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EARTHY BEAUTIES
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If you love jewellery, but hate the thought of someone else wearing a similar piece, then check out Rajani and Prathima's creations
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All these attractive designs aren't even a strain on one's pocket
DURING ALL those craftwork classes in school, didn't you complain bitterly how it was ever going to help you in the future? While you were trying to desperately look for profundity in those little bits of clay, paints, and other paraphernalia lying around, some others, have enterprisingly made it a business proposition.
Have a bare wall that is crying out to be spruced up? Bored and bogged down with the gold and silver accessories you have to lug around on your neck and ears just to turn a few heads? There are the people who will provide an interesting way out. Rajani and Prathima, two self-motivated entrepreneurs have been creating innovatively designed terracotta jewellery and bamboo artefacts using basic, natural materials. "We love doing this primarily because the materials we use are eco-friendly," says Prathima. "Initially the awareness about terracotta jewellery was very low, but when you combine affordability and novel designs, nobody can ignore it for too long."
Walking about in 2001 in Mysore, Rajani's discovery of tiny morams sold on the street was what kick started the whole venture. "They were so beautiful that a thousand design ideas just popped into my head," remembers Rajani. Though the first pieces she crafted found a place only in her home, support from her family encouraged her to go the distance and make it a fulltime affair. Rajani's items are the first of its kind in Bangalore, to be created from a wonderful combination of bamboo, terracotta, jute, clay, and handmade paper.
Though professionally qualified as an electronics engineer, Prathima, an erstwhile computer instructor, traded the booting-and-coding world for an entirely different world of art and creativity. Her exquisite patterns in jewellery have the stamp of a nature lover. If you fear walking on the roads of the city to suddenly find that the woman who just passed by you is wearing exactly the same necklace, perish that thought. Going completely against the grain, Prathima makes sure she shapes her creations as uniquely as is possible. None of her pieces has a twin or a triplet.
How easy is it to market their products? Rajani says that anyone will be willing to experiment with jewellery, but it requires people with a certain kind of taste to appreciate her home artefacts. "I have actually heard people complain about putting up a mora on the wall!" says Rajani. Undeterred by any of this, she continues to feed her passion knowing that there is a section that adores her creations. With the help of AWAKE and their friends, the duo has managed to hold quite a few successful exhibitions in Fluid Space.
Having grown up watching their grandmother dress up traditional wooden dolls and make intricately embroidered patterns, the duo chuckle that, unbeknownst to even themselves, the venture was bound to happen someday. "It's all in the blood, after all... " they reason. They agree that there is competition from all quarters, with mass produced home-goods and well-established designers going strong in the market. Though the big stores are not forthcoming in the take, exhibitions do ensure that their work is noticed.
With the entire collection priced in the range of Rs. 30 to Rs. 200, it isn't even a strain on the pocket (or purse, as the women would have it said). They are showcasing their creations at Sri Bhooma, 37, 17th Cross, Malleswaram from May 27 to 29. So go ahead, check out those uniquely earthy items. For more information, contact them Rajani and Prathima at 98860 19734/ 23601679/ 28600764.
ROHINI MOHAN
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