when you've been conditioned to wear your school uniform daily for most of your teenage years, and this phenomenon is paired with the nonexistence of a disposable allowance or income — trivial things like clothes & personal style become the last thing you might think of.

(ok, maybe that's only me, i won't generalize here)

table of contents

it was only when i graduated high school that i found myself with too few clothes for my daily life. going into h&m and b*rshka and seeing the price tag made me scream: wtf, the quality is terrible, the styles are too basic, the prices are too high, and all that money won't even go to the workers because we know these companies have a track record of exploitation. what's one supposed to do?

dear reader, thank god the west gentrified pasar loak. i'm only half joking.

gorgeous top from consc_ously & plaid pants (with front pleats!!!!) from skull01.stuff

oversized pink rayon shirt of my dreams from wasmine.id

before you thrift

is it your first time thrifting? hundredth time? regardless of your level of experience, i think reading this list would help you be more mindful of your purchases.

so yes, this is a README.txt

• do not go thrift shopping without a sense of direction. even if your original intention was to get pretty clothes for 10% of the retail price, recognize that we live in a consumerist, capitalist world that hangs onto the fact that we are very much so affected by trends that come and go. we live in a society that tells us MORE IS ALWAYS BETTER, but that's not true at all. when you click on thrift stores, it's best to have in mind what you're looking for — i.e. currently, i'm looking for corduroy pants, jean jackets, and linen dresses. i won't shop for things outside this list, because currently i don't need/already have them. this prevents you from spending money on clothes that you actually won't actually wear + that you've already owned.
  • i would suggest, if you haven't done so yet, find your style. is it alternative? feminine? ~parisian~? e-girl adjacent? this is where those fast fashion shops come in handy. go wild trying their clothes on; don't actually buy anything at them. go to pinterest. refresh your instagram explore page and save those posts. look up your favorite looks from the films you like. you don't have to be a fashionista to gain this sense of style (like r u looking at me?!!!). wear what makes you feel comfortable + confident.
• prioritize shops that are in the same city/kabupaten as you. remember your carbon footprint!!!! better yet, prioritize physical thrift pop ups & actual pasar loak: thrift week, jakarta thrift day, pasar senen, etc.
• you have options, so look for them. prices vary a lot in the indonesian thrifting scene, some ranging on astonishingly low & to understandably high — but as a personal rule, i wouldn't shop at a store that has a Rp250.000+ price range if they aren't selling branded clothes. the market price in international/western "curated" thrift stores aren't a reflection of ours!

tips while thrifting

what i've noticed + experienced for the past year i've been thrifting online —

• most indonesian thrift stores exist & are most active on instagram. i suggest making a separate account to follow thrift shops — 1) to not clog your feed 2) to not tempt you if you don't need to buy any clothes currently. yes, i suggest a completely new account from your finsta/second acc. i've been there before. the feed clogging..... unbearable luv <3
• it's easier to get the clothes you want if the store's following is smaller. i mean, basic supply/demand right folks.... idk the terms ok i hate economics. when a store has a bigger following, they might have a specialized policy for"open order" time slots or "first reply" rules. be aware of them + follow them if you decide to shop there!
• measure your bust (espc if you have boobs!!!) and waist size. you do not want to have buyer's remorse for clothes that are ill-fitting or not fitting at all, especially if you can't try them on in the first place! (my first thrifted corduroy pants.... we won't talk abt how small that waist was. sold it back at vintage vibes tho so it's all good.)
  • ask for size specifications from the seller if they just say it's "size [S/M/L]". ****in my experience, they'll be more than happy to provide it for you — they want you to buy their stuff! they want to be sure that you'll like + actually wear what they've sold!
  • ...but tbh, this tip is mostly bc i'm not skinny, so if you're skinny you might not have to do this ¯\(ツ)/¯
  • for those with body image issues &/ ED — it might be frightening to do this. i get you. i don't have the expertise to offer you and advice, but — you, your health, & your body is more than numbers. i'm holding your hand astrally rn ok.
• i tend to TRUST sellers who have already put in the size specifications more than those who have not + who have posted multiple pictures of the clothes, and has informed if there are any defects + who already put up a highlight of testimonies from their previous buyers.
• be respectful. don't suddenly disappear once you've claimed/"kept" a product but suddenly don't have the money. the sellers understand! just communicate.

on critical sustainability

i think i actually discussed most of this in the "before you thrift" part lmfao, but there are some points on (fashion) sustainability not discussed yet that needs to be said.

so, please imprint this into your mind: