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Jakartans look for good secondhand clothes for Idul Fitri
While retailers in the capital are involved in a war of discounts during the Jakarta Great Sale that runs from June 3 to July 17, some Jakarta residents opt for cheaper secondhand clothes sold at several places throughout the capital.
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Used fashion: Shoppers browse for secondhand clothes in Senen market in Central Jakarta in this file photo. (JP/P.J. Leo)
W
hile retailers in the capital are involved in a war of discounts during the Jakarta Great Sale that runs from June 3 to July 17, some Jakarta residents opt for cheaper secondhand clothes sold at several places throughout the capital.
After an hour browsing for a good secondhand shirt at Senen Market in Central Jakarta, student Iqbal Alfiandi, 19, finally found what he was looking for: a Uniqlo-branded short-sleeve plaid shirt in good condition for only Rp35,000 (US$2).
“This shirt is a good deal. Aside from this, I also got a Levi’s denim jacket for only Rp 120,000 here few weeks ago,” Iqbal happily said on Tuesday, a day before Idul Fitri, or locally known as Lebaran.
While holding a plastic bag of clothes, Iqbal said he would browse for other shirts at the market to equip himself with some new clothes for Lebaran.
A brand-new Uniqlo shirt at its retail store is priced at around Rp 199,000 to Rp 349,000, while a Levi’s denim jacket can reach beyond Rp 1 million at the company's official store.
Even though many online and offline retailers have offered big discounts of up to 80 percent since last month, Iqbal is committed to his low-end lifestyle, knowing that he can bag more stylish clothes at secondhand markets around the city.
At Senen Market, a seller said the number of people buying secondhand clothes had been growing continuously since the first day of Ramadhan. It reaches its peak at the end of June, the seller said.
One seller, Dwi Prasetyo, 33 said the number of clothes sold in his tent nearly doubled compared to regular days.
“On regular days usually there are around 40 to 50 purchases. Since the first day of the fasting month, however, I can sell up to 90 clothes daily,” Dwi, who originated from Padang, West Sumatra, said.
Dwi charges a price of Rp 20,000 to Rp 70,000 for a shirt, Rp 40,000 to Rp 150,000 for pants and jeans, and Rp 80,000 to Rp 250,000 for a jacket or parka.
While serving customers at his temporary stall roofed with blue tarpaulin, he said the pricing factor depended on brand and the condition of the items.
Aside from centralized secondhand sellers such as in Pasar Senen, stand-alone secondhand stores also popped up in other parts of the city including at the Rawa Belong intersection in West Jakarta.
The owner, Hadi, 62 reaffirmed that during Ramadhan, more and more customers came to the small space he rents for a living.
When The Jakarta Post visited the store, Hadi was negotiating the price of a pair of jeans with customers. “It is cheap enough, Rp 70,000,” he said, the price then agreed to by both parties.
Hadi went on to say that after getting a bale of secondhand clothes from an importer in Cakung, North Jakarta, he always washed them before selling them to make them look brand-new.
“Maybe that is why my store is always full of customers,” he confidently said.
One customer, Kusmarno, 40 said he preferred to shop in secondhand stores instead of shopping malls as he could bargain over the price.
“If we browse thoroughly, we can find a good item with a really cheap price,” he said. (adt/iwa)
