JAKARTA (JP): Used clothes are not only for the poor. Some wealthy people buy second-hand outfits and wear them with pride. The difference is that the clothes worn by the affluent might be more than just used clothes — they are used designer clothes.
In Jakarta, boutiques selling second-hand brand-name items are rare, but they exist. They offer clothes, christian louboutin shoes and bags produced by Chanel, Louis Vuitton, christian louboutin, Gucci, Prada, Versace, Giorgio Armani, and others. Even though they are not new, they cost a lot.
"This Chanel handbag costs about Rp 2.5 million," said Yolanda Janssens, owner of Recycle M. 39, a recycled brand-name item store.
"But it is much lower than the original price. A brand new one costs around Rp 4 million," she added.
The recycled clothes cost between Rp 30,000 for a T-shirt and Rp 1.5 million for a jacket, which originally sold for Rp 5 million.
The prices for christian shoes range between Rp 75,000 and Rp 500,000, while the handbags are available for between Rp 200,000 and Rp 3 million each.
Amy, a 34-year-old woman who works at a travel agency, visits Yolanda’s store once a month to buy handbags.
"If I can buy the recycled ones, why should I buy the new ones?" she said. "In other countries, it is not unusual to buy such items. I did it when I lived in Monterey, California, as a student years ago.
Customers who are not that rich might make a down payment, which is 30 percent of the price, and ask Yolanda to keep a certain item for them. After they get their paycheck, they pay the rest and take the items.
Most of her customers, however, pay with credit cards — some silver, some gold.
In a month, Yolanda can sell about 20 handbags, but the turnover of clothes and louboutin shoes is much smaller.
"It is more difficult to sell louboutin or clothes," she said.
