Divya Deepak Desai’s journey into crochet began at a young age. The artist behind Divyakruti tells us how she got hooked to this craft
CHRISTINE MACHADO | NT BUZZ
Divya Deepak Desai’s love for crochet began when she was her mother’s little
“crochet intern”.
“My mom used to crochet torans and tablecloths. I’ve been watching her since I was a child,” she shares. When she was in Class 6 or 7, her mother taught her the basic stitches. “She then showed me how add little elements to the torans and would pay me a little money for that,” she says.
The Vasco-based Desai was thus inspired to follow in her mother’s footsteps after watching her build a livelihood through crochet.
“I always knew I was not a nine-to-five person. I worked for around five years but I was never happy,” she says. During this time, she also took custom crochet orders. “There came a point when I realised crochet made me happier than anything else. I used to overthink a lot but crochet became my therapy and I can do it for hours without getting bored.”
Through her one-year-old brand, Divyakruti, Desai creates keychains, flowers, plushies, hair accessories, earrings and customised pieces. Clients can connect with her on Instagram, and she offers delivery by post.
Her favourite creation so far is a cow plushie made for a friend. ““There was no pattern available for it but I managed to see the image and make it exactly as per his requirement,” she says, adding that she focuses on maintaining quality at an affordable price.
Currently, Desai is the director of Community Development at JCI Vasco and has begun working with a videographer for brand promotion reels but crochet continues to be her first love. Even so, she has to cope with some challenges. “Sometimes there are too many orders and very little time,” she says. She also finds transport difficult during pop-up exhibitions but hopes to resolve it soon.
“I would like get into crochet clothing as well as accessories,” she says. “My dream is to be known for my art. Even after I am no longer in this world, I want to be alive through my art.”
