Candolim-based Destiny D’souza creates a range of crochet products under her venture Tiny Wonders. She talks to NT BUZZ about her learnings and dreams
ELSTAN NAZARETH
Destiny D’souza from Candolim has always had an inclination for creating handmade products.
“Growing up I would see certain outfits or headbands that I liked a lot. So, I thought ‘why not I try making them myself?’” she shares.
The youngster began browsing through YouTube tutorials and quickly picked up various crafting skills. “During my leisure time I would switch on my computer and scroll through YouTube videos and if anything fascinated me, I would attempt to make it,” she says.
It wasn’t long before her friends and family began convincing her to sell her products. “I’ve always valued independence, and I saw this as a perfect opportunity to start earning on my own while doing something I genuinely enjoy,” she says. Thus, Tiny Wonders was born.
While she began with selling her resin art works, she later moved to crochet outfits and other crochet products like headbands and flower bouquets. In fact, her crochet flower bouquets have fetched her the most attention and sales. She also accepts customised orders.
“I sell my products both on my online platform as well keep them for display at my family restaurant. Usually, I get more sales offline as compared to online,” she shares, adding that she does not accept orders from outside Goa. “I normally ask my customers to collect the finished order from me or if it’s somebody from my college (St. Xavier’s College, Mapusa) then I give them the parcel in college,” she says.
Like any business, she has her share of challenges too, the biggest of which, she says, is staying consistent. “There are days when I feel really motivated and productive, and others when it’s hard to keep up,” she says. Another major challenge is managing time. “Balancing my academics with my business gets overwhelming at times. It’s a constant juggling act. But I’m learning and growing through the process and trying to manage things better with each passing day,” says D’souza. Besides this, she has also learned the value of patience and persistence. “Things don’t always go as planned. There are times when orders get delayed, materials run out, or I make mistakes. But I’ve learnt to adapt and keep going,” she says. “Most importantly I’ve learned that passion and consistency matters more than perfection. Every little improvement adds up and seeing people appreciate something I made with my own hands is one of the most fulfilling feelings ever!”
Going forward she hopes to expand her product line. “I may introduce crochet plushies. Alongside this, I have been enjoying doing party decorations for my friends’ birthdays. Perhaps once I have a little more confidence and practice I may start taking decoration orders,” she says.
This business, she states, gives her a space to showcase her skills and sell her products. “While I don’t have a fixed end goal yet, I know I want this venture to continue evolving, whether as a side hustle or something bigger, because it’s something I’ve built with heart,”
she says.
