Papaya Reworks Injects Bright, Nostalgic Fun Into Pre-Loved + Vintage Clothes

(SPOT.ph) Ukay-ukay spots are where old, secondhand clothes are given a chance at a new life. Racks upon racks of tops, bottoms, and dresses from who knows where, usually draped on bright neon green hangers, are just waiting for the right person to stumble upon them. But what happens when an ukay-ukay place closes, and where do all these piles of clothes go?

It was during the pandemic that John Mello Martin Yauna, or Mello, found an answer to that question. He had to close down his own ukay-ukay spot due to the uncertainty of the world then, when the possibility of the virus spreading through close contact was the primary concern.

Instead of getting rid of the excess clothing, Yauna gave them another chance by upcycling and reworking them; sustainably injecting color and fun into them—and, by extension, into the wardrobes of anyone who purchases them—through the local, slow fashion brand Papaya Reworks.

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"What do you do with a pile of clothes and the uncertainty of COVID? You create," Gilbert Go, one of the co-founders of Papaya Reworks, said in an interview with SPOT.ph. Yauna focuses on production and their online platform, while Go handles admin tasks, in-person sales, marketing and business development.

Go was once a patron of Yauna's ukay-ukay spot. "I kept in touch as he was making these pieces, and I saw the vision."

"I helped him out with the concept. We both saw the potential, and that's how Papaya Reworks came to be," he added.

Yauna then reworked the existing clothes that he had, which would otherwise have ended up in a landfill, into one-of-a-kind pieces, intending to console people enclosed inside their homes for months. While going on this journey, one thing was certain: Yauna wanted to make clothes that "would make anyone happy when worn," which was eventually channeled into the fun, whimsical vibe of Papaya Reworks' pieces.

"We wanted the feeling of a simpler time. The playfulness is, in a way, a push back against the uncertainty of the pandemic—a reminder that there's hope despite not knowing what tomorrow will bring."

What does tomorrow look like for Papaya Reworks, anyway? When we asked about what's next, Go said, "A lot!"

They aim to work with different silhouettes, fabrics, and even textiles in the future. "[...] Perhaps partner with fabric makers and cater to a wider market of people. Maybe designs that are more accessible, so to speak," he said. But for now, they will keep talking to clients during pop-ups and learning about what their customers like and don't like.

"Papaya's identity grew over time," he added. "I think it's the community aspect that helped us learned who we really are."

Papaya Reworks does pop-ups. If you can't drop by, the best you can do to score a one-of-a-kind piece from them is to keep your notifications open or go through their tag on Instagram, where they post announcements and drops, or to slip into their direct messages.

Papaya Reworks drops new collections once every two months. They also release seasonal pieces. You won't ever find the same piece in their lineup—everything is always a one-of-one—but rest assured that each one will spark joy when worn, or even when you're just simply looking at them. Bright and fun colors and patches are sure to start conversations and their signature flower design—the one detail that started it all—will have you smiling all to yourself.

"We wanted to do it streetwear style at first, but we realized it was more honest for us to lean into Papaya's whimsical style," Go said.

They have lots and lots of polos decorated with big, quirky designs. Of course, there are the flowers, but also clouds, breakfast food, farm animals, fruits, and a whole lot more. They even have a POP MART-themed collection. You can also spot vests, jackets, bottoms, and other silhouettes depending on their drops. Those who are not from the Philippines can also get the chance to score their drops, since they offer worldwide shipping. Their prices range from P3,500 to P6,500!

And as luck would have it, they have an online drop this Friday, September 25, at exactly 6 p.m. on their Instagram page. There will be over 50 pieces in their lineup. You know the drill: new reworks, one-of-one pieces, and a whole lot more. It's available until Monday, and if it doesn't get claimed, they'll archive it right away! Check them out below.

Every piece in their drops turns heads—with bright, big designs and colors—but we do have some favorites. Take, for example, this brown, burgundy top with a tie-front detail. Three bows are on one side, and big flowers that look like sunny-side-up eggs at first glance bloom on the other. The green collar with its mini flower design also stands out from the deep brown-red.

Another polo we love is this predominantly white one with red details, like in the collar, breast pocket, and in the martini glass. There are pops of color through the bright fruit illustrations on the piece. But that's not what caught our attention; it's the frog closure detail.

Papaya Reworks' signature flowers stand out on this cute purple tennis polo. It's like a standard piece from their Le Fleur collection, with two big flowers and pockets, and vibrant colors. We also found pieces from other collections like the Tennis Collection and Farm Animals Collection.

Papaya Reworks is available online through its Instagram page.

For more information and updates, check out Papaya Reworks' Facebook and Instagram pages.

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