Desty Luthfiani, Jakarta – Sales of used clothing, more commonly known as thrifting in Pasar Senen resume as normal. According to vendors, they are currently trying to sell out their remaining stocks. The vendors added that they are still trying to make future plans because the government had sealed agents that sell used clothing.

Based on Tempo's observation on Thursday, March 23, 2023, stores located on the second floor of Pasar Senen remain crowded. Customers can be seen browsing for clothes from one store to another.

However, the situation on the third floor, where most of the used clothing agents were located, is dark and quiet because the agents have been raided and shut down.

One of the vendors, Irwan, said that he will soon close down his store after selling all the remaining stocks.

Irwan said that he usually bought one to three bulks of used clothing once a week, and sell all of his stocks in just one week. Irwan added that he had not restocked his items because his agents have been raided and shut down.

"Every Monday, I buy one to three bulks. Well, two bulks per week [on average]. Last time I have not bought [new stocks] because the agents have been sealed off. On Sunday, they are closed," Irwan said to Tempo on Thursday, March 23, 2023.

Currently, Irwan has two employees. However, he is planning to dismiss his employees of the government did not provide a solution for his used clothing business. Irwan said that the same condition is also felt by other retailers.

"The government said that people will feel an itch [wearing used clothing] because of mold. Now, do you ever heard of someone wearing [used clothing] and then died? What Zulhas said last time 'even holding it makes me sneeze', is just exaggerating, he does not know what is it like in the field," said one of the vendors Rifai Silalahi to Tempo.

Rifai argued that used clothing vendors are different now. Back in the past, used clothing are immediately sold, now the clothes were washed, labeled, and then sold in clean conditions.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1706596/thrifting-vendors-in-senen-market-prepares-to-close-dow