basicallyborrowed

From Makati pop-ups to East London charity shops, our search for the next great thrift story knows no bounds.

This week: London and Manila both love secondhand, but how we thrift reveals a lot more about our cultures than we think. Our verdict? Manila is inventive, resourceful, a little grunge, while London leans more curated, archival, and repair-obsessed.

Swipe through and tell us if you agree! Which city’s thrift culture would you like us to explore next? Comment👇to let us know.

Big thanks to .samantha for the field notes from afar, & (also check out her shop if you ever find yourself in East London) for sharing your insights. 💕

P.S. Don’t forget our Dec 13 Swap Party is coming up! 😉 (🔗 in bio to register.)

𝓜𝔂𝓽𝓱: Filipino food is all meat. 🥩
𝓣𝓻𝓾𝓽𝓱: It’s actually secretly plant-rich. 🤫

Also true: this ⬆️ and many other food myths don’t hold up in the Filipino context. Ideas about plant-based diets being “unhealthy,” “lacking in protein,” “mahal,” or “bland” start to look different when we remember how much of Filipino cooking has always relied on plants.

Swipe to see the 4 myths we’re finally busting. If this gives you a fresh way of seeing Filipino food, help us share it with a friend. 🥬

Need a breather from the holiday rush? We gotchu! 🤍

Here’s something special to help you pause, reconnect, and end the year with lighter closets & lighter minds.

Rewear & Restore: A Holiday Retreat happens on December 13, 1–5PM at The Henry Hotel Manila - a cozy little escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Expect:
✨ a mindful clothing swap (up to 10 items!)
🧵 repair + upcycling consultations with
🔔 an optional 45-min sound bath with .inmotion to help you reset before the holidays fully kick in

Come solo or bring a friend! 👯‍♀️

Slots are limited.
Sign up through the link/QR to secure your spot 🤍

💌 Field notes from Paris… courtesy of our team’s own .samantha who spent the last weekend wandering through the city’s many marchés aux puces 🇫🇷✨

Think: €5 (P340) vintage books, art prints, old maps, quirky glassware, brass lamps, vinyl gems - all those charming, one-of-a-kind finds we wish Manila had more of on weekends.

What flea market gems from abroad would you love to see here in 🇵🇭? Comment your wish list below ⬇️✨ très important!

Anyone else feel like this whole year has been… a lot? 🙋🏻‍♀️🤯

Typhoons. Earthquakes. Flood control scandals and massive rallies. Reminders everywhere of how overwhelmed many of us are feeling.

Climate anxiety sits inside that same emotional space - that tension we feel when the weather shifts, the storm warnings start, and our memories of past disasters awaken.

Filipino youth feel this more than most. Swipe through to learn why, how to spot the signs, and what we can do to cope without burning out. ❤️‍🩹

📰 Full story: check the newsletter - link in bio / QR at the end.
💬 Have you ever felt climate anxiety? Share with us.

Proof that we’ve been doing long before it became a thing: 🇵🇭✨
1️⃣Adobo that lasts for days
2️⃣Patis born from leftovers
3️⃣Pinakbet straight from backyard harvests
… and the list goes on…

Our food culture has always been creative, circular, and proudly local.

Swipe through to sample the sustainability in every dish 😋♻️
Which one’s your favorite? Comment below!

It’s that time of the year again 🎃✨ - when the best costumes don’t have to (and probably don’t) come from the mall.

We rounded up 8 fun Halloween looks you can create with things you already own 💁🏻‍♀️! From bubble-wrap 🪼 to paper-bag 👻 - here’s proof that creativity is bigger than consumption.

Which one’s your favorite? Drop it in the comments! 🧵👇🏽

It’s that time of the year again 🎃✨ - when the best costumes don’t have to (and probably don’t) come from the mall.

We rounded up 8 fun Halloween looks you can create with things you already own 💁🏻‍♀️! From bubble-wrap 🪼 to paper-bag 👻 - here’s proof that creativity is bigger than consumption.

Which one’s your favorite? Drop it in the comments! 🧵👇🏽

What if we had more shared spaces where creativity and sustainability thrive side by side? ✨

From Vienna to Manila, these hubs prove that collaboration can spark meaningful change, one community at a time. ✊🏽

Read more stories like this in our newsletter ➡️ basicallyborrowed.substack.com