One of a kind

With the countryside and culture of her native Nagaland informing her dreamy fashion eye, model and shop owner Carol Humtsoe has a plentiful, Instagram based curation of slow-sourced, second-hand gems for all. Get ready to DM for enquiries

- DIVYA BALA

“WE WORE A lot of thrifted clothes while growing up in Nagaland. They were not necessarily trendy but interesting, one-of-a-kind,” explains model Carol Humtsoe, the owner of Carol’s Shop & Tea Room. Indeed, she could be describing the offerings of her own boutique. Despite being in its early stages—and currently accessible exclusively via Instagram—Humtsoe’s clever eye for curation has already begun drawing attention from in-the-know clientele, including film producer Kiran Rao and model Archana Akil Kumar.

Even a cursory glance at @carols.shop reveals Humtsoe’s eye for prints, silhouettes and fabrics. Consider the gauzy, perma-crinkled mint-green blouse photographed flung across long grasses, the playful, floral shirt captured on model Roshni Sharma, or the open-weave wicker basket Humtsoe carries through the fields at sunset. Each item is handpicked by Humtsoe herself, sourced from across the globe, from Nagaland to New York, with favoured pieces including eye-catching colours or patterns with comfort above all else kept in mind. From there, pieces are artfully captured in the surroundings of the rural Goan home from which Humtsoe operates her business.