Studio Craftarea

Hello! My name is Minal and I am the owner of Studio Craftarea- a tiny crafts business built on dreams larger than life!

I have worn many hats, from being a teacher to a researcher; from being an employee to an entrepreneur and from being an avid consumer to a thoughtful user during the 46 years I have been on this planet.

I did not set out to be an environmentally conscious crafts person or to create Eco-friendly crafts. My ideas and concepts and eventually the products developed without any conscious thoughts or predetermined guidelines. It was only when I reviewed what I had produced over the last two years that the themes emerged. I started noticing patterns I hadn’t intended to begin with but am now very happy with.

My crafts tend to focus on the environment- the need for its protection and its preservation, the development of unhealthy lifestyles and wasteful consumerism, increasing industrialization and mass production of crafts works at the cost of marginalized artisans, abusive use of natural resources on the planet and the consequences this has on nature.

And yet, I am not a dooms day predictor. I try to use my crafts to bring about a positive change to help us live a healthy and mutually sustainable lifestyle by assisting local and indigenous artisans, using natural products and by adopting the tenets of reusing, reducing and recycling.

None of the above was intentional – it all developed and evolved over time. My influences are first and foremost everything I see, feel and experience. I have also been very lucky to have as guides and mentors, many selfless artists, crafts persons, colleagues, facebook groups, especially Soapmaking with Natural Ingredients Forum (SNIF) and friends who have had immense confidence in me, have held my hand, guided me and provided me with constructive feedback.

At present, the Studio (I like how it sounds) offers the following products:

Genie In My Bottle– handmade and unique aroma necklaces meant to empower women, both locally and globally, who, along side taking control of their financial destinies, want to live happy and healthy lives.

Grandma’s Secret Recipe– handcrafted signature cold process saponified, pure oil base soaps and spa products of unparalleled quality offering the best of nature to you and your loved ones.

Chibaba Soaps– exceptionally high quality soaps made with natural colors, fragrances and pre-made soap bases rich in Aloe Vera, Honey, Goat’s Milk, Activated Charcoal, Glycerin and Olive Oil. With Chibaba Soaps, I offer you an option of customizing small batches as per your individual preferences.

D’accord Decoupage– creatively crafted Eco-friendly home accents and home utility products from recycled bottles, jars and cans as well as from MDF and terracotta.

Amazing India– curated collection of Indian Arts and Crafts in their most unique and contemporary forms, sourced directly from artisans from remote corners of the country.

And this is my promise to you…

Your search for high quality handcrafted and green lifestyle products ends HERE.