Thrissur: “It was during a summer vacation when I returned home and went through my wardrobe. That’s when I realised how many clothes I owned—some I had completely forgotten about,” recalls Mariyam Alukka, a Class XI student, as she arranges clothes for her thrift market. “I figured the same would be true for many of my friends and relatives too. That’s when the idea of a thrift market struck me.”

With that thought, Mariyam introduced the lesser-known concept of thrift culture to the city. A month ago, she began collecting gently used clothes and unused items from her family and friends—things they no longer needed but were still in good condition. She personally contacted each of them, explaining her vision. The response was overwhelming. Soon, branded clothes, books, and footwear began pouring in.

Mariyam and her family took on the task of cleaning, sorting, and organising the donations to make them look as good as new. She also launched an Instagram page titled Second Chance to spread the word and encourage more participation. “Some things we no longer value can become someone else’s favourite,” she says. “That’s how I decided to run a thrift market for a couple of days. A pair of shoes that originally cost ₹3,000 will be sold for  ₹400–500.”

All proceeds from the thrift market will go to charity, and even the unsold items will be donated to those in need. The thrift market is being held at the Alukkas building on MG Road on Friday and Saturday. Mariyam hopes to make this an annual initiative.

Mariyam Alukka, a student of Harrow International School, Bengaluru, is the daughter of Varghese Alukka and Smitha Alukka.