Thrifting Traders Ask for Legalization, Purbaya Refuses to Compromise!

The government will not legalize second-hand clothing or thrifting that enters Indonesia illegally, even though traders are asking for it to be legalized. The demand for domestic textile products currently reaches 90%, with only 10% coming from imports, and the government does not want this large market to be dominated by thrifting items. Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa emphasized that the government will not legalize second-hand clothing or thrifting that enters Indonesia illegally. This statement came in response to requests from second-hand clothing or thrifting traders for their businesses to be legalized because they are believed not to disrupt the domestic market. ‘I don’t care about the traders. I will stop any illegal goods from entering. I will not open the market to illegal goods,’ said Purbaya when met at the Westin Hotel in South Jakarta on Thursday (11/20/2025). Purbaya explained that the Indonesian market is currently strong, with a demand for domestic textile products reaching 90% and only 10% coming from the global market. In his opinion, this condition benefits domestic entrepreneurs and should be maximized by providing locally made Indonesian textile products. He believes that the entry of illegal textiles, including second-hand clothing, actually harms local entrepreneurs and disrupts the development of the national industry.