Traditional Fashion Marketplace

Overview

Welcome to the Traditional Fashion Marketplace, a platform dedicated to empowering local artisans and sellers of Sri Lanka's finest traditional products such as batik and beeralu. This marketplace is designed to help sellers showcase their unique offerings and provide customers with a seamless online shopping experience.

Key Features

• Home Page: A user-friendly landing page featuring popular products, new arrivals, and seller spotlights.
• Seller Profiles: Dedicated profiles for sellers to display their products, story, and unique offerings.
• Product Listings: Sellers can list their batik, beeralu, and other traditional products with detailed descriptions and high-quality images.
• Shopping Cart & Checkout: A smooth shopping experience for buyers with secure payment options and an intuitive checkout process.
• Customer Support: AI-powered chatbots to assist customers and sellers, offering quick responses and guidance.

Technology Stack

• Frontend: React.js (for building dynamic and responsive user interfaces)
• Backend: Node.js with Express (API and server-side logic)
• Database: MongoDB (for storing product listings, seller profiles, and customer information)
• Storage: Azure Blob Storage (for handling images and other media files)
• Chatbot: AI-powered bots using NLP (to provide support and educational resources)
• Deployment: Azure (cloud hosting)

Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v14.x or higher)
• MongoDB (for local development or MongoDB Atlas for cloud)
• Azure Blob Storage (for media handling)
• Git (for version control)

Installation

1. Clone the repository

   git clone https://github.com/yourusername/traditional-fashion-marketplace.git
   cd traditional-fashion-marketplace

2. Install dependencies

   npm install

3. Set up environment variables

   Create a .env file in the root directory and configure the following variables:

   MONGO_URI=your_mongodb_connection_string
   AZURE_STORAGE_CONNECTION_STRING=your_azure_blob_storage_connection_string

4. Run the application

   npm start

   The app should now be running on http://localhost:3000.

Project Structure

.
├── public/               # Static assets (images, etc.)
├── src/                  # Source code
│   ├── components/       # Reusable UI components
│   ├── pages/            # Application pages (Home, Seller Profile, etc.)
│   ├── services/         # API calls, services (e.g., product management, seller registration)
│   ├── hooks/            # Custom hooks for managing state
│   └── App.js            # Main application file
├── backend/              # Backend folder (Node.js, Express)
│   ├── routes/           # API routes (products, sellers, etc.)
│   ├── models/           # MongoDB schemas
│   └── controllers/      # Request handling logic
└── README.md             # Project documentation

Features in Development

• Seller Dashboard: A dedicated area for sellers to manage their listings, orders, and profile settings.
• Order Management: Track order status, payments, and delivery updates.
• Advanced Search: Filter and search for products by price, category, and location.
• Mobile App: A mobile-friendly version of the marketplace using React Native.

Contributing

We welcome contributions to the platform! Here’s how you can help:

1. Fork the repository.
2. Create a new branch for your feature or bug fix.
3. Submit a pull request with a detailed explanation of the changes.