What if children were empowered to take on the role of teachers and adults benefited from knowledge transfer. What if children teach their elders the grammar of conscious living? What if kids became familiar with the idioms of sustainability, source discards and transform them into desirable, eco-friendly, everyday useful items and attractive decorations. On November 15, at the Kids Craft Carnival 2025 – Edition 2, organized by Boutique Bougainvillea and The Craft Factor in Velachery, a group of children demonstrated what these realities could be.
About a dozen children aged 10 to 15 were conducting sessions on various art-based practices defined by sustainable processes. Children showed attendees how to make origami-based decorations, quilled wall decorations, quilled ornaments, artwork on upcycled boards, clay-based art and palm-leaf decorations. Many other art forms were also present (crochet, macrame and decoupage among them) and they were all viewed through the lens of sustainability and the eyes of youth who have mastered them through constant practice. Some of these kids have used these skills beyond weekend sessions to create brands that combine sustainability with art.
solving a complex problem
Thirteen-year-old Keshavnath Shankar got into macrame a year and a half ago, when free time at home and the absence of television demanded more creative entertainment. Crochet was proving difficult, so she began experimenting with knots after seeing friends and online creators working with macrame. “It felt very relaxing,” he says of the craft, which has since become his daily practice.
A macrame creation by Keshavnath
Keshavnath works exclusively with cotton cords sourced from Craft Affairs. “Even cotton is eco-friendly,” he says, linking his materials with the sustainability principles taught to him. He primarily makes pouches and key chains that are priced between ₹60 and ₹250, although larger pieces like wall hangings and bottle holders demand significantly more time and effort.
His process is difficult. He starts by measuring and cutting the cords before finalizing them.
A MacMurray work by Keshavnath
“I enjoy almost every part,” he admits, “except the last part where I have to tie every single knot and cut it.” Large customized orders come with challenges: “I pull the threads so many times that my skin starts to crack.” Mistakes, no matter how small, are never ignored. “I untie every knot until it heals.”
For Keshavnath, stability is a responsibility. “My generation deserves a cleaner world,” he says. His message to shoppers is simple: Choose products that are stylish and eco-friendly—creations that don’t add burden to the planet.
Decoupage for the planet
With pieces of paper, old bedsheets and dried flowers, Maya Ram, 10, a Class 5 student at Adyar Theosophical Society, transforms everyday objects into decoupage creations. Decoupage, the art of layering paper and fabric to decorate surfaces, allows them to repurpose discarded materials into functional decorations.
Maya Ram Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Using torn tissue paper, old bedsheets, dried flowers and leftover materials, Maya layers circular pots to create durable decorations. “I have also made deconstructed tissue papers with leaves, flowers, floral designs and other patterns,” says Maya, a resident of Indira Nagar, Adyar. She can also personalize items: “If a customer wants something specific, like a dog design, I can try to find deconstructed tissue paper or cloth for them, although it will cost a little more.”
She carefully applies the papers to the circular vessels, a process that requires patience and attention. “The paper is rectangular, but the pot is circular, so it’s difficult to position it correctly without bubbles,” she says. Depending on the size and design, each piece takes one to one and a half hours, and she finishes them with sealants, choosing eco-friendly options wherever possible.
A decoupage work by Maya Ram. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Maya began the practice of making items for charity at the age of seven with the guidance of her mother. “My mom helped me with pricing because I didn’t know how to do it,” she recalls. Now she’s developing her own brand, Fusspots, with the tagline: “Be fuss-free, be eco-friendly.” Calculating prices based on ingredients and effort.
In addition to selling, Maya encourages environmental awareness, refurbishing old utensils and showing how everyday items can get a second life. “I want shoppers to see how sustainable products can also create decor,” she says.
Decoupage work by Maya Ram Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
She also adapts her designs to meet individual requests, experimenting with shapes, patterns and customized themes. She explains that each project teaches her new skills in planning, pricing and sourcing responsibly.
leaves through art
At the age of ten, the student of PS Thara from Kasturba Nagar, Adyar and St. Patrick’s High School, CISCE is already carving a niche for herself in the world of sustainable crafts. Her journey began at the age of nine during an organic farmers market exhibition in Kasturba Nagar, where she was introduced to the art of palm leaf sculpture.
Thara P.S
“On the first day, we made fishbows, headbands, bracelets and watches,” she recalls. Thara has mastered a variety of designs with palm leaves including stars, squares and diamonds. “The classic is a star and three diamonds,” she explains, “but if they want, they can customize it.”
Palm leaves, the state tree of Tamil Nadu, are celebrated not only for their cultural importance but also for their ecological benefits. Being biodegradable, naturally durable and requiring no chemical treatment, they have emerged as a sustainable option in contemporary crafts. “Since it’s natural, it creates a thin layer of dust. You have to clean it with a paintbrush every now and then,” Thara explains, highlighting both the allure of the material and its strangeness.
Palm leaf chain made by Thara PS
For Thara, craft is more than a creative pursuit. “It makes me feel calm and improves my concentration,” she says. Encouraged by her mother – “she said I can do it again if I commit to it”, Thara has continued to hone her skills.
Just before the exhibition, where she was going to teach visitors, Thara said: “I want to teach them. If they want, they can learn, and if they want, they can buy it.”