Supporting The Termination Of Imports Of Used Clothes, Hippindo: If Allowed Turn Off Our Stores

Chairman of the Indonesian Shopping Center Retailers and Tenants Association (Hippindo) Budihardjo Iduansjah. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian Shopping Center Retailers and Tenants Association (Hippindo) Budihardjo Iduansjah supports the government's efforts to stop the practice of illegally importing used clothes.

"As an association that owns shops and sells global brands, we definitely object if used goods with the same brand. Even though the number that comes in is for example small, it will still kill our shops that sell new goods, including the issue of brand HAKI patents, especially if the used goods are fake. Foreigners will be afraid to invest in Indonesia if this is not regulated," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Sunday, March 19.

Budihardjo added that it is important to underline and separate the thifting narrative or the practice of buying used clothes which is part of a lifestyle with the rampant imports of illegal used clothes in massive quantities.

"This will slowly change the landscape and potentially dominate the retail market ecosystem in Indonesia and create unfair business competition," he said.

According to him, the government certainly supports the positive aspects that exist in thrifting culture, one of which is a positive aspect, especially young people who are aware of reducing clothing waste which is mostly created from over-consumption culture which can damage the environment is a lifestyle choice.

"However, it must be clarified that trading used goods is certainly not prohibited if the origin is from circulation or exchange of hands in the country," said Budihardjo.

Therefore, the refusal to enter used goods from outside is not only a thrifting problem, but illegal smuggling of used clothes from abroad or importing used clothes.

In addition, Thrifting is also not in accordance with the government's efforts to encourage people to love domestic products echoed through the Proudly Made in Indonesia National Movement (Gernas BBI) and 40 percent of government spending is required to buy local products.

"Therefore, this is a moment to encourage importers to invite their partners to make domestic products (imported substitution policies), not just finished clothes. In an effort to create jobs in the country and multiplier effects from job creation in Indonesia," he said.

Not only that, he also suggested that there be restrictions on the entry of imported goods through e-commerce crossborders. According to him, the government needs to set the lowest limit for importable prices and stop online retail directly from abroad.