by Dames Alexander Sinaga

JAKARTA, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- In the Pasar Baru area, one of the bustling hubs in central Jakarta, 25-year-old Indonesian Andre Sureja was on the hunt for used vintage jeans and jackets to wear during his upcoming band performances.

The activity, known as thrifting, has been gaining popularity across the Southeast Asian country. With the price of new branded clothing often exceeding the average income, thrifting offers a practical solution for those seeking to balance style and budget.

For Andre, who earns a living as both a car mechanic and a musician, thrifting represents a fresh approach to his lifestyle. On Wednesday, he drove about 30 km from Bekasi in West Java province, accompanied by his cousin, to the third floor of the Metro Atom shopping center in Pasar Baru, where more than 200 thrift sellers operate. Among local enthusiasts, Metro Atom is regarded as a haven for secondhand clothes and accessories.

"I'm so excited to be here. I think I could've saved a lot of money if I'd come and thrifted here a long time ago," Andre said with a smile, after finding several jeans and jackets he planned to buy.

For 23-year-old Sarah Suryaningsih, an employee at a private company in Jakarta, thrifting has been a hobby for the past two years. She hasn't bought any new branded clothes during that time, preferring the thrill of hunting for one-of-a-kind items at affordable prices. "Thrifting gives me the excitement of finding unique pieces while helping me stretch my budget," she said.

Sarah often goes vintage shopping with friends on weekends and noted that online thrift stores now make it easier to find curated pieces from physical markets, though at slightly higher prices. "These online stores save hunters a lot of time," she added, mentioning that she has also thrifted online in the past.

According to Roy Tambunan, a thrift seller at Metro Atom, around 40 percent of shoppers on the third floor are thrift hunters, most of them young people. His family has been in the thrift business for over two decades and now owns three stores in the center. Their offerings range from wedding gowns and tuxedos to casual wear, office attire, and winter coats, sourced from countries including Japan and South Korea. All items are dry-cleaned before sale to ensure they are clean, fragrant, and in top condition.

"Thrift stores carry items you just can't find in regular retail outlets," Roy said, describing his shop as "more of a curated, boutique experience." Having grown up in the industry, the 41-year-old noted that the superior fit and durability of foreign-made clothing keep customers coming back for more affordable fashion finds.

Both Andre and Sarah agreed that the cost of a single new branded garment could buy two or three pieces at thrift shops. "Since the cost of living continues to rise, thrifting makes me better at saving money," Sarah said.