Best ukay ukay finds: How to score the most sulit fashion items! Are you a newbie to the ukay-ukay scene? Learn these tips to make your thrift store shopping a success.
Thrift store shopping, or what is more popularly known locally as ukay-ukay, has been in the country for ages. With a lot more ukay-ukay stores sprouting up all around the country these days, it does look like thrift store shopping will continue to be popular for a long time, what with people now becoming more frugal.
To help you out, here are a few tips and tricks that should get you through the ukay-ukay experience.
1. Comfort zone
When going to an ukay-ukay, wear old, comfortable clothes that can be layered upon. There are two reasons for this. First, ukays aren’t exactly the most glamorous of places, so you want to stay as comfy as possible in the midst of all that hustle, bustle, and heat.
Second, you don’t want the ukay garments to touch your bare skin—there’s no telling where they’ve been or when they were last washed. Try wearing a loose tank top over a snug one with stretchy leggings. That way, when fitting your thrifted finds, you can just throw them on top of what you’re already wearing without creating too much bulk.
2. Low key is the key
Keep your appearance simple. Don't risk calling attention to yourself by wearing flashy, expensive accessories or being too made-up. The trick is to blend in and look like every other shopper. Otherwise, you may find vendors suddenly jacking up their prices because they think you can afford it—or even worse, you may inadvertently make yourself as an easy target for pick-pockets.
3. Bag lady
Bring a roomy crossbody bag that you can sling across your chest. You’ll need both hands to rummage through the racks—and fend off potential competition. The extra bag space is also ideal for stashing all your purchases. You wouldn’t want to leave any of your fab finds behind, would you?
4. Bigger is not better
Small bills are the only way to go when shopping in an ukay-ukay. Haggling is a quintessential part of the experience, and it’s pretty hard to negotiate a lower price when you’re flashing big bucks. Usually vendors will give you extra discounts if you buy in bulk; but remember, “the bigger the better” should apply to your hoard of garments, not the denominations of your bills.
5. Good things come to those who rummage
Patience is a virtue that every ukay shopper must possess. Rifling through dozens of racks and digging through the same amount of bins can be pretty daunting to a neophyte, but it’s always best to go through each and every single one. A gem might be waiting for you somewhere, buried underneath all that musty fabric!
6. Check,check and double-check
Be sure to thoroughly examine each piece that you plan to purchase, whether it’s a blouse, a dress, bottoms, or footwear. Check if the stitches are tiny and aligned, the lining intact, and any embellishments in acceptable condition.Pit stains are a definite no-no—they’re pretty much impossible to remove, not to mention utterly unhygienic.
Be resourceful and think of all the possibilities—can you update the garment by removing the sleeves or raising the hem? Will it still look great if you alter it? If the answer is no, then it’s best to leave it on the rack.
7. Get chummy
Befriend the sales staff or owners of your favorite ukays. It’s important to be friends with the people in charge because they can update you on new deliveries and give you first dibs on the freshest merchandise.
8. Constance makes the heart grow fonder
Be a regular fixture at your ukay of choice. That way, if you aren’t palling around with the salesgirls just yet, you can still stay updated with the products and prices. Here’s a tip: just before new stock comes in, ukay-ukay owners usually drop their rates. Pieces that sell at 3 for P100 on a regular day can plummet down to P10 each! Believe it.
9. Buddy system
Bring a friend! Together, you guys can try on a bunch of funny outfits and have a Zoolander-style walk-off. That way, you make the shopping trip a fun event, rather than a chore.
A friend can also help you cover the area at a faster pace and be your sounding board when deciding on a particular garment. Just be sure your buddy loves treasure hunting just as much as you do—there is nothing more annoying than a whiner.
10. Just do it
Chances are, if you see a unique piece, you won’t find it anywhere else. Take a leap of faith and buy it while you can! It’ll only set you back a couple of bucks, and if it’s of a reasonable quality (given the ukay circumstances), you’ll get a lot of wear out of it—and compliments on your personal style, to boot!
Source: "10 Tips for Fruitful Ukay-Ukay Shopping" by Leona Laviña-Panutat
With so many available ukay-ukay stores, how does one know where to go? To be safe, you can always go to the more popular ones that have been around for a while now. There are such places in Bangkal, Makati and in Makati Cinema Square. You can also try the Anonas Mall in Kamias and stores in Aurora Boulevard in Quezon City, as well as Starmall in Las Pinas.
If you want to explore those outside Metro Manila, you can try the ukay-ukay stores in Tagaytay or Baguio City or even in Tanauan City. However, it also doesn’t hurt to try the smaller, less popular ones that may be located near you. You never know what you might find there as well.
