Can civilians purchase military gear and clothing? Yes. There are even retailers that specialize in the market often referred to as Army/ Navy, or Surplus stores.

Military surplus are goods, usually matériel, that are sold or otherwise disposed of when held in excess or are no longer needed by the military. Entrepreneurs often buy these goods and resell them at surplus stores.

Cost-effective: Military surplus gear is typically sold at a fraction of the original cost. This makes it an affordable option for individuals who want high-quality gear without breaking the bank.

Now those stores and their competitors are out of business. The few stores that remain have basically two lines of stock: some real army surplus that's much-picked-over, basically the rejects of the past few decades, stuff that won't sell for another few years yet… and a line of imported-from-China knock-off stuff.