Imported used clothing, old style, oversize and some are damage.
These are the first characteristics of an ukay ukay (used clothing).
If there's a first characteristic, there's also a second one, and the second one is the greatest. It's the price, almost 80% to 90% cheaper than new ones.
Used clothing comes in several name ukay ukay, eloys.
Even the styles are out of date, but can be made fashionable.
The average salary income Filipino can afford to be fashionable with these clothes, it's only a matter of technique on how to mix and match clothes.
So if it can help a Filipino its ok right?
But on the contrary it has another side of the coin.
While used clothes are good for most Filipino, some are still hurt by this industry.
Think about this:
If a person sees used clothes at a cheaper price, who will buys new ones?
A sector of business is affected by this. Designers - Filipino design clothes. Garment factory - sewers, cutters, factory workers. Boutiques - selling Filipino made clothes.
These are some businesses that have closed due to lack of patronage.
It make the garment sector cycle of economy stagnant.
Does the government tax use clothes?
If they find one they tax them alright, but nobody seems to see them arrive in the Philippines. There are unconfirmed reports that the source of used clothes in bulks come from the piers, passing by the bureau of custom. If this is true then not only the garment industry suffers but the Philippine government as well.
As a whole the affected is the Filipino them selves.
Who really are the benefactors of this industry?
If not the Filipino then who are?
There are also rumors that these cheap clothes are actually DONATED for Filipino.
But instead of donating it, It landed on ukay ukay stores.
This story is also unproven.
But one thing is for sure, like the pirated movies, ukay ukay clothes are here to stay.
On the lighter side: Q: One sectors of artist are happy about the oversize used clothes. Who are they? A: the hip hop dancers.