Thrifting or buying pre-loved clothes from “ukay-ukay” stores has long been a Filipino habit. 

But this teen has a bigger perspective about vintage fashion — thrift not just to save up, but also to pursue sustainability.

Fashion enthusiast Sean Sia, 17, started thrift shopping around Cubao and Makati during the pandemic when he had the luxury of time to ponder on his own sense of style. Now, he realized that the members of Generation Z are much more open to using secondhand clothes and items.

“Not like noon na much more stigmatized ang pagti-thrift according to my parents, na ‘your clothes should determine your social standing in society’,” he said. “I feel like clothes should not determine who you are as a person. It should only accentuate who you are already. It’s [only] an accessory, it should not define you.”

But he would like to point out something bigger than just generational openness. Sia thinks “responsible thrifting” also battles a global problem.

“When you thrift, it’s not only for saving money — but also saving the environment. Kasi when you thrift, you lessen the waste production, ‘yung mga clothes na napupunta lang sa landfills,” he emphasized.

Sia also said it’s important to know your own style before you go into ukay-ukay stores because the unlimited options can be overwhelming.

“Mahirap kapag hindi mo alam ‘yung hinahanap mo, there’s so much clothes! You have to know what you want,” he advised.

For him, he always has a specific look that he’d like to attain inspired by influencers or good get-ups that he sees online. He also prefers wearing statement clothing — those that stand out from a crowd.

Yet at the end of the day, he does not box himself into a lone particular style.

“I wouldn’t classify my style into one style. I’ve been told na it’s a spectrum of different eras so I’m not sticking into one specific genre of clothing,” he said.

Sia said his picking process can take up to four hours, or more often than not he spends an entire day just to scrutinize each item at a thrift shop. Sometimes, he finds something unique. But there are also those days that he would miss.

Since Gen Z also loves “throwback outfits” or those clothes that are from '90s and beyond, he has observed a “trend cycle.”

“Napansin ko na circular ang mga trends. Noong '90s, uso ang baggy pants and jeans, now they’re coming back. Fashion is like a cycle [kasi]. It’s gonna die down a bit, then babalik din siya in a few decades,” he said.

It is also important that when you pick a piece of clothing, you should commit wholeheartedly to it.

“When thrifting, it’s very tempting to buy so much. Feeling ninyo mura, walang ibang ganito. But I also hope other people will remember that if they’re gonna thrift, susuotin ba talaga nila? Are they gonna wear it more than once?” Sia said.

“I see a pattern na one-time lang nila sinusuot, that’s a toxic relationship to have with clothes. Clothes are meant to be re-worn. You’re supposed to find different uses for them in different contexts.”

Sia also sells his own pre-loved clothes online. Interested buyers may look at his items on this account: https://www.instagram.com/curatedbysean/