SLC31-W6: Shop & Share Challenge - Visit Any Store of Your Choice

As you said in your contest to visit any type of store of your choice and share your shopping experience, I will take you to a unique store for SLC31-W6: Shop & Share Challenge which is not just a store but a thought, a dream seen by Mahatma Gandhi, father of the nation, to promote self dependency and Indian cottage industry. He wanted everything made in India, by the Indians using no machines but promote cottage Industry.

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✓ Visit any store of your choice

I visited Kshetriya Shri Gandhi Ashram Khadi Bhandar popularly know as Gandhi Ashram, as a retail clothing chain, is a growing network of fashion‑cum‑khadi stores that sell traditional Indian and ethnic wear, especially kurtas, suits, and casual outfits, under a patriotic, “Indian style‑inspired” brand name.

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While not a single national‑scale chain like Westside or Pantaloons, multiple similarly‑branded “Gandhi Ashram” or “Gandhi Ashram Khadi Bhandar” outlets function like a loose regional chain, mostly in North and North‑West India.

The Gandhi Ashram retail brand is built on the idea of authentic Indian craftsmanship and ethical, home‑produced textiles. Many of these stores are linked, directly or indirectly, to hand-woven cotton yarn and handloom‑support institutions or cooperative setups that promote Gandhi‑era values of self‑made local production.

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These stores consciously position themselves around Gandhian ideals what he preached, simplicity, khadi, and support for Indian handloom and handicrafts. They market products as “Make in India,” highlighting hand‑spun or hand‑woven fabrics and traditional methods, even though many ready‑made items are also modern‑style garments made in local factories.

Their branding uses the image of Mahatma Gandhi and the charkha (if you wish to know about it either google or in brief, it's a hand driven instrument to produce yarn) to evoke a sense of cultural pride and ethical consumption.

Quilts and blankets

The main aim of the Gandhi Ashram chain is to popularise Indian and khadi‑style clothing at affordable to mid‑range prices for everyday use. It targets customers who want ethnic wear for festivals, office, or casual use, without moving into high‑luxury fashion. The stores also act as small employment hubs, supporting local tailors, embroiderers, and traders linked to the khadi‑handloom ecosystem.

First Floor Display

Gandhi Ashram stores have their presence in all Indian cities, as a national chain. Each outlet carries a similar bright signage, folded kurtas and suits on racks, and some hand‑loom fabric by the metre giving customers a familiar experience even if the management is not always centrally owned.

In effect, Gandhi Ashram works as a brand‑chain of small to medium‑sized khadi‑cum‑fashion stores that spread the idea of Indian textiles through everyday retail.

Folded garments

In Gandhi Ashram stores, clothing is the main category, but several other products are commonly available too. The exact mix can vary by city and shop, but most outlets follow a similar pattern.

For instance

• Textiles and fabrics
  Khadi fabric by the metre (cotton, wool, and mixed “poly‑khadi”) for custom shirts, suits, and patchwork.

• Bed and home textiles like cotton bedsheets, blankets (luggies/lichaf), and towels/face‑towels in handloom or khadi styles.

• Ethnic and daily‑wear garments

• Men’s wear: kurtas, kurta–pyjama sets, shirts, lungis, vests, and woolens sweaters, jackets, shawls.

• Women’s wear

Printed cotton and silk dress‑materials, salwar‑kameez fabrics, and ready‑made suits or simple dresses.

• Daily‑use and lifestyle items

Products

 

• Household and miscellaneous especially in larger Gandhi Ashram‑type shops sell basic groceries such as honey, spices, and traditional local medicines or herbal products.

  
  
  
  I bought a pack of mulethi

✓ Buy at least one item from the place

*These stores sell personal‑care and Ayurvedic‑style products like oils, soaps, shampoos, honey and spices under associated khadi‑lifestyle brands, though these may be separate counters or outlets.

➮ What item did you buy from the store? Let's know the price in STEEM and your local currency

 

I bought a pack of Mulethi the licorice derived from the plant Glycyrrhiza glabra which helps soothe sore throat and cough, supports digestion, boosts immunity, and also reduces acidity and stress when taken in moderation. It is also used in skincare for its anti‑inflammatory and brightening effects which we keep in our home as an emergency medicine in our home.

✓ Describe the quality of the item, price, and your shopping experience

The Mulethi powder looked fine and light‑brown, with a natural, slightly sweet smell and no lumps, indicating it's always fresh right from the home industry. It feels smooth when I rubbed between fingers, suggesting careful drying and grinding.

Overall, it gave the impression of pure, organically processed herb powder suitable for both drinking as medicine for gut health or using in skincare or hair masks.

➮ Was the price affordable and worth it? Explain briefly.

Prices in Gandhi Ashram are always great and affordable as you can check the list given below for a general ready reference:

Item	Price INR	Steem
Men’s cotton kurta	₹400	75
Men’s khadi shirt	₹600	135
Men’s kurta–pyjama set	₹800	150
Boys’ kurta / casual shirt	₹300	70
Cotton khadi fabric (per metre)	₹150–₹400	28-75
Woolen / mixed khadi (per metre)	₹250–₹600	45-135
Khadi bedsheets / chaddar	₹400	75
Khadi towel / gamchha	₹80	15
Khadi blanket and quilt	₹800	150
Khadi handkerchief	₹40	7
Khadi cap / small cap	₹60	14
Coconut oil (200 ml)	₹180	32
Sesame (til) / gingelly oil (200 ml)	₹200	35
Aloe‑vera or herbal shampoo (200 ml)	₹80	14
Neem‑based herbal shampoo (200 ml)	₹90	16
Neem hair oil (200 ml)	₹180	35
Castor oil (100 ml)	₹150	27
Turmeric powder (100 g)	₹30	5
Coriander powder (100 g)	₹40	7
Ready‑mix Tea spice mix (100 g)	₹50	9
Mulethi (100 g)	₹90	17

• Home‑decor pieces: small metallic decorative items, Gandhi‑themed souvenirs, and small idols or utility‑style brass/iron goods are sometimes stocked.

• Other small essentials
  Undergarments and basic garments for men and boys, including T‑shirts and innerwear, are listed in some Gandhi Ashram‑brand outlets.

➮ How would you describe the quality and appearance of the items in the store?

The items in a Gandhi Ashram store are simple but neat, with fabrics displayed in clean folds and labels clearly showing material and price. Garments and khadi items feel sturdy.

➮ Why did you choose to visit this particular store?

I choose to visit this particular store because it genuinely supports India’s cottage industry and small‑scale artisans. I feel good knowing that my money goes to local weavers, tailors, and khadi producers rather than big corporate chains. The fabrics and products feel authentic, and the prices are fair for handmade quality.

By shopping here, I’m not just buying clothes or spices, I’m helping preserve traditional crafts and promoting self‑reliance, which feels deeply connected to India’s spirit. And the best, the spices are pure and guaranteed here compared to what we get in local market.

They give a simple cash memo on demand in Hindi

➮ How was the customer service and environment of the place?

As you can see in the pictures and video the customer service is simple and friendly, with staff patiently helping in choosing fabrics and explaining the products but only if you ask them to. The environment feels calm and traditional, with neatly arranged counters, the smell of khadi and spices, and a quiet, unhurried atmosphere that made shopping feel relaxed rather than rushed or crowded. in my visit I asked the manager at the counter that I was here just for a visit even if I bought a pack of Mulethi.

Speem Video

Speem Vidio Link

Kshetriya Shri Gandhi Ashram Khadi Bhandar Gandhi Ashram	Garh Road, Meerut, India 250001
Goggle maps	Map
Website	Here
Category	Home Industry Store
Locations	International
Prices	Reasonable
Locations	Approachable
Atmosphere	Good
Staff	Helpful
Amenities	Okay
Parking	Ample
Steem Atlas PIN	//:# (!steematlas 28.97113928 lat 77.71932364 long Gandhi Asram, Meerut, India d3scr)

I invite three friends to participate @ahlawat @ripon0630 and @suboohi to participate in by @josepha

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