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Some fashionistas follow the hottest trends, donning the latest craze from magazines and store windows, but not everyone has such disposable tastes. Some prefer to wear clothing that is retro and unique, something that makes a statement but still manages to look fashionable.

With current clothing, being an individual can be hard. If you find a crazy red, checkered shirt at Plaza Semanggi, there is bound to be someone else that has found the same shirt at Ambassador Mall. Jakarta’s countless malls homogenize trends, making it difficult to truly be an individual.

Pasar Senen, a secondhand and vintage clothing haven in Central Jakarta, is the exception. Discerning shoppers can find everything and anything at Senen, and rarely, if ever, will you find duplicates.

An entire section of the multi-level Pasar Senen is dedicated entirely to clothes. It is crammed with jeans, dresses, shirts, shoes, bags, hats, belts, swimsuits and underwear. The shrewdest shopper could spend a week trawling the stalls for used goods from Japan, the United Kingdom and France and still not see every retro gem offered.

And at Senen, you don’t need to fork out your paycheck to find the hottest dress or the suavest shoes. You just have to dig deep, get hot and sweaty and bargain, bargain, bargain.

“Sometimes you can get good quality stuff at cheap prices, and the stuff that you get there is so rare, so you are like the only person wearing it,” said fashion stylist and vintage clothing lover Ranthi Medhina Batubara, who shops regularly at Pasar Senen.

She used to go every week, but these days Ranthi goes bargain-hunting just twice a month because of the “rising prices and the increasing number of customers.” But Senen is still her favorite sport to find rare and special clothing.

Ranthi revealed that her favorite purchase was a red leopard print jumpsuit and a Yves Saint Laurent skirt that cost her only Rp 5,000 (50 cents). She said that clothing at Pasar Senen could cost anywhere between Rp 5,000 to Rp 500,000.

Although it is well-known in Central Jakarta as a hub of trading and socializing, Pasar Senen (like many popular locales) is still tucked away and can be surprisingly difficult to find. I asked people nearby specifically for “secondhand” and was ushered into the market, past traditional batik, fabric of every color, toasters, heaters, watches and microwaves, then up two escalators and into the jungle of denim and the fashions of yesteryear.

I spent two hours exploring, foraging and delving into aisles, piles and walls of clothing, but left empty-handed, sweaty and overwhelmed. Although I fell in love a thousand times over, I was simply not prepared for the variety, density and the incredible quantity of clothing. Seller Rover Daus Sitinjak, better known as Brown, examined me with an optimistic gaze as I rummaged through his racks crammed with dresses. He has owned a stall at Pasar Senen since 2007 and said it was a vital part of his livelihood.

“My stall brings me money for my family, for food, to pay rent for my house and to fuel my motorcycle,” he said.

With his wife busy at home looking after his 2-year-old son, the stall pays for everything. “I import the dresses from Malaysia and Singapore,” he said, adding that on a busy day, he sold nearly on 100 dresses; on a quiet day he’d sell 20.

Amid the maze of clothing, three university students and avid shoppers, Nenda, Yasinta and Rima, open their bags to reveal their purchases.

Yasinta said Pasar Senen was the best place to get the latest fashion. “Teenagers come here, anyone who knows about fashion comes here. The clothes are vintage and classic. There are so many choices! But it’s very hot.”

With the sweat dripping and the heat rising, a thick, synthetic long-sleeved dress and hot pink floral ski jacket are not at the top of any Jakarta fashion shopping list; nor is the stall devoted to jumpers and winter clothing.

But swimsuits are tempting, if only to envision the white sands and blue waters of Bali. Marilyn Monroe-esque one-pieces are complimented by 1990s Baywatch styles, again showing that Pasar Senen has something retro for everyone.

Stall-keeper Marpaung, whose stall was devoted to cotton shirts and summer dresses, solicited shoppers by holding up his product, waving and saying, “This is a good quality stall. These clothes are for relaxing and holidays.” At Rp 25,000 a piece, looking and staying cool is definitely affordable.

Deep in the layers of stripes, spots, reds, greens, flowers, swirls, sparkles and lace, I found a black-and-white-spotted ‘80s jumpsuit. At the next stall I found a bright orange floral dress. I was transported into a world of Debbie Harry, “Pretty in Pink” and “Dirty Dancing.”

Shoppers flock to Pasar Senen to buy clothes for going out, for work, for school, to look good or because they cannot afford to go to one of the numerous overpriced malls. Pasar Senen caters to the rich, the poor, the fashionable and the average Joe.

But if you’re simply looking for reasonably priced electrical goods, Pasar Senen is still a good bet. With multiple floors dedicated to watches, bags, curtains and appliances, it’s bargain shopping at its finest.

But if you’re looking for a special outfit, and you don’t mind getting hot and sweaty, stick with the third level and delve into the overwhelming world of secondhand clothing.

“You have to walk around to get the good stuff, which means every booth always surprises you,” Ranthi said.