Indian boutique gives wedding dresses free of charge

When her cousin got involved, Jameela wanted to do all she could to help make the wedding just as memorable as easy for the motherless girl. “My uncle does odd jobs and isn't financially sound. In fact, none folks are, but every bride longs for her bridal dress, and we wanted to get our gal the best one possible.”

That’s when Jameela received a forwarded communication from a member of family in Dubai about a boutique in India that was providing two or three wedding dresses, bangles, footwear and bedsheets, all free of charge.

Jasmine, who gets results part-time as a nurse in a private clinic, was also on the lookout for an excellent bridal dress on her behalf sister. “Every keeping we generate on the marriage expenses could possibly be collected and utilized to get one more ornament. Whenever we learnt in regards to a boutique giving bridal dresses free of charge, we had been ecstatic,” says Jasmine.

The colourful story of Rainbow: The Women's Outfit

Enter Sabitha AK, who has been running a clothing store, Rainbow: The Women’s Outfit, from her home for days gone by eight years. Sabitha, 40, is part of several 22 women business owners in the Kannur district of Kerala, who keep in touch through cultural media and carry exhibitions of Indian clothes every month. The women keep aside some of their income and distribute it among the needy. Sabitha likewise collects bridal clothing donations, and distributes them to small ladies in orphanages and from less-privileged families who need clothing for his or her wedding.

“But I always pointed out that even when girls accepted the dresses, their faces didn't own that spark of pleasure I expected. It struck me therefore that every female dreams of choosing her own wedding dress. We take our very own daughters to the very best shops, but selections happen to be limited or non-existent for women from less-privileged homes. I wanted to greatly help.”

Therefore, during India’s Covid-19 lockdown, a pal called Sabitha with an urgent demand. “She wanted a dress for a bride, but I did not need someone to hand. So I considered my WhatsApp group and dispatched an audio communication asking if anyone experienced a bridal dress at home that they could donate. Within a short time, many returned with positive responses.”

This was at a time when coronavirus cases were at a peak in the southern Indian state and people couldn’t move about freely. So, Sabitha collected the a large number of dresses and took them to the bride-to-be, who could pick out a dress of her choice. “That’s when I realised that recycling bridal dresses was the optimal solution,” she says.

We've received boxes filled up with expensive designerwear, unused garments and accessories

Sabitha AK, boutique owner

She discussed the idea with her husband and her business partners, and enthused by their support, Sabitha delivered a video recording message one evening. When she woke up another morning, her phone was filled with messages.

She received calls, not merely from within the united states but as well from the UAE, Switzerland and the UK. “The response astonished me,” she says. Her mobile has not stopped ringing since.

From then on initial overwhelming response, Sabitha roped in like-minded persons from other districts of Kerala to open up outlets that work equally as collection and distribution points.

The shelves and racks in Rainbow’s mezzanine, which overlooks the living area of her house, are filled up with heavily worked lehengas, dresses, dupattas, saris, costume jewellery, footwear and handbags.

“We have received boxes filled up with unused garments from shops which have folded, expensive designer have on and unused gadgets. We type and organise them and distribute to the additional outlets according to want. In some places, like Kochi for example, we have extra demand for dresses, which I send out over from Kannur.”

Sabitha has collection some rules for the dress-distribution facet of her organization. “We motivate the brides themselves to come and choose the dresses because this is for them. We as well require a letter from a religious authority or from their village or ward representative to make certain that no misuse takes place.” Girls are also under no obligation to come back the dresses or the gadgets.

Cultural sensitivities

Since Sabitha also works her boutique from her property, girls who come to get dresses are assured anonymity. “No-one knows if they are visiting my frequent boutique or seeking through the bridalwear section.”

As current information of Sabitha’s venture spead, persons from different states in India have contacted her. Swetha from Bihar read about Sabitha while she was in Kerala and reached out. “In the village where I stay, persons have very little. But according to native customs, it’s unthinkable for them to have second-hand dresses. Whenever I go back to the village after approaching home, I get back dresses to distribute, but I have to be careful to not reason offence,” she says.

Swetha says even while people’s lifestyles are actually frugal, their traditions aren't. When women are married, they take many products for the groom’s family group, from utensils and blankets to apparel for the expanded family. Swetha gets results through a network of sociable workers and friends to recognize people ready to accept donations. Linking with Sabitha motivated her to continue her function. “The brides here want more than a clothing or two. Therefore we make a bundle and hand it to the bride’s spouse and children, assuring them full privacy. For them, possibly a tiny package goes a long way.”

Sabitha in addition has received enquiries from Gujarat, Pune and Jharkhand, among other areas. “Up to now, within Kerala, I have outlets in 12 of the 14 districts. The owners are persons I know or have met. In the event of other states, because of restrictions I cannot travel, but I hope to go to soon.”

Within half a year, Sabitha’s Rainbow: The Women’s Outfit has given dresses and extras to about 1,000 girls. Aside from the accolades they’ve been acquiring, Sabitha and her team members as well get calls from persons requesting them why they cannot distribute latest dresses, to which her share reply is: “Please get and send a clothing, I will be pleased to hand it over to a deserving girl.”

Sometimes, people also ask Sabitha so why she is doing this, or what she expectations to achieve “The smiles on the faces of the girls and the pain relief in the eyes of their father and mother brings a pleasure that’s indescribable. Provided that persons will donate their marriage ceremony outfits, I will continue undertaking this.”