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View all search resultsHigh-end thrift stores defend their niche, promoting sustainability
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Storekeeper Lugut is pictured behind the counter of the Primetime Jakarta shop on Dec. 11 at the Senayan Trade Center in Central Jakarta. The small store sells exclusively secondhand clothes, some of which are brought in from abroad. (JP/Shukri Mohamed)
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n the shadow of Indonesia’s crackdown on imported secondhand clothing, a quieter, more exclusive form of thrifting continues to operate at the margins of legality.
High-end thrifting, driven by curated selections of rare and designer pieces, presents a sustainability success story that stands in contrast to the mass influx of cheap imported goods flooding local markets.
Unlike bulk secondhand imports sold at rock-bottom prices, high-end thrifting is rooted in scarcity, curation and consumer intention. Sellers source limited quantities of clothing, often focusing on quality, durability and individuality.
For environmental advocates, this model directly challenges the wasteful cycles of trend-driven fast fashion.
“Thrifting is good to counteract the effects of fast fashion,” said Lugut, storekeeper at Primetime Jakarta, a secondhand clothing shop located in the Senayan Trade Center in Central Jakarta. “It slows consumption and encourages people to value what they buy.”
Fast fashion, characterized by rapid turnover and low-cost garments that are often discarded after a single season, contributes significantly to textile waste.
In contrast, high-end thrifting offers flexibility across price points while extending the life of existing clothing. Consumers can search for rare or discontinued items that would otherwise end up in landfills, albeit sometimes at higher prices that reflect their scarcity.
