In a city that’s seeing entrepreneurial boom, 26-year-old entrepreneur, Hamsini Hariharan aims to carve a niche by doing more with less. Her venture, Hamsini, is an impeccable handmade amalgamation of all things colourful, crafty and arty — made using waste fabrics and her clients old saris! In a freewheeling conversation, this Bengaluru girl with an eye for embroidery whose website went live a week ago, tells us more...
Dating back to how it all began, Hamsini shares, “I believe everything I do today can be attributed to my childhood obsession towards arts and crafts and a streak of serendipity. Back in 2009, I used to make paper products with the paper I picked up from my trip once to Pondicherry Paper Factory. I’ve been making crafty creations since I was a little girl. I took the plunge into printing post an offer to design wedding invitations for a friend. One thing led to the other, and I got an opportunity to explore fabric at a friends studio near home. Maybe a year later (in 2013), I slowly branched into fabric... making cushion covers and bedspreads for a friend’s home. And now we make cushion covers, table runners, bedspreads, potli bags, tote bags, stoles, dupattas, key chain charms and everything else.”
Barely a few years since then, and the enterprising lass now has some plum projects to her credit. “Personally, every order has been special and close to my heart. But it’s also heartening how big and established enterprises are open to giving a chance to upcoming talents. I’m grateful that we could design wine storage for Big Banyan and custom festive gift packaging for MTR this early,” opines Hamsini smilingly.
With an eye for making the best of resources the young artiste’s works are mostly products of waste fabrics. “We take orders under a project named Patchework Tradition, in which we convert out clients’ old Kanjeevaram sarees into bedspreads. In fact, most of my creations have used the remains of cloths and fabrics,” she quips.
Unperturbed by competition, Hamsini believes its unflagging family support that keeps her going, “My husband Karan is my biggest support system. In fact, my entire family has been extremely supportive throughout.”
As she currently works out of her home, giving it her all without a job or a plan B, Hamsini enthuses how the arrangement leaves her with ample time for other interests, “I’m mostly doing small odd jobs like designing book covers for publishing houses. It leaves me with time for cooking and hanging around in Chickpet hunting for fabric and cute accessories for work.”
Speaking about what’s next, she says, “All my inspirations are from Indian folk art. I want to learn more about the Asian folk art and depict it in our embroidery. I’d also want to collaborate work with other artists in the city.”
