Nasar's ‘Dress Bank’ is a call away with wedding attires for underprivileged brides

In a heart-warming display of generosity, Nasar Thootha, a taxi driver from Thootha village in Kerala's Malappuram district, has established a unique charitable endeavour called the "Dress Bank."

The news of this unique initiative by Nasar Thootha was published by Al Jazeera which is about a philanthropic endeavour of collecting and preserving the once-used expensive wedding attires, including saris, ankle-length skirts, and dresses, to underprivileged women who cannot afford such luxuries on their special day.

Through the Dress Bank, Thootha has already assisted over 260 brides in need, ensuring that they can celebrate their weddings without financial strain.

The idea for the Dress Bank originated when Thootha, a Saudi Arabia returnee who had previously worked at a food supermarket in Riyadh, decided to utilize social media platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook to request idle wedding dresses from the community. As word spread, a steady stream of bulky packages containing pristine dresses began arriving at Thootha's doorstep, often donated anonymously.

Recognizing that wedding attires are often worn for a few hours and then relegated to cupboards, Thootha was overwhelmed by the support from families who understood the importance of his cause.

With the donated dresses collected from various locations in Kerala through charitable organizations and friends, Thootha meticulously organizes and stocks them in racks after dry cleaning.

Operating the Dress Bank from a room in his house on an experimental basis, Thootha welcomes brides' families to contact him through Facebook and visit the bank to select a dress of their choice, regardless of its cost. For families facing travel constraints or illnesses, the dress is sent directly to them through a network of dedicated volunteers.

Thootha emphasizes that while returning the dress is not mandatory, he encourages recipients to pass it on to other women in need, perpetuating the cycle of kindness.

The Dress Bank's success has been phenomenal, with an inventory of over 800 dresses, ranging in price from 5,000 to 50,000 Indian rupees ($66-660), suitable for Muslim, Christian, or Hindu brides. Contributions have poured in not only from across Kerala but also from neighbouring states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, as well as the non-resident Indian (NRI) community in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Motivated by his experiences assisting state agencies in rehabilitating the poor and homeless upon his return from Saudi Arabia, Thootha decided to address the struggle faced by families in acquiring expensive wedding dresses for their daughters.

His dedication and expanding operations garnered admiration, leading one of his friends to offer a one-room shop to accommodate the growing Dress Bank. Thootha plans to shift the bank to this new location in March next year.