Health Risk Behind The Excitement Of Thrifting Clothing Shopping

JAKARTA Hunting for imported clothing or better known as thrifting still has great enthusiasts. However, a number of experts warn about the dangers of used clothing for health.

The trend of hunting for used clothes seems endless, especially among young people. There are various reasons that encourage young people to be more concerned, ranging from much more affordable prices, opportunities to get branded goods, to reasons for environmental awareness.

Recently, the clothes used for imports that flooded a number of markets were widely discussed after Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa planned to issue regulations as a follow-up effort to eradicate the circulation of used clothes in Indonesia.

Actually, the import of used clothing has been stated in the Regulation of the Minister of Trade Number 40 of 2022. However, this regulation is considered ineffective, due to the fact that used clothes are still flooding Indonesia.

In terms of industry, the proliferation of used clothing makes products lose competition because they offer cheaper prices with good quality. On the other hand, used clothing is also a threat to health, including skin health.

Activities are actually not new. The hunt for used clothing has existed since ancient times and until now has never lost its market. According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Indonesia imported around 26.22 tons of used clothing in 2022. Australia and Japan became the main sending countries.

Trenthrifting does not only happen in Indonesia. Reuters report in September 2024, a Japanese brand, Zara, announced that it would be more serious about entering the used clothing market because of the high interest of young people in used clothes. In England, Zara's used clothing page has been operating since November 2022.

Meanwhile, Zara's competitor, H&M, does not provide its own page. However, H&M's used products can be purchased in the US via ThredUp, one of the giants in the used fashion market. In the UK market, ThredUp estimates the selling value of used clothing will reach 3.5 billion US dollars by 2027. Globally, the value is estimated to reach more than 200 billion US dollars by 2027.

In the UK, 62 percent of buyers of used clothes shop online. About 20 percent of purchases in the form of bags, and only 15 percent buy shoes. Meanwhile research by Reason&Shaw shows that 78 percent of US citizens have and are still buying used clothes.

Specifically for gen Z, the number reaches 90 percent, followed by the millennial generation, which has a portion of 85 percent. The older generation, the X gene and baby boomers, were only 77 percent and 66 percent, respectively.

In addition to the cheaper price than new clothes, Thrifting is also a place to hunt for branded clothes at oblique prices but still in good condition. Hunting for used clothes also has its own charm because it offers a shopping sensation that challenges creativity in style.

For some people, this activity also has an equally attractive environmental mission. Thrifting is considered a positive activity of utilizing clothing waste due to fast-fashion products.

Unfortunately, the health risk of thrifting clothes often escapes attention. Wearing used clothes, said Der. Arini Widodo, SM, SpDVE, holds a variety of health risks.

A person has the potential to be infected with the skin because there are many diseases that may arise during the procedure for selling used clothing, from the start until finally being bought by consumers.

"This used clothing cannot be guaranteed cleanliness, either from the sales process, delivery, or the cleanliness of the previous users," he said.

Used clothes can also be a parasitic agent, especially those that have become a tungular parasite nest. Therefore, it can cause a person to experience scabies or kudis that make the skin feel itchy. At night, the desire to scratch usually occurs more often.

In addition, users of used clothes can also experience eczema, a person's skin can become itchy and inflamed if the clothes are stored for too long and dusty. If not handled properly and continuously scratched, the sufferer's skin can moisturize.

Used clothes are not only dangerous when worn, but before buying them. In the thrifting process, some consumers usually try out clothes first without observing safety measures.

Doctor Arini explained, this process can cause the transfer of body fluids between consumers and others.

Body fluids such as sweat or saliva are included as a medium that may cause infection in a person and of course this is a no less dangerous risk if the infectious agent survives in the used clothes.

In addition, other health problems that can arise from used clothing can be sourced from chemicals sprayed or used by sellers to disinfect.

"This suppression can also cause other side effects if the vapor from this chemical is inhaled continuously. Usually, the effects that can arise include headaches, dizziness, vertigo, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, and maybe even convulsions," he said.