Here’s Why Thrifting in Southeast Asia’s Staying For Good

More than a trend

It’s no secret that Southeast Asia’s a hotspot for thrifting. Countries like Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines are some of the highest importers of used clothing in Asia. Men’s fashion also ranks highly as a category across platforms like Carousell; online fashion marketplaces like Thryffy in Brunei and Malaysia, Loopers.shop in Thailand, and Refash in Singapore have answered the growing need to buy and sell secondhand fashion online.

Meanwhile, independent brick-and-mortar stores focused on thrifted goods such as Denimister in Ho Chi Minh and Season Pass in Quezon City have also ventured into selling online through their own websites.

And even while analysts project positive economic growth in Southeast Asia for 2025—meaning, more money for people to buy at retail cost—purchasing secondhand clothing still remains an appealing option for a number of consumers, particularly the youth.

It doesn’t take much to see that people are looking to upgrade their style, and they don’t mind sifting through the racks of their local thrift shop to do so. For those who’d love to try on a vintage Armani suit or find the exact pair of pleated trousers to match it, secondhand clothing gives that glimmer of hope that we can achieve the wardrobe that we want.

Curated garments for niche interests

Part of the booming business in used clothing is a sustainable venture in “curated thrifting.” More than reselling used garments, knowledgeable thrifters source, price, and even repair products from secondhand shops into a specific category. Name-brand obsessives and casual shoppers can still find ease in shopping from these specific shops where items are either cheaper than their retail price, or undeniably desirable because of their limited production. In Southeast Asia, where retail stores are not as prevalent or accessible compared to European, American, and even East Asian markets, sometimes the only plausible way to find the clothes you want is through thrift.

Paul John Alejandre, a seller from the Philippines, says, “Thrifting is so ingrained in our culture that it always emphasizes value from doing good deals [and] making the most out of our money.” He posts his collections, consisting of anywhere from hard-to-find Japanese and European labels, archival brand items, to jewelry, and conducts his business on marketplace platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Carousell, while also maintaining an Instagram page where he shares his research on each piece. 

“For the most part, I really sell taste and not necessarily aesthetic or a lifestyle. I sell the idea of the things I like into one curation that can make sense, so to speak.” 

The entry point to purchasing thrifted products may not even be from a fashion standpoint, either; pop culture merchandise from past decades still finds value years after. 

To take it a step further, one can argue that vintage garments have found a community of their own: enthusiasts of all ages attracted to long-lasting, worn-in garments. Distressed Carhartt jackets sit beside faded denim jeans for a specific look in curated flea markets much like in Wijaya in South Jakarta. Good Old Days, a Philippine-based flea market event, features dozens of vendors and attracts thousands of visitors in their quarterly gatherings where some shops focus on a certain hobby or niche.

“We love that we have a wide customer base and our items are for all ages and all genders,” says Miki Marquez, one of the vendors from Good Old Days. “They look for statement pieces and essentials, so we do our best to provide everything from head to toe.”

“Once you’ve enjoyed the item it’s nice to know that you could still pass it on for someone else to do so,” she adds.

Upcycling secondhand clothing

Alessandro Georgie, a content creator based in Indonesia, has consistently shopped from thrift shops since his college days. “I remember the first place I went to was Pasar Gede Bage in Bandung, where I found so many cool one-of-a-kind items like a leather jacket,” he says. “From there, I started exploring other thrift spots in Jakarta, and my current favorite is Pasar Kebayoran Lama.” 

His TikTok account with more than 600,000 followers sees him showing off his finds when thrifting in cities across Southeast Asia, including Bangkok and Malaysia, showing pieces he’s purchased worn with international and local brands seamlessly.

Other than just thrifting, however, Alessandro’s content also features a unique approach to designing garments that scratches the itch of finding and owning that’s truly made for you while also suggesting a path toward sustainability. 

Alessandro has previously featured TANGAN & ANW, Indonesian fashion brands that offer upcycling services to secondhand garments. In his videos, he shows how his thrifted denim jacket and blazer are repurposed into something entirely new. “The design of the blazer is actually inspired by a Javanese formal blazer, Beskap, which normally uses wool or other formal types of fabrics,” he shares.

Already considered a “treasure hunt”, thrifting in this context becomes part of a more engaging interaction where customers and designers come together to co-create a one-of-a-kind piece with an interesting silhouette tailored to their frame. 

Alessandro says, “Thrifting has always been more than just a trend for me, it’s something I genuinely enjoy. Even as my tastes have changed, I love the thrill of the hunt.”

An economy of style we can afford

In a way, this obsession for thrift is quite related to how brands have operated in terms of distribution. Labels both high and low have acted in scarcity, co-opting the streetwear drop model led by brands like Supreme: very low quantities, released at specific times, some in flagship stores located only in major fashion capitals like Milan and New York. 

It’s not farfetched to say, then, that these global brands do not always keep Southeast Asia in mind—at least for now. What does reach us is the hype, which then leads to jacked up prices when these pieces reach the secondhand market. What this should tell brands, however, is that we are ready to purchase their collections at retail, should they choose to come to us and plant their feet in Southeast Asia.

Until that changes, secondhand fashion and its offshoots into curated clothing, designer-led hybrids, and higher price tags will continue to be part of the equation. It’s an economy of style that we can—or forced to—afford.

Photography Madman Asia and Alessandro Georgie