Launched 2018, PandaCrafts is a handcrafted, plastic-free home décor brand focused on sustainability
RAMANDEEP KAUR | NT BUZZ
While the world rushes toward speed and convenience, Dhruvica Agrawal chose a different path. After 20 years in the fashion industry, she stepped away from the fast-moving retail world to build something more meaningful.
“I felt creatively and ethically disconnected,” says the Siolim-based Agrawal, reflecting on her years in luxury and fast fashion across India and the Gulf. In 2016, she left the corporate world and after over a year of research and development, she laid the foundation for a brand that reflected
her values. Co-founded with her partner Abhishek Boylla, PandaCrafts began as a small studio initiative and grew into a brand with purpose.
Even the name carries meaning. Pandas, says Agarwal, once endangered due to human greed and environmental neglect, now symbolise recovery and balance between nature and progress. “The idea was to create products that carry purpose, both in how they’re made and used.”
Trained in the French art of decoupage, she combines it with Japanese calligraphy and symbolic storytelling in her works. Her inspiration draws from emotions, conversations, architecture, nature and Indian art, including Mughal motifs, temple carvings and gold work in gurdwaras, churches and mosques. “Since moving to Goa, I’ve become more spiritually connected. Meeting people from around the world has influenced much of my symbol-led art.”
PandaCrafts offers trays, trivets, clocks, coasters, magnets, shell art, wall décor, and aromatherapy products. Everything is handmade in small batches using reclaimed wood, jute, coconut shells, recycled paper, mango wood, and glass. Packaging is eco-friendly too, made from cloth scraps, newspaper, and reusable totes.
From the beginning, being plastic-free was a must, even when eco-friendly packaging was hard to find. “It’s easier now, but back in 2018 we had to figure it out ourselves,” she says, adding that she aims to create awareness around sustainability, not just sell products. “Years in global retail showed me the emotional and environmental cost of mass production,” she says, recalling how unsold handmade goods were destroyed. “It stayed with me. I knew I wanted to build something that valued craftsmanship over waste.”
With roots in Goa and Delhi, PandaCrafts adapts its designs to suit local sensibilities. In Goa, clients prefer beach-inspired aesthetics like azulejo patterns, jute accents and natural tones. In Delhi, bolder designs with gold accents and festive motifs are more popular.
Despite fulfilling custom briefs, Agrawal ensures every product carries her artistic signature, whether in the form of a whimsical dragonfly, a reused material, or a symbolic flourish.
And like many artisanal ventures, PandaCrafts has faced its share of challenges. “People didn’t always understand our pricing, process, or pace,” admits Agrawal. Also, just as the brand was gaining momentum, the pandemic hit. “I turned my home into a studio, experimented more, and created bolder pieces,” she says.
Today, the brand is steadily growing. It sells through its website and offers seasonal collections, home styling ideas, and personalised gifting. Agrawal also plans to launch a collector’s series, host boutique exhibitions and workshops, and collaborate with boutique hotels. “The goal is to make art that has meaning, supports Indian crafts, and lasts longer than just one season,” says Agarwal.
