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As old as Auroville, the Freestore is as the
name suggests, a store where things are free. A descendant of early
Auroville's barter and exchange system, the Freestore now offers a
range of new and pre-loved clothes, crockery and music to any Aurovilian
who needs, yes, for free. Customers choose what they want, leave their
name and a list of items taken, say thanks, and walk out the door.
A library of clothes
The selection of summer clothes tends to offer
more to women and children than men, but this imbalance evens out in the
cold weather clothes section. There, any number of good, woollen jumpers
and cardigans offer the traveller to colder climes a smorgasbord of warm
clothes. Regular donations from clothing manufacturers like 'Hidesign'
see the Freestore well-stocked with a range of leather jackets, ideal
for the Himalayas or Europe, also for free. In this capacity the
organisation acts as a library of clothes - lending out warm clothes for
low temperature travel, or specialist needs. On occasion, Freestore garments have provided Auroville costume designers with a repository of
different styles, available for loan and returned after the performance.
Help from Auroville units
Aside from the pre-loved, the Freestore on
occasion offers new clothes from companies like 'Auromode' and 'Hidesign'.
Monthly donations by Auroville incense producer, 'Maroma', see a
well-stocked display of fragrance sachets and incense. Pressed flower
handmade paper envelopes, writing paper and postcards add to the Freestore's quality of service.
A blessing for many
The place is a blessing for many of the
Aurovilians who live, as honorary voluntary workers, on a very basic
maintenance and can 'go shop' this way. Efforts are always made to
arrange for a pleasant ambience and freshly laundered materials to be
available.
Tailoring service
The Freestore doesn't stop at giving away things,
it also offers a free tailoring service, which focuses on repairs but
occasionally makes new garments.
For more information call the Freestore
on 622033.
If you're outside India, call +91-413-622033.
NANDINI
In Hindu mythology 'Nandini' stands for the 'cow,
mother and nurse of all living things', and the more recently started
Nandini service wants to be precisely that. While the original Freestore
mainly handles second-hand material, Nandini wants to supply the
Aurovilians with fresh clothing of their choice.
Nandini scheme
The Nandini Freestore is mostly used as a paid
tailoring service as well as providing to Aurovilians all that has to do
with T-shirts, chappals, saris, punjabis - any clothes you need for
free, based on a standing monthly contribution of Rs 250.
The Nandini team purchases good quality cloths
from Madras and will either measure and tailor to fit or copy a design
brought in. They also make sheets, towels, curtains and the like. In
some cases, Aurovilians who participate in this Nandini scheme by their
monthly contribution can buy their own clothes and give Nandini the bill
for the same. The amount will be absorbed by the overall system, or
credited to one's personal account at Pour Tous. Nandini has very high
quality tailors.
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