A Thrifting Digital Marketplace Set to Change Consumer Habits
The app aims to make sustainable living more accessible through technology and offers flexible terms for buying and selling
Bazaara is a homegrown, digital platform for thrifting, buying and selling preloved clothing, championing slow and sustainable fashion. With a mission to redefine the shopping experience in the Middle East, the app combines the ease of technology with the values of living and dressing sustainably.
As the concept of thrifting gains popularity amongst younger generations, the demand for vintage and preloved items has shot up in recent years. While modernizing thrifting as a movement in the region, Bazaara offers a platform to showcase distinct and unique items that can only be found in their digital marketplace. In four simple steps, users can effortlessly declutter their wardrobe by passing on preloved items to buyers. The app offers convenience for the customers and sellers, taking care of the delivery and the payment - ensuring security on both fronts.
“We recognized a niche in the region for thrift shopping, especially since decluttering has become a priority for many, which typically starts from the closet,” said Alyssa Mariano, Co-Founder of Bazaara.
According to Mariano, on average, 60 percent of a person’s closet is unused. “This ‘trapped inventory’ is the equivalent of $36 billion worldwide; what’s more is that up to $500 billion is lost due to clothing being underutilized or thrown away each year. We wanted to provide a platform to directly reduce these numbers,” she said.
With the fashion industry producing more than 10% of global carbon emissions, being the second-largest consumer of the world’s water supply, and responsible for 20% of all industrial water pollution worldwide, Alyssa is passionate about creating positive change.
“Bazaara was founded to make a difference within the industry by providing a user-friendly, all-inclusive platform to thrift, buy and sell preloved and vintage fashion. We hope to contribute to reducing the industry’s carbon footprint and building a more sustainable approach to fashion,” she added.
Through a bidding system that satisfies both the seller and the buyer, the app charges a minimal transaction fee in order to keep the sellers incentivized. After downloading and registering on the Bazaara app, sellers can instantly upload images and descriptions of the items they wish to sell. The seller receives the payment only once the item has been received by the buyer and they are satisfied.
For more information on Bazaara please visit www.bazaara.ae. Keep up with them on social media @bazaara.ae. The app is available to download through the App Store for iOS and the Google Play Store for Android.
Meet Our Sellers: INO.AE
"Meet Our Sellers" is a new series featuring our top sellers of vintage and preloved clothing in the UAE on BAZAARA. Download the app to shop their looks today.
Why did you start ino.ae?
INO.AE is a concept that has been more than 10 years in the making. I started my own mini shop at the age of 14, selling jewelry I’ve made and clothes my peers at the time, liked. But every time I’d think about the style and wardrobe of two of the most elegant and classy women in my life: my mother and her mom (my grandmother), I’d think, “I wish I could make/sell stuff like that instead!” They’ve always had an eye for the classics: from music and the arts, to clothing and furniture. I owe much of my taste to them. I’ve always kept this in my heart and fast forward to now, INO.AE is born out of an intense brainstorming session that involved Katy Perry’s song “It’s Never Really Over” on repeat, all because a little girl refused to give up on that dream. INO is my way of sharing the love for all things inspiring in the decades past, finding like-minded vintage-loving friends, and promoting a fierce individuality amongst women and their style of choice.
Tell us about your love for vintage items?
“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” - Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Sonnet 43
I love vintage and inspired items so much so that my house is filled with them! And no, it’s not a pile up of hoarded things, but very select pieces that have much of a sentimental value to me. As much as I love it, I also don’t believe in unnecessary hoarding. But if I were to count the ways vintage is a part of my life, I’d say from clothing to furniture, books and music.
Do you think vintage shopping is popular in the UAE and will it continue to gain in popularity?
People will always have their own idea of “vintage” because it’s such a personal journey. You pick a past era/decade, decide what it means to you, and you wear that style according to your preference. I hope that vintage shopping will continue to gain understanding more than popularity because there’s such a big difference in things like material used, techniques employed, cultural reflection etc. VS. modern clothing.
What are your favorite vintage pieces?
- A working phonograph I got from an old vendor who only had it as prop in his shop
- An original Polaroid camera
- Dresses I’ve inherited from my mom
How can we shop ino.ae vintage pieces?
Find INO on Bazaara & Instagram: @ino.ae