WHAT's ON unearthed a quaint studio at Sion that offers eco-friendly handmade products made from banana plants, twigs and even discarded railway sleepers
WHAT's ON unearthed a quaint studio at Sion that offers eco-friendly handmade products made from banana plants, twigs and even discarded railway sleepers
If you want to gift your friend a personalised clock or buy a jazzy nameplate for your new house, take a trip to Panchatatva studio at Sion. Founded in 2006, it is the brainchild of IT professional Abhishek Goyal and his commercial artist wife Shraddha. The duo converted their passion for art and love for nature into this eco-friendly studio. The name Panchatatva refers to the five elements that make up the universe (air, fire, sky, land and water) and represents their philosophy of making products by solely using naturally available materials.
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Au00a0Ganesha mural made from sleeper wood, coconut shells and terracotta for Rs 5,000 |
While Shraddha trains the 35 artisans at their nearby manufacturing unit and comes up with new product concepts, Abhishek looks after the administrative part of it.
The space: The cottage-shaped studio is choc-a-bloc with items they make and produce; these products are not for sale, but the display doubles up as the studio's decor.
The range: They custom-make products ranging from quirky name plates made using twigs, bamboo, coconut shells and pebbles, wall murals with terracotta caricatures and dried leaves, carrom-board-shaped clocks, kids' room murals, abstract wall hangings, photo frames and pen-stands. The footprint photo frames, a lord Ganesha idol made from railway sleepers, and the funky carrom-board clock are our personal favourites.
The bulk of their clientele comes from corporates, the duo tells us. "The most challenging project we did was create a 7-foot-long nameplate for one of our customers. It presented a logistical challenge but we were amazed at the final outcome and were confident to face any challenge after that experience," says Abhishek Goyal.
USP: They extensively use railway sleepers as a raw material since they are sturdy. The sleepers are cleaned, treated with chemicals, polished and crafted into clocks or murals. They also use banana plant stems which are cut into layers, dried for 15 days and utilised for their unique texture.
Process: Drop in at the studio and choose which product you want, along with the decorative items (like terracotta caricatures) to go with the design. The studio requires a minimum of three day's notice to prepare the products.
Panchatatva currently supplies to Landmark. They also supply internationally to customers in the UK, US and Malaysia.
At: 29, Veena Vihar, next to Shanmukhananda Hall, Gandhi Market, Sion (E). Call: 9820070614.
Log onto: https://www.panchatatva.com/.
By appointment onlyWinAnswer this simple question to win a free wall hanging: Where is Panchatatva located? Send in your entries to soma.das@mid-day.com with your full contact information. Winners will be chosen through a random draw.
