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March 9, 2010
From the “U.K.”
Text by Maan D’Asis Pamaran
Scenario: Your wardrobe needs a serious upgrade, but you have to, er, tighten your belt. Well, there’s a solution to this fashion emergency, because there are places where you can (literally) dig for designer treasures at ridiculously low prices. They are popularly known as ukay-ukay in Manila, and as Wag-wagan up North. Basically, these are stores or stalls selling used (or pre-owned, if you prefer) clothing from other countries.
By their names themselves, you could have an idea of what you have to do make halukay, (or dig through) through bins or racks of clothing and then make wagwag (or shake the dust off) the appealing apparel that you will be sure to find. Don’t let this discourage you, because determined shoppers really strike gold at these cramped and dusty places. Case in point: Farrah Gutierrez, a PR practitioner, says that she bought a pair of G200 pants for Php200 at an ukay store in Quezon City. “I love the material! It doesn’t need to be ironed, and I really like the cut. I use this pair a lot, so it is really more than sulit!” she gushes. Joan Reyes, who works at an upscale advertising firm in Makati, bought a see-through vintage-style blouse that she proudly wears at her office populated by fashionphiles in their Mango and Topshop apparel. Even manly men have gotten into the act—one guy I know came home from a Baguio sortie clutching his ultimate find—a Matrix-inspired leather trench coat. My personal find: A gorgeous gossamer beaded pink sleeveless blouse that I wore to my brother’s wedding, which I got for only Php150.
Kristine Tabada, a marketing professional who does freelance fashion styling for glossy magazines, along with personal shopper services, is another ukay enthusiast. Her favorite buy is a glam gold bag that has seen her through many formal events. “I just love that the items there are, in a sense, one-of-a-kind. You won’t be meeting two or three other girls in the mall wearing the same thing that you are. One funny incident that I remember from one of my trips was when a lady came up to the salesgirl and asked for a large (size) of the item she was eyeing. I guess, she thought she was in a department store!”
Kristine shares some secondhand clothes shopping tips that are sure to keep the fashion police at bay.
Search yourself. “You have to seriously look at your sense of style. If you are more comfortable in the cookie-cutter mall-style mold, then ukay shopping may not be for you. The items that are usually found in the good places are offbeat and funky,” she describes. Although, she adds, ukay stores also have their selections of classic outfits and office-worthy attire.
Wear tight and light clothing. Chances are, these ukay stores may not have decent fitting rooms. Usually, the only thing separating the public from the naked truth is a billowing curtain. For hygiene reasons too, you might just want to try on the musty outfits by popping them over the clothes that you already have on. Kristine adds that you have to wear simple clothing too, so as not to attract the attention of pickpockets and snatchers.
Seek and you shall find. “Don’t be overwhelmed by the rows of clothing. Yes, they don’t have classy window displays where the items are all mixed and matched by style professionals like those in the mall boutiques, but if you really want to find a bargain then you may have to dig in deep through the hodgepodge of items,” she says. Some things are non-negotiable, though, like lingerie and bathing suits. “I’m also a little iffy about second-hand shoes,” she confides.
Don’t get overexcited. “Go for quality, not quantity,” she advises. “It is easy to get carried away with the oodles of great clothes and accessories, but you have to check if you can pair these off with the items that you already have in your closet. Otherwise, your buys may just end up taking up valuable closet space. Two or three items per ukay trip can already be considered as a successful expedition.”
Check and double check. “Just like with men, when you have fallen in love with a blouse or dress, you have to check for damages before you commit,” she jokes. Look at hems, collars, buttons, zippers. If the problem is missing buttons or a stuck zipper, think if you you have the time to buy new ones to replace them.
Check for fabric holes and for stains, particularly at the underarm area. Shy away from fabrics that already look too fragile to handle the rigorous laundry routine that they will have to go through to ensure death to any germs or bugs that may be breeding in them. A good way to do that is through boiling the items or rinsing them in vinegar.
Haggle. “Believe it or not, you can still ask for a lower figure from their already rock-bottom prices. The magic words are, ‘ano ang last price?’” she shares. Before you haul off your stylish booty, you should also ask when their next clothes shipment comes in, so you could schedule your next ukay trip to coincide with a lot of fresh pickings.
You can contact Kristine Tabada for personal shopping services at kristine.tabada@gmail.com.
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