How imported second-hand clothes get fake Zara, Tommy tags before selling for ₹200 at Sarojini Nagar
A BT investigation traces India's used-clothing trade from Mundra Port to Panipat's wholesale hub and Delhi street markets. Bales priced at ₹8,000-₹30,000 (80-100 kg) are sorted, and workshops stitch on counterfeit Max, Zara and Tommy Hilfiger labels before resale at ₹200-₹300 per garment.
What happened
Sarojini Nagar market · Investigation into India's second-hand clothing trade: imported bales via Mundra Port reach Panipat, then flow to street markets like
Key facts
- ₹8,000-₹30,000 per bale
- 80-100 kg per bale
- ₹250/kg
- ₹200-₹300 resale
- 1,500 pincodes
- ₹6-₹7 per garment
- 350 bales per container
Why this matters
The scale of the used-clothing trade and label counterfeiting signals a need to explore brand-protection partnerships, IP enforcement, or authentication tech investments to defend against grey-market dilution.
What to watch
- Raids or FIRs at Panipat or Sarojini Nagar
- Formal trademark complaints filed by named brands
- Any DGFT/Customs policy note on second-hand textile imports
- Follow-on investigative coverage naming supply-chain intermediaries
- Brand PR statements distancing from counterfeit goods
- Brand IP/legal teams issue takedowns and coordinate with local anti-counterfeit agencies
- Mass-market retailers (Max, Zara value lines) assess price-floor erosion in tier-2/3 markets
- Authentication tech and hangtag/QR investments by premium brands
- Customs/DGFT review of used-apparel import loopholes via SEZ routing
- Organized resale platforms market authenticity as differentiator