We have been inculcated with these notions almost from birth, through marketing, advertising, and other social forces. We falsely assume that goods which lack this aura have less utility.
I am as much a victim of this as anyone, to the point that I have become a willing participant in the mass delusion: the call is coming from inside the house.
Meanwhile, the fashion industry is massively implicated in climate change, in addition to being propped up by the hyper-exploitation of workers in the global south.
According to the Geneva Environment Network, “Fashion production makes up 10 percent of humanity’s carbon emissions, dries up water sources, and pollutes rivers and streams. What’s more, 85 percent of all textiles go to the dump each year (UNECE, 2018), and washing some types of clothes sends a significant amount of microplastics into the ocean.”
So reforming this industry would be one way to fight climate change and environmental degradation.
One way is to promote the re-use of goods through the concept of “pre-loved clothing” in outlets like the Salvation Army, Goodwill, thrift shops, vintage stores and others.
Many of these are also social programs that help people find jobs, and use the money raised to help fight homelessness and food insecurity.
Downstream from these developments in fully industrialized countries, here in the Philippines, we have ukay-ukay stalls where second-hand items are sold at low prices.
They are commonly imported from North American or European countries where they have been donated.
My designer fetishism notwithstanding, today I am a proud ukay-ukay consumer.
The myth that ukay-ukay goods are dirty or unsanitary, of substandard quality, and trashy-looking is simply ridiculous.
As far as cleanliness is concerned, even new clothes should be washed properly before one first wears them. And apart from the occasional stains, there is no magical dirtiness in used clothes that a good washing won’t fix.
But speaking of dust, some of us who are allergic to dust and mold may need to wear a mask when “thrifting” at an ukay-ukay. (By the way, I propose we adopt the new-fangled term “thrifting” for ukay-ukay shopping, as a way to improve its image.)
Here are some more of my tips for thrifting: You need to know what you’re looking for (even if you often wind up getting something else).
In my case, I’m always hunting for linen, and silk clothing, and leather goods. The items don’t have to be branded or ‘designer’ stuff, but if they are, hey, it’s icing on the cake.
Here in Dumaguete, there are myriads of ukay-ukay stores, some small, and others with several branches. I suggest you go and explore them with an open mind, but already knowing what you want.
I have been very pleased with several recent finds: French linens for bed covers; beautiful cotton table runners; some gorgeous linen blouses; and a stunning crystal decanter.
And I can’t resist the appeal of designer items, like a Ralph Lauren button-down shirt for P99.00, and a supple leather Longchamp purse for P400 (pricey, yes, but nonetheless a huge discount from what it would cost if it were brand new).
It’s the journey that you should enjoy, not the destination: the activity of rummaging through piles of things or going through racks of clothing, looking for what you want, and discovering something unexpected that catches your desires.
Christmas is coming, it’s time to plan our gift-giving for family and friends. This will be an ideal time for us to try Thrifting so that we can contribute in a small way to our existence on this planet Earth.
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Author’s email: [email protected]