Ukay-ukay has always been a great part of everyday life. For a long time, it has simply been a game of finding treasure: going into stores to find and buy clothes that were definitely more affordable than something you’d pick out at a mall. You go in to find racks and racks of clothes and pieces that were new to you, with price tags that weren’t so painful to look at.
This system hasn’t changed for a long time. But somewhere down the road, the appeal of ukay-ukay or thrifting expanded to more than just a lower price. It reached a newer, bigger demographic of creative and eco-conscious youth.
Unpredictability is part of the appeal
Now, people don’t only go to ukay out of necessity-they go because they want to. There’s something about it that feels therapeutic and feels different from regular shopping. It’s not predictable, it’s a little less polished, and a lot more personal.
What sets ukay-ukay apart is the way you move through everything. There’s no clear system, no guarantee of finding something specific. Sometimes the clothes are all packed tightly together, the styles overlap, and the sizing is iffy at best. It’s the kind of place where you have to be patient and go through everything thoroughly.
That unpredictability is part of the appeal, though. Finding something good looks completely different to everyone. So, it isn’t given that you’ll find something to your taste-but when you do, it feels more considered and intentional. A
‘tsamba’
comes down to the right place and the right time. And because of that, the pieces people end up with feel more personal.
A ‘tsamba’ comes down to the right place and the right time. And because of that, the pieces people end up with feel more personal
People aren’t dressing the same way anymore
This shift has also happened with what the rise in ukay-ukay means socially. It has changed the way people think about style and experimenting with new types of fashion. Because the pieces are affordable, there’s much less pressure to get them ‘right.’ You can always try something different, pick up something you won’t usually go for, and see how well it works for you.
Because the pieces are affordable, there’s much less pressure to get them ‘right.’ You can always try something different
It also means that people aren’t dressing the same way. Unlike mall brands and fast fashion companies, where trends are repeated across racks, ukay offers a mix of everything. You’ll see more personal styles and outfits that are put together in a way that reflects individual taste rather than what the current norm is.
At the same time, with the growing awareness of current eco-crises and environmental concerns, people are now more aware of how much they consume. Ukay fits into this shift perfectly, making being eco-conscious feel effortless. Buying secondhand and pre-loved clothes and extending their lives has become part of how people approach fashion-not in an overly conscious way, but as something that just makes sense.
Thrifting now also works as a kind of social space. It’s common to go with friends, looking through the racks together, asking for opinions, and doing a try-on haul at the changing rooms. In a way, it fills a gap. Nowadays, there aren’t many casual, low-cost places to just spend time in, especially for the younger people, and ukay doesn’t ask for much. You walk in, you browse, you chat, and spend your time creatively. It makes it easy to treat it as less of an errand and more of a fun pastime.
What makes it work is how low-pressure it is. There’s no expectation to buy anything, no rush to decide. That alone feels like the best part. It feels like slowing down and pausing in a world where hustle culture is extremely present.
What makes it work is how low-pressure it is. There’s no expectation to buy anything
READ MORE: The local creatives championing thrift shopping and sustainable fashion
Ukay is forever relevant
Ukay-ukay has even found its way to creating small businesses. Many online clothing shops now start the same way with pieces sourced from ukay, then resold with a bit more creativity. It’s less about changing the clothes and more about presenting them differently-making do with what you’re given, and building a style around it.
In that sense, the concept of ukay doesn’t just shape personal wardrobes. It feeds into how people approach the selling and styling of the clothes as well.
What people also look for tends to shift-one week it’s oversized jackets, the next it’s baby tees or cargos. And because of this cycle, ukay also follows this process. But instead of getting them directly from the store, people look for versions of them in ukay.
All of this happens without much structure. There’s no fixed way to approach it, no single reason people keep going back. Some go for practicality, some for style, some just to see what’s there. And that’s really what keeps ukay-ukay relevant. It works in different ways for different people, and it doesn’t try too hard to be anything more than that.