocket and sleeve with the word “TESCO”. 

*Dirty Box is the Krio term for the local rubbish tips.  The large ones are found further out of town but every neighbourhood has their own.  It is a festering pile of detritus which is picked over by children, adults and dogs.  I bag my rubbish but the bag will be opened and anything worth reusing will be saved.  For this reason I now have my own recycling where I keep can, tins, glass and plastic bottles and cardboard in a separate bag and hand it to my local dirty box caretaker when I go there.  He seems to appreciate it as I always receive a warm greeting and many thanks.