SECONDHAND ECONOMY

The slow fashion movement needs the government’s cooperation

Did you know that ukay-ukay shops are technically illegal? Under the 53-year-old Republic Act No. 4653, “commercial importation of textile articles commonly known as used clothing and rags” is prohibited to “safeguard the health of the people and maintain the dignity of the nation.”

Authorities are ambivalent towards the law on these imported used clothing, but still, it needs a few amendments, all in the name of the environment.

Rectifying the law would also encourage everyone to be inventive with ukay-ukay as well as other items usually deemed useless after their primary function. In fact, after the last election, an environmental watchdog upcycled campaign materials into bags and school supplies. Imagine if we could do this with clothes and more with backing from the government.