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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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