Parents, children flock to stores ahead of school reopening

Students and parents at a school market organised by Kozhikode Employees City Police Cooperative Society at the Police Club in Kozhikode.
| Photo Credit: K. Ragesh

With schools set to reopen on June 2, children and parents are visiting stationery stores to buy back-to-school essentials.

Retailers had prepared in advance, displaying colourful school bags and umbrellas at storefronts. Street Meat (S.M.) Street has been busy with shoppers since mid-May.

“Cartoon and superhero themes remain popular,” says M. Shakheer, a shopkeeper on one of Kozhikode city’s busiest commercial streets.

“Spider-Man, Barbie, and unicorn designs are still in demand for bottles, bags, and umbrellas. 3D prints are also becoming popular,” says another sales assistant, pointing to bags with animated characters.

Many parents, after checking online options, prefer shopping in person to ensure product quality. “It’s better to bring the children, even if it’s crowded,” says Jamshida, a parent, adding that occasional rain has affected shopping plans.

“I’m excited to go back to school,” says Afnan, an eight-year-old, holding a Marvel-themed pencil box he had purchased.

Technology has made its way into the stationery market with rechargeable pencil boxes featuring built-in fans, calculators, and LCD screens. Still, car-shaped pencil boxes with sharpeners remain popular.

“Our cartoon-themed lunch boxes are already sold out,” says Azeem, a storekeeper. Older students, especially in high school, are moving away from cartoon designs and prefer vintage and Korean-inspired styles.

Korean-inspired styles

“It’s very different from our school days,” says Nayana, accompanying her sibling. “Now, students are influenced by K-pop and Pinterest trends and prefer pastel shades for a more ‘aesthetic’ school look.”

Meanwhile, tailors are busy finishing school uniforms as families complete their last-minute shopping.