Gurugram: The idea of selling clothes came to Deveshi Trehan randomly, while sitting with her family and friends in the lockdown period.
The outbreak of the coronavirus affected every person in ways we could never imagine. For Deveshi, it was bearing the uncertainty of her education; leaving everything in the US to head back to India - her work, her classes, her friends. With no lectures to attend, no projects to work on, she ended up with a huge amount of free time on her hands. And like any other person, she decided to de-clutter her wardrobe and get rid of things she no longer needed.
When she was surrounded by huge piles of unwanted clothes, she couldn’t help but think of ways she could recycle them.
Deveshi felt that each garment had its own unique story to tell. She realized that the best thing she could do for those articles was to give them a new home and connect another story. With the help of her 13-year-old sister, Kriti Trehan, the magic happened, who helped her in product photography.
Her parents, rather proud parents of 2 young girls or we could say two young entrepreneurs gave total financial support, logistics support like a tie-up with companies for pick and deliveries, etc. Hope all parents support their daughters and help them to grow, prosper, and thereby empower them.
An online thrift store, Souténir is a platform where you can buy vintage clothing at affordable prices and sell your pre-loved apparel. Being a fashion major, she understands the importance of sustainability. Thousands of tonnes of textiles are wasted every year. Doubling the life of one t-shirt can reduce carbon emissions by 24% over the years to come. Her small venture aims to make a small effort to initiate a change.
Her business operates primarily on Instagram, with a website launch to follow. In times like these, with half the world shut off, technology has really been a miracle. Not only has it become easier to expand your reach, but it has also become easy to create a “buzz”. People get excited when they see something new pop up on their feeds - whether its tease products or collection launches.
Sellers can drop them a text on Instagram with relevant information about articles, such as the size, retail value, defects, etc. They act as connectors between sellers and buyers in this case. Once a listed article is sold, the buyer is paid within a few days. However, if an article remains unsold for 60 days, the seller can choose to ask for the article to be returned or to be donated to a charity.
As of now, the business is picking up slowly. Fashion is no longer a priority for most people, and luxury seems to be out of reach. However, everyone is looking for ways to become more principled, to become more ethical in their choices. And that’s where Deveshi and her sister hope to come in. She hopes for Souténir to be a household staple in the next few years, a choice people are willing to be.
Deveshi, the young entrepreneur believes and very proudly says, " For all young minds like myself; being an entrepreneur is a full-time job, one you can’t take time off. You need to be willing to take a risk. More than anything, you need to be willing to accept that you’re going to mistakes. What’s important is to know how to pick yourself up when you fail. You grow only if you’re willing to accept criticism with two open ears. Learning how to think practically is a real challenge."
The young mind thinks big, " My aim right now is not to generate profits, but to inspire people to follow a path towards sustainability. "
Deveshi Trehan can be reached on instagram@ https://instagram.com/shopsoutenir?igshid=f19x48j37lac
She also has a facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/shopsoutenir/
Also Read: Use Instagram Personal Fundraiser to raise money for a personal cause
