Hand woven fabrics have a niche market: Latha Puttanna

Lack of formal education but a flair for design combined with a sense of aesthetics and colours helps Latha Puttanna, owner of the Bangalore-based home decor store Shrishti, run the show

Did you ever feel that you were at a disadvantage since you had no formal training in design?
I always had a flair for design and the only thing I couldn’t do was sketch. But the lack of formal education has its disadvantages; it takes longer for people to take us seriously. Students from fashion schools get to show at the fashion shows directly and get their contacts in place. It’s easier for them to get accepted but talent ultimately wins. I had to start from the scratch, every time I tried something different and people bought it, I got inspired. But then, if my child wants to become a designer I will ask her to go through a design school.

What is the most important quality one should possess in order to become a designer?
One should have the sense of aesthetics and colours, nobody can teach you that. Being different is very important so is maintaining your originality.  After a point your senses are important, your individuality should show.

Since you work only with Indian attire, what kind of a response have you got abroad?
I have been working on Indian textiles and trying to promote it, the response so far has been great. Everything Indian is so rich and colours are so vibrant. We cater to Indians abroad, who look for something different without too much bling and it’s getting better each time.

Do you think Indian designers are doing justice to Indian fabrics and traditional craft?
To each his own, I really can’t make a statement about this. For me, eventually, its each one’s style that comes out in designs. There are lots of fabrics from China, I guess there is no harm to it given the market, but I can concentrate on Indian because I have that eye. I guess we could do more as designers for our textiles and fabrics, our own fabrics are quite undervalued.

Hand made garments, does these magical words work wonder with consumers?
The market we cater to is a niche one and I definitely like it this way. Something that’s dying will appeal to people who value it and we are not into mass production. Mass produced garment are with prints and there is nothing exotic about it. Handmade stuff on the other hand has certain rules and regulations to be taken care of and not everyone cannot  appreciate it, but I have no complains as the ones who appreciate are definitely going to go for it.

Is your label helping to keep alive age old traditions and its patrons?
Yes. I think so, but I would only be reviving something that is already there.

— Taniya Talukdar