Mitumba or second-hand fashion, once relegated to open-air shops in Nairobi’s Gikomba or Mombasa's Kongowea markets and defined by bargain hunts and crowded stalls, is now finding prominence an online marketplace on TikTok live sessions.

Live TikTok sessions have become the new storefronts for sellers looking to reach thousands of viewers. From carpets to handbags and office wear, everything is streamed, sold, and shipped—sometimes internationally—and almost all of it is sourced from second-hand bales. This has not only enabled the sellers to save on paying rent but reach more customers.