In a world where everybody is too busy wanting to consume more, Mitin Paul, a youngster from the city is trying to do his bit to reduce the carbon footprint by making use of all waste items, and almost giving them a second life. Mitin founded the UnU store which reuses everything from old jeans and clothes, cassettes and cable wires to create something funky and beautiful!
While the concept of upcycling has been around, Mitin has made it much easier for not only himself, but also everyone around to contribute for the cause. “We do free door-to-door pick-ups of unwanted items, thoroughly cleanse materials at our workshop and the small team I have curated, springs into action and comes up with innovative and quirky designs that are made of such reusable items.
We want to give these items a second life with a renewed identity,” says the 27 year-old about the process. And hence the name! “We use waste materials from You, and create crazy products for You. There is so much competition for hunger – everybody wants to consume more without thinking about what they are leaving behind, causing unsustainability and degrading the environment,” says the founder.
From journals to laptop sleeves and even wine bottle covers, Mitin and his team have managed to create quite a buzz around his products. And though it all seems so simple, that’s not the case, he says! “It’s a common perception that re-usable items are just meant for showpieces because they aren’t sturdy enough or whatever. And it’s quite a task to break that myth and get people to invest, even though the items are very affordable. What people don’t understand that it takes a long time and a lot of patience to come up with something creative and useful enough,” he says. And while he is at it, he has his family’s constant support to keep him going. “My friends and family have been very supportive and even some of my customers are always inquisitive about what we’re trying to come up with next. I think that if you absolutely love what you are doing everyday, you will find a way around all the challenges and pursue your dreams,” he quips in conclusion.
