Damascus, Syria - Recent As Syria navigates a period of economic uncertainty, the country's fashion scene is undergoing a significant shift, with second-hand clothing emerging as a popular and practical choice for many. In the capital Damascus, a thriving market offers a wide range of second-hand clothing, from casual wear to formal attire, attracting shoppers of all ages and backgrounds. With over 80 percent of the Syrian population struggling to make ends meet and living below the international poverty line, many individuals are relying on second-hand clothing as a vital means of accessing affordable and essential attire, as the country grapples with a severe cash flow shortage in the wake of the regime change. Years of conflict, sanctions, and the unclear economic direction of the new government have taken a heavy toll on Syria's economic and social development, leading to a shift in people's spending patterns. Muhammad, a seasoned garment seller with years of experience, has witnessed a significant shift in consumer behavior, noting that Syrians are now prioritizing affordability above all else, as their dwindling incomes have made every penny count in the face of economic uncertainty. Acute stagnation is evident in the new clothes market, with sales signs displayed on the facades of nearly every shop in central Damascus. According to Waleed, whose shop hasn't made a sale in two weeks, purchasing power remains weak. The fall of al-Assad's government has spurred expectations of shifting to a market-based economy but the empty public treasury, deteriorating infrastructure and international sanctions are still major obstacles. As Syria is confronting the aftermath of a decade long civil war, economic hardships and turbulent political transition, alarming signs of a precarious economic state are looming, putting the country's capability to move forward, at stake. Shotlist: Damascus, Syria - Recent: 1. Various of people at market of second-hand clothes; 2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Abeer Noumeh, consumer (partially overlaid with shot 3): "The difference in prices is big. This market is cheaper, and it suits people with low income and those who can't afford brand new clothes. Here many people can afford to buy clothes for their children."; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 3. Consumers at market of second-hand clothes; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 4. Various of people at market of second-hand clothes; second-hand clothes, shoes for sale; 5. Various of seller arranging clothes; 6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Muhammad Helwani, seller in second-hand clothes market (partially overlaid with shot 7): "Nowadays, everyone is resorting to cheap things. Amid this situation, people do not have money to afford the brands like before. Now people care only about the good and the cheap products."; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 7. Muhammad Helwani at work; 8. Various of clothes for sale, clothing shops; 9. Seller in clothing shop; 10. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Waleed Hamami, seller in brand-new garments market (partially overlaid with shot 11): "Some people have savings in dollars, and they can still buy. But others, like 60 percent to 70 percent of the population, do not have money because they work as government employees or daily paid workers and this has led to weak purchasing power in the market, which is facing stagnation now."; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 11. Clothes on display, clothing shops; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 12. Various of pedestrians, clothing shops; 13. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ammar Yousef, economist: "We notice that there is a delay in paying salaries and the government is not pumping cash into the market whether in loans or in spending on projects or infrastructure. All those compounding elements are leading to a state of stagnation. In other words, Syrians are trying, at best, to make ends meet only."; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 14. Various of people at market of second-hand clothes; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 15. Various of traffic. [Restriction - No Access Chinese Mainland/Orient TV/Syria Alshaab TV/Zanoubia TV/Alhurra TV/ANN TV/Al Jazeera/ Al-Arabiya TV]