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Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
The great thrift valley: How the Northeast became India's style underground
LINE FROM MANIPUR Live Events NE LINE TO MAINLAND (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Online thrift is not for the faint of heart. In the fastest-fingers-first world, you have to call dibs on an item the moment it is released on the Gram. The drop is announced via Stories. You set the alarm, turn on notifications and still you might miss what you had set your heart on after seeing it in a sneak-peek. There are no pre-bookings and no favourites. But that is the thrill of thrifting—the one that got thrifting—a common term for buying second-hand, preloved goods—gains traction in India, the Northeast is emerging as the hub. A lack of retail shops in the past has created a culture of thrift in northeastern states where secondhand goods arrive in bales. Add to this their unique sense of style— and urban audiences in the rest of the country can't get enough of thrift lines from the north eastern states have secondhand markets—from Fancy Bazaar in Guwahati and Police Bazaar in Shillong to Bara Bazaar in Aizawl, Sunday second-hand market in Imphal and Hong Kong market in Dimapur Manipur-based Ngahon Tungshangnao , who set up his store Mirinwon in 2019, says it takes days to find the right products. He visits every thrift store in his hometown Ukhrul and travels to Imphal city and even other states to source. The clothing usually arrives in bales of 80-100 kg. 'I do drops twice or thrice a week on Instagram , sourcing items according to the seasons.'Tungshangnao, who loves his bucolic life with a side of high fashion, says it is convenient to start an online thrift store in the Northeast , but it has not been easy of late. 'Political instability poses challenges. And the internet gets banned whenever there's a riot. With no private couriers, one can't make quick deliveries either,' he Rachel Gwanile Thong started her store Assortments2.0 in 2016. 'I began by selling pieces from my wardrobe that I didn't wear anymore. To my surprise, people were interested. That encouraged me to start thrifting and sourcing pieces,' she says, adding that the interest has only grown of who runs the operation with her partner Limatenzuk Ozukum, sources everything from Nagaland—mainly Kohima and Dimapur. 'In the early days, I used to go around second-hand shops and dig through everything myself. Now, we have vendors who give us a heads-up when they open a new batch and we get the first pick. We source in bulk,' says says logistics is a challenge, but her customers have come to realise that quick shipping and fast deliveries are not possible from does two-three drops a week. 'I don't always follow themes, unless I happen to have a good collection of similar pieces. Otherwise, it's more of a 'what caught my eye' approach,' she contrast, Folkpants, run by the sisters Linno and Lumri Jajo, from Ukhrul, puts out thematic drops. Lumri Jajo says thrifting was a natural progression of their love for clothes and fashion. 'During college, we organised successful garage sales at our home in Delhi,' she says they observed a lack of quality and unique clothes at affordable prices for conscious consumers. As they sourced for their personal wear, they decided to curate items that didn't fit their style but were too good to pass up. Folkpants has recently done an all white edit for summer, a linen edit and even a vest edit. Jajo says, 'There are many thrift shops but some sell cheap items without quality or authenticity, while others have high prices but less curated selections. We stand out by offering quality products at reasonable prices.'With thrift shops launching on Instagram on a daily basis, curation, quality control and deliverables are the way risk analyst Aparna Balaji has thrifted from shops in Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, and says they understand the meaning of thrifting. 'They carefully choose the pieces they put up. So, it's unique. It is sent through India Post , making it even lighter on the pocket and truly sustainable, what thrifting is meant to be,' says bag designer Sudha Sekhar has faced some issues. 'I am particular about the cut and fabric. These pages mostly get products from East Asian countries that almost always have smaller sizes. But some experiences have been good, like my footwear picks. I have been wearing some for three years,' she says. An abundance of polyester also bothers Shaingam Mashangva who runs The Mellow Lane says she tries to curate according to her clientele. 'One needs to really do some homework for the business to thrive. Understanding the customer's choice is very important. Since 90% of my clients are from places that are hot and humid, I mostly source comfortable natural materials,' says Mashangva, a physics teacher-turned-thrift business says sourcing good pieces has become tough: 'Sometimes after going through 1,000-3,000 items, we end up with just 40-90 good pieces.' She does a drop of 20-25 pieces. She sells 30-50% of clothes on the day of the drop but ends up with a lot of unsold items, which are put on sale after a couple of says, 'When you are selecting from 100 kg bales, you end up with a lot of defective pieces.' Most thrift shops, while selling items, mention even a small defect in products and that is reflected in the owners confirm demand from the mainland. Thong, who is a lawyer, says that even though Assortments2.0 is a side hustle, she has seen steady growth and strong support over the years. 'With more people embracing sustainable fashion, we are seriously thinking of scaling this into something bigger, hopefully a full-fledged brand.' Most of her buyers—from teens to people in their 40s and 50s—are from metro Tungshangnao started Mirinwon as a side hustle, but now it's a full-time business, thanks to the growing demand. He says, 'Thrifting has become cool. My consumers are from all over India, and they are 18 to 45 year olds.'Yet challenges remain. Mashangva says that each year the price of thrifted clothes is increasing as bad-quality thrift bales make it harder to get good pieces: 'While it's easy to set up an online thrift store, it is difficult to build followers because of the Instagram algorithm. And the number of followers matters a lot for this business.'Jajo says that whether the thrift stores will succeed depends on the individuals running it. 'We started small but have grown into a sustainable business over the past six years. Demand and growth have been steady, with 80% customers returning.' Jajo says many find the process of searching for unique items interior designer Lorraine Kerr told The Cut in 2013 on why she thrifts: 'The chase is the most fun part…. It's about the hunting and gathering!' The thrill of discovery is just a fingertip away.
India.com
05-07-2025
- India.com
Is Eco-Tourism In Guwahati The Future Of Travel? Here's What You Didn't Know!
Guwahati- one of the most captivating cities in India, is often referred as the gateway to northeast India, considering its natural beauty, rich culture history and exotic locations. It is located alongside the Brahmaputra, It marks the combination of modern living with picturesque nature. If you are someone who is looking to plan a vacation in Guwahati, you will be pleased to know the impact it will have on the environment, as it can be planned sustainably. The following is a complete guide for planning an eco-friendly vacation in this astounding city. 1. Picking an Eco-Friendly Place for Stay If you are searching for an eco-friendly location, it is important to choose accommodations that cater towards sustainable practices. Guwahati has a variety of eco-friendly hotels and guest houses like homestays that focus on increasing their standards of sustainability tourism. While booking, look out for eco-friendly hotels that consume green energy, have waste disposal systems, and water saving technologies. Not only do local homestays reduce the tourists carbon footprint by using natural resources, they are also supportive of the local economy. 2. Move Towards Eco-Friendly Modes of Transport With carbon emissions causing transportation, picking an eco-friendly way of traveling is very important. In Guwahati the public transport system is well developed with buses and shared auto rickshaws being quite cheap. You can also rent a bicycle to see popular tourist attractions like the Brahmaputra riverfront and Assam State Zoo, or simply walk. Walking is also an effective way of decreasing your carbon footprint as you appreciate the culture. For longer trips around the region, it is best to use train services instead of planes. Trains are better for the environment and are more energy efficient than travelling by air. 3. Buy From Eco-Friendly Local Businesses Many local artisans, farmers, and small businesses in Guwahati offer eco-friendly products and services. By buying local handicrafts, organic tea, or traditional Assamese silk, you not only help the local economy, but also save on imported good's environmental costs. You can find sustainable souvenirs at Fancy Bazaar or Paltan Bazaar. Also, eat in places that serve traditional Assamese food where ingredients are sourced from the local marketplace. This reduces food miles and allows one to experience the area's impressive cuisine. 4. Enjoy Exploring the Variety of Flora & Fauna Guwahati has beautiful green forests, wildlife sanctuaries, and stunning water bodies. Eco-tourism attractions include Kaziranga National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and Deepor Beel, a Ramsar site with rich biodiversity. When you go to these places, make sure to adhere to responsible tourism policies like: Avoiding the use of single-use plastics Not throwing trash around Keeping a decent distance from the wildlife to respect them Using local knowledgeable tour guides Through responsible tourism, you ensure that these beautiful places are preserved for the next generations. 5. Participate in Community Based Ecotourism Projects Community tourism projects enable travelers to foster social relations with the local population while allowing for sustainable development. You can participate in village tours, cultural events, and workshops in Guwahati, where locals teach traditional crafts or farming skills. This type of tourism provides significant economic benefits to rural areas, and increases understanding of cultures between guests and locals. For example, you can visit the Mishing tribal villages near Guwahati and learn about their distinct way of life, their age-old bamboo artisan skills, and sustainable farming methods. 6. Reduce Waste and Follow the Leave No Trace Policy To have an eco-friendly vacation, reducing waste is important. To reduce plastic use, carry reusable shopping bags, water bottles, and cutlery. Always try to dispose of waste in designated bins. If there are no bins, take the litter with you. If you are in natural places, follow the 'Leave No Trace' policies which maintain undisturbed nature in its natural beauty. The city of Guwahati is slowly improving its waste management systems, but it still asks for individual responsibility to keep the city clean and green. 7. Learn About Local Conservation Efforts Knowing the environmental concerns of Guwahati and the surrounding areas, one can learn to appreciate this region and opt for more sustainable practices. The city suffers from problems like deforestation, pollution of the Brahmaputra River and degradation of wetland wildlife. Many NGOs and government projects are focusing on these issues with reforestation, river cleaning drives, and awareness campaigns. Consider doing some volunteer work with the conservation efforts during your stay. A few hours of your time can significantly impact the community. Wrap Up To ensure an eco-friendly vacation in Guwahati, you need to be careful about your choices when it comes to hotels, transport, activities, and shopping. If you wish to enjoy Guwahati to the fullest and do your part in preserving the environment, you need to prioritize sustainability and assist the local community. With Guwahati's astounding natural beauty, diverse cultures, and warm welcoming locals, there is no reason why you shouldn't visit this region, but be sure to do so responsibly and ensure the only thing you leave behind are footprints.
