A SECOND CHANCE

Pre-loved clothing is becoming a sought-after stream of fashion e-commerce for a young audience seeking exclusivity in style. The benefits? Affordability, uniqueness, and a conscious wardrobe – all accessible through Instagram

I remember the first time I procured a thrift buy – a pair of baggy denim overalls from a dinky little store in New York, in 2016. It was equal parts boyish and comforting, serving me well on multiple occasions. Back then, the concept of buying vintage and thrift pieces hadn’t gained popularity in India, but it was only a matter of few years before shopping accounts run by young entrepreneurs began cropping up – providing stylish clothing harnessed by the power of social media, for a consumer looking to buy more sustainably, while on a budget.

Today, Instagram has become a thriving market-place for pre-loved clothing in the country, and the variety is endless – from 90s Tommy Hilfiger jeans, Austrian dirndl blouses, and oversized men’s shirting – the list goes on.

Born and raised in the town of Ukhrul, Manipur, sisters Lumri and Linno Jajo grew up as part of a cultural landscape that’s steeped in the practice of up-cycling and buying second hand. They started Folkpants, their online vintage store, as a space that amalgamated their interest in fashion while embodying their childhood values of consuming fashion more responsibly, “We wanted to create a source for others who don’t know or have access to pre-loved items. Our diverse customer base includes college students, bloggers, working professionals, homemakers, and vintage and sustainability enthusiasts between the ages of 18 and 34,” shares Lumri.

Most garments are hand-picked and sourced from street markets and local second-hand stores, keeping in mind an aesthetic that would appeal to a fashion-forward audience.