JOIN USUnique, colourful and bright. These are the three expressions that best describe ‘Tattvam’, a startup by Preety Maneesh. Started four years back, ‘Tattvam’ is into paper and fabric jewellery, accessories, home decor and many more hand-painted products.
An MBA holder, Preety took a sabbatical from her 9 to 5 corporate job. She realised that her heart was more into craft and art than computer software. She then invested all her time to craft and jewellery-making, which soon became her new-found love and a business venture.
“Bored with working on excel sheets, I wanted to do something creative. Craft interested me as a child and I initially took up just jewellery designing,” says Preety. She carved the terracotta jewellery with much care and there emerged intricate and earthy designs. It started off as a hobby, but this pastime had to be given a break after she had a baby. She was back in business after this and followed the trial-and-error method. With experience, she slowly expanded her creative skills and started designing home decors. Upside down tea cup lights, recycled book shelves, upcycled vases. Preety’s creativity with craft takes one on a quirky journey.
She also makes hair accessories, key chains and bright jewellery boxes. “I make bead accessory and hand-paint them. With unique colour combinations like pink, orange, I give them a kinky feel,” she explains.
A traveller, she takes her inspirations from different cultures, locations and the local people. “Nature too inspires me,” she adds.
A part-taker in the flee markets of the City, Preety herself organises these markets dedicated to art and craft in her hometown Hubballi. She even holds workshops for kids in art and craft. She recently organised a unique summer camp in Hubbali for kids that trained them in craft, art, fun, photography, puppetry, theatre, fireless cooking, baking and yoga. Preety is also of the opinion that her business started off as a necessity.
“It was so hard for me to find unique stuff to gift someone. The stores had the same conventional ones and the craft stores are all commercialised. This was also one of the reasons that triggered me to start ‘Tattvam’,” she says. She adds, “There are times where I get mixed opinion on my products. People even bargain for hand-made products without realising the effort that goes behind making them.”
A self-taught designer, she also takes up graphic designing, and undertakes corporate orders and customise artwork. The products are available at her home studio in South Bengaluru.