Here's Why Residents Buy Second-hand Imported Bras and Underwear at Pasar Senen

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Some buyers revealed their reasons for continuing to buy second-hand underwear at Pasar Senen, Central Jakarta. According to CNBC Indonesia’s observations, buyers continue to purchase second-hand underwear, both bras and underwear, because the prices are very affordable while allowing access to well-known brands.

One shopper, Desi, buys used bras because they are very cheap—only Rp35,000—enabling her to obtain a well-known brand even if the items are pre-owned.

‘Yes, because it’s cheap. Where else can you get a branded bra for only Rp35,000?’ Desi told CNBC Indonesia on Thursday (5 March 2025).

Additionally, she is attracted by designs that are not common in stores.

‘Because they are imported from South Korea here, the designs are unique; if they exist in new form here, they are usually expensive, so I look for them here,’ she continued.

Similarly, Nira, another buyer, said the designs are unique, and the price is very cheap. ‘More because of the design; when new, there often isn’t a design available here, perhaps because they’re imported directly from South Korea, so there are differences,’ she said.

She became more interested after seeing prices under Rp50,000. ‘Model like this can be bought for only Rp35,000; how could I not be interested to try?’ she added.

While wearing second-hand bras and underwear, Nira has not experienced any side effects such as skin diseases, because she always washes used garments with hot water each time she buys them. The washing process is also done separately from her other clothes.

‘If you say there is a worry, there is, but I can tell which ones look not very used; generally there are yellow stains visible, those I avoid, even though they are only Rp5,000. But the Rp35,000 ones look clean; at home I still wash with hot water,’ she explained.

Trade Minister (Mendag) Budi Santoso spoke about the ongoing popularity of imported second-hand clothing purchases. He emphasised that in principle importing used clothing is prohibited, but enforcement is carried out gradually.

‘Yes, it’s gradual; the principle is that imported used clothing is banned, but it’s gradual. If you look at our colleagues at Customs, they are also conducting inspections,’ Budi said at the Ministry of Trade offices, Jakarta, Thursday (5 March 2026).

According to Budi, supervision of illegal goods, including used imported clothing, is also carried out through post-border surveillance after goods circulate domestically. ‘Yes, that is post-border; we at post-border continuously monitor illegal goods there. If it isn’t post-border or at the border, it isn’t our ministry,’ he added.