If you are looking for a one-stop shop to make your home sustainable or switch to a sustainable lifestyle, one of the closest fits would be Bengaluru’s Go Native store in Jaya Nagar.
Though the store is now more patronised for its café, which serves up farm to table, organic, Indian fusion fare, its owner Anvitha Prashanth, is now focusing on generating more footfall in the store.
The store, like the café, is spread across two floors and has everything from toothbrushes to furniture, jewellery, and groceries.
Customers may begin by dropping off their plastic toothbrushes and picking up a biodegradable bamboo toothbrush by Pune-based Bamboo India, which was part of India’s UN Environment Day celebrations in New Delhi. They can then pick up personal care products from Bare Necessities, a zero waste personal care and home care brand. The brand is known for their use of organic, local and ethically sourced ingredients; their products are reportedly non-toxic, non-GMO, and cruelty-free. One could alternatively opt for Soul Tree, which offers Ayurvedic products using organic, natural ingredients as well as Coconess’s coconut-based, natural body care products.
One then comes to the food section of the store which comprises organic staples (including grains and pasta), snacks, oils and preserves.
The ground floor also hosts clothing and accessories, from a range of labels that focus on handloom and handmade products in all kinds of materials from cork to banana fibre and Ilkal fabrics (a North Karnataka weave) by labels such as Arture, Ziveli, Bandhej and Kaisori. There is a small jewellery section featuring rare semi-precious gems including Coral Fossil, Jaspers, Solar Quartz, set in Sterling silver by Flames of the Forest. There are also Channapatna toys by Varnam and a small collection of children’s clothing.
The retail section upstairs is almost entirely devoted to home décor, furniture and some jewellery, largely by labels such as Purple Turtles and Jenny Pinto.
In her tour, Anvitha Prashanth, the store’s founder, points to a set of lights made from cement dust as well as banana fibre. The upstairs section also features an extension of the restaurant, both indoors and outdoors. The indoor section often doubles up as a space for events.
“I wanted to incorporate everything that would help me live a sustainable life. This is a lifestyle store,” says Anvitha, who graduated from the Singapore University of Technology and Design. She was first introduced to the idea of an interconnected ecosystem during an internship in Berlin.
“I come from a very different background. I feel this is an advantage because it gives me the chance to connect to new people.”
Otherwise, she says, it may become too overwhelming or intimidating for them. Anvitha’s objective is to turn Go Native into a neighbourhood resource centre.
She plans to make her store plastic-free by July. As of now, customers can drop off the packaging from the used products (bought at the store) for recycling.
“We also conduct neighbourhood clean-up drives periodically.”
Another aspect of sustainable living she addresses through her store is the local economy.
“Right now, there is a disconnect between producers and consumers. This is why we work with local brands and NGOs that collaborate with artisans,” she says. Fair trade, is an important part of the store’s policy.
Go Native is all set to expand to spaces in Indira Nagar, and Whitefield.
For details, visit Go Native, #64, 10th Main, 5th Block, Jayanagar. Call 26642552.
