The Indonesian Textile Association (API) offers thrifting businesses to be able to help market domestic textile industry products. According to them, this is better than selling used imported products. API Chairman Jemmy Kartiwa Sastraatmaja admitted that currently products from local brands are also quite competitive in terms of quality with foreign products. So it is hoped that these thrifting business actors can also help to sell products from the Indonesian textile industry. "So I also have a program on how the businesses of IKM friends can substitute their products to be traded by friends who sell used clothes," said Jemmy Wednesday, March 29, 2023.
Jemmy assessed that this method would create a broad economic impact. Because when a demand in the industry runs smoothly, production and labor requirements will automatically increase. In addition, the thrifting traders were finally able to sell local products.
Considering that the government will confirm that imported used goods, especially the textile and footwear industries, enter Indonesia. The legal basis is contained in the Regulation of the Minister of Trade number 51/M-DAG/PER/7/2015 concerning the Prohibition of the Import of Used Clothing.
"So thrifting is still a source of livelihood, they can still trade, originally used clothes, now they can trade clothes produced by IKM friends," he continued.
In terms of quality, Jemmy is optimistic that the products produced by these local brands are quite competitive, especially in terms of quality. However, it cannot be denied that when compared to used imported products, in terms of price, local products may lose. Considering that these used imported clothes also do not have production costs.
In terms of raw materials, Jemmy considered Indonesia to be capable enough to boost the productivity of the country's textile industry.
Because based on a survey, most Indonesian people use clothing made from polyester and rayon raw materials.
"Indonesia can make rayon from trees, and some produce pulp in Sumatra, so we have the industry from upstream to downstream for this textile," concluded Jemmy.
