Buy but need not pay — mantra of clothing store for the poor
Aditi.R@timesgroup.com
Chennai:14.07.2019
Buy, but need not pay – this is the motto of Thuli, a store that provides good quality clothes for the underprivileged in the city.
“This might sound unbelievable, but this is how the store works. Every item here is free and people do not have to pay a penny,” says Ajith Kumar Ravindran, who with his friends Shivaji Prabhakar and Jey Bala, all businessmen, started the store. “We wanted to do something for the people. And after weeks of brainstorming we got this idea, and it’s been well received,” he says.
Since the store opened in Gokul Arcade, Adyar, in February last year, more than 18,000 families have benefited. It includes families of drivers, sweepers, office boys and plumbers, many of whom who do not buy clothes from a shopping complex. S Selvi, a housekeeper at a hotel, is one such. “I had never shopped in an airconditioned clothing store before. My children and I mostly wear clothes donated by others,” says the single mother. “But after my son got a new job at a private firm, his confidence took a hit as his colleagues were welldressed. When we gottoknowof this place, things changed. He now wears blazers to office,” she says proudly.
To ensure the store is used by people who need it. Every customer who walks in goes through a background check. Depending on the size of the family, customers are given free vouchers of ₹500 or ₹1,000 or more which they can use to buy items from the rack. “We have shirts and kurtas priced at ₹350 and saris at ₹1,000, they can use this voucher to buy the items. This way customers do not feel that it’s charity and have a dignified purchase experience,” says Uma Naganathan, a volunteer at the store.
Thuli, has a collection of more than 100 clothes for men, women and children. Though they get at least 500 pieces of clothing every week donated by corporate firms, boutiques and volunteers, the clothes are sorted before being exhibited at the store. Only those of good quality fabric, stitch and colour are hand-picked from the lot, following which they are dry cleaned,ironed anddisplayed at the store. Customers, however, are allowed to buy once in six months. And to ensure that maximum families benefit, their ration card numbers are registered with the store.
Following the success of Thuli, Ajith and his friends plan to open a similar store next month at Vadapalani. “We all have excess clothes in our wardrobe which we don’t want to wear, but this might bring a difference in someone’s life. It is the least we can do,” says Ajith. For details about donation call 638036662 or visit their Facebook page ThuliIndia.
ACCESS TO ALL: Garments and other accessories displayed at Thuli store at Adyar are priced low for those who want to purchase
Aditi.R@timesgroup.com
Chennai:14.07.2019
Buy, but need not pay – this is the motto of Thuli, a store that provides good quality clothes for the underprivileged in the city.
“This might sound unbelievable, but this is how the store works. Every item here is free and people do not have to pay a penny,” says Ajith Kumar Ravindran, who with his friends Shivaji Prabhakar and Jey Bala, all businessmen, started the store. “We wanted to do something for the people. And after weeks of brainstorming we got this idea, and it’s been well received,” he says.
Since the store opened in Gokul Arcade, Adyar, in February last year, more than 18,000 families have benefited. It includes families of drivers, sweepers, office boys and plumbers, many of whom who do not buy clothes from a shopping complex. S Selvi, a housekeeper at a hotel, is one such. “I had never shopped in an airconditioned clothing store before. My children and I mostly wear clothes donated by others,” says the single mother. “But after my son got a new job at a private firm, his confidence took a hit as his colleagues were welldressed. When we gottoknowof this place, things changed. He now wears blazers to office,” she says proudly.
To ensure the store is used by people who need it. Every customer who walks in goes through a background check. Depending on the size of the family, customers are given free vouchers of ₹500 or ₹1,000 or more which they can use to buy items from the rack. “We have shirts and kurtas priced at ₹350 and saris at ₹1,000, they can use this voucher to buy the items. This way customers do not feel that it’s charity and have a dignified purchase experience,” says Uma Naganathan, a volunteer at the store.
Thuli, has a collection of more than 100 clothes for men, women and children. Though they get at least 500 pieces of clothing every week donated by corporate firms, boutiques and volunteers, the clothes are sorted before being exhibited at the store. Only those of good quality fabric, stitch and colour are hand-picked from the lot, following which they are dry cleaned,ironed anddisplayed at the store. Customers, however, are allowed to buy once in six months. And to ensure that maximum families benefit, their ration card numbers are registered with the store.
Following the success of Thuli, Ajith and his friends plan to open a similar store next month at Vadapalani. “We all have excess clothes in our wardrobe which we don’t want to wear, but this might bring a difference in someone’s life. It is the least we can do,” says Ajith. For details about donation call 638036662 or visit their Facebook page ThuliIndia.
ACCESS TO ALL: Garments and other accessories displayed at Thuli store at Adyar are priced low for those who want to purchase
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