Srinagar, May 20: Sameer Ahmad Bhat, 28 was doing a well-paying job in Bangalore. A techie by profession, he came across an idea of starting a thrift store in Kashmir, which wasn’t a trend by then.
After three years, his venture took off. `Thrift Kashmir’ has now a wider reach across the country.
“Thrifting was confined to just the Sunday market in Kashmir. Now, thrifted clothes are way better than the Sunday market, and are available to customers with access from home. I imbibed this idea from Bangalore, where it is very common, and it picked up in Kashmir,” he said.
Currently, a new wave of sustainable fashion is sweeping through Kashmir as the thrift business steadily gains traction in the region. Both online and brick-and-mortar thrift stores have emerged, marking a significant shift in consumer preferences and entrepreneurial ventures in the Valley.
Full-fledged thrift stores—selling pre-loved, vintage, and upcycled clothing and accessories—are cropping up in cities like Srinagar, Anantnag, and Baramulla. These ventures cater not only to local buyers but also boast nationwide reach through platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, and dedicated e-commerce websites.
“This is more than just a trend—it’s a movement towards conscious consumption. Our customer base is growing rapidly, especially among young people who are eco-conscious and looking for affordable yet stylish options,” said Imran Rashid, co-founder of ThreadCycle, an online thrift store that ships curated fashion items across India.
Many Kashmir-based thrift entrepreneurs are sourcing high-quality second-hand clothing, often from international suppliers or local donations, and curating collections that appeal to Gen Z and millennials.
“We started on Instagram and were surprised by the response. The demand encouraged us to take the leap and open a store. Customers are becoming more accepting of pre-owned fashion, especially when it’s clean, stylish, and affordable,” said Asim Khan, a thrift store owner from Baramulla.
Khan said they buy the thrifted clothes from various markets in India, where dealers import them from various countries. “What has given a boost to this business is that our Gen Z wants to make a statement by wearing international brands. They get it here at very cheap prices. We have suppliers from various cities of India, who import these clothes from countries like Thailand, the US, and other places,” he said.
Dealers said Kashmir, like other states of India, has been witnessing a significant rise in the thrift business.
“We have so many customers from Kashmir. I feel the demand for thrifted clothes and shoes has been good enough in Kashmir,” said Satish Bhatt, a dealer from New Delhi.