First of all, tell us something about your brainchild, Cryspil Creations.
"Cryspil Creations is an initiative in which I craft sustainable fashion products and traditional attires with the use of waste paper, especially calendars. I mostly handcraft ethnically inspired accessories. Through my creations, I make efforts to contribute to sustainable fashion, while also representing the rich culture and traditions of the A'chiks. Our products are eco-friendly, handcrafted, and non-conventionally designed accessories."
What are the various products that you manufacture under Cryspil Creations?
"The products of Cryspil Creations includes traditional accessories such as Rigitok (Garo Traditional Necklace), Kadesil (Traditional headgear for male), Kakam (traditional headgear for female), Sengki (waist band, usually made from elephant tusk, but we make it from paper), Kotip (unisex headgear), konal(choker), Garo modern attires, skirts, quarter pants, chunnis, ambeng top, lengti (Garo traditional skirt), lengti (dress worn like the Adivasis by male members) and traditional Garo baskets, wall hangers and bags."
When did you start Cryspil Creations? Do you have a workshop or office?
"I started selling products under the label of Cryspil Creations officially in the year 2018. However I have been experimenting with my creative ideas since 2000. In terms of an office or workshop, I have a creative studio in my home."
What motivated or inspired you to start this venture at your age?
"It was the year 1984 when I lost my husband. Losing your beloved is accompanied with a lot of sorrow. I felt lonely and depressed. The responsibility of looking after five of our children in my husband's absence seemed heavy at first. That is when I started dedicating time to my creative pursuits. I acquired the skills of stitching and knitting at a young age and after my husband's death, I started experimenting and engaging myself with various handicraft works. One day I came across a Women's Era magazine and noticed something regarding waste paper. It was a rolled paper and someone had made a necklace out of it. I got inspired with the craft underlying it. Soon after, I started doing the same and there was no stopping after that. This engagement with the craft of producing handmade accessories helped me battle the sadness and sorrow. It was a necklace which inspired me but now I manufacture a wide range of products from bags to attires."
How do you get the raw materials required for manufacturing your products?
"Since the raw materials required are mostly waster paper, I use old calendars. I get them for free from Churches, Hospitals and even our relatives so that I can use them for production."
How many employees do you currently have in your business?
"We recruited two members after getting support from PRIME. However, they left after receiving other work options. As of now I work in the creative process alone. There is a Self-Help group comprising of 25 women who help me with the process of rolling paper."
What is the marketing process of your products?
"We have an Instagram Page through which we receive orders. But people have also come to know about our work through word of mouth. They approach me directly and take the products from me. Other than that, we have sent our products for sale to Tripura and some people from Kerala recently bought some of our products. We also supply our products to Meghalayan Age Limited, which is a store in Connaught Place, Delhi. We fulfill orders according to the products that they want."
Have you received any support from the government or other organisations? What are your achievements?
"In the year 2019, I was one of the top 25 winners of the Chief Minister's E Champion programme. Since then I have receiving mentoring and assistance under PRIME(Promotion & Incubation of Market-Driven Enterprise) which is an initiative of Govt. of Meghalaya under Planning Department, MBMA & MIE in collaboration with IIMCIP (Indian Institute of Management Calcutta Innovation). I received a package of Rs 1 lakh. It was a two year incubation programme, which is now over and I have received a graduation certificate. I also received an Award of Excellence for Waste Management and Innovation during Independence Day Celebration 2018 from WGH, Deputy Commissioner. I am also chosen for the one year programme called Ateliers Meghalaya Programme and under this programme I have received Rs 5 lakh, in the year 2021. We made connections with Meghalayan Age Limited, Delhi under this programme and are now sending our products to them."
How was the support from your family when you started this plan of yous?
"My family was quite supportive for the matter. Though they couldn't help me financially, but in terms of manpower my sons and daughters were helping me. Initially I would make single pieces for experimentation and sell them for 2 rupees, which our neighbours used to buy from me. My relatives used to bring the raw materials for me. I guess that was my family members of supporting me."
What are the challenges that you have faced in your journey?
"First of all, finance has been a problem. I was also involved in knitting as a side avenue. Secondly, this kind of craft demands a great deal of patience and dedication to acquire the skills. As such, it is difficult for me to come across people whom I can teach or recruit. Even when someone wants to learn, they give up midway as they don't have the required patience."
What is the most favourite part of your journey or of being an entrepreneur?
"The most favourite part of this entrepreneurial journey is that it helped me overcome the bad mental state that gripped me after my husband's death. In addition, I found new joy and satisfaction in following my passion."
What are your future ambitions?
"First of all I want to experiment more and create new stuff. Right now I am thinking of producing summer caps. If possible I want to expand Cryspil Creations to other places. I want to teach and recruit more people in this art form. I'm looking forward to recruit more people by the end of the year."
How much time is required to produce one product? What is the production process?
"Different pieces take different amounts of time. Products like medium sized handbags take 3 days while for small bags one day is enough. Products like Sepi, which is a Garo Shield takes about a week to create. When it comes to the production process, first of all, I cut the calendars into a long triangle and then the SHGs roll them. After that the rolls are joined with adhesive and I stitch them and create the various products."
Tell us about your childhood.
"I was born in Derek village of Goalpara district of Assam, on 1 January 1949. I studied till Class 3 there in a Garo school there. Then I shifted to Tura and studied till Class 8 in Christian Girls school. I used to be creative during my childhood days and we were being taught how to stitch and knit in Christian Girls school."
What advice would you like to give to other business person and to the future generation?
"I didn't think that I would be this successful. It's never too late to start something you are passionate about, so don't give up on your dreams. If you work with passion, discipline and efficiency in something that you are good at, you will definitely succeed and forget all your sorrows."
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