A brand that turns scraps into statements. Each piece by Diti carries a past, a purpose, and a planet-first promise.
1. Tell us a little about yourself—who you are, what you do, and how art became a part of your journey.
I grew up in a family of artists, surrounded by illustrations throughout my childhood, where creating was an integral part of everyday life. I often found myself building stories, inventing games, and crafting toys from materials I discovered around the house. This sense of playfulness and curiosity naturally stayed with me as I grew older.
I went on to study Fashion Communication at the National Institute of Fashion and Technology, Mumbai. After graduating, I explored a diverse range of design projects, including production design, interiors, advertising, illustration, and branding. These experiences helped me shape and discover my own design language.
I ’m a very visual person, I find my surroundings deeply inspiring, I see each conversation or moment as part of a comic strip or part of the story I wish to tell through my piece.
2. Art isn’t just something we see—it’s something we live with. How does art seep into your daily life? And what does art mean to you?
Art exists in my everyday life—in the most mundane tasks, in my surroundings, in the people I meet, and in the dialogues I share with people. It is deeply rooted in what I feel and experience. For me, art originates from a raw and honest place of emotion.
I find myself constantly observing these feelings, whether I’m watering my plants, folding laundry, or simply sitting with my thoughts. In these quiet, ordinary moments, I become more aware of the stories within me.
Art, to me, is inseparable from the creator—it is a reflection of who they are, their journey, and the way they choose to translate their story into something tangible.
3. Why do you think handcrafted art matters today more than ever?
We are living in an increasingly fast-paced world, where everything is expected to be instant and efficiency is often valued over experience. Development is largely defined by new technologies, infrastructure, and rapid progress, which can distance us from tangible, grounded realities.
In this context, the tactile nature of handmade work is slowly fading. The act of touching, shaping, and engaging with raw materials is becoming less common. Handcrafted art reintroduces a sense of slowness—it asks for patience, for persistence through failure, and for a willingness to embrace imperfection.. It brings out the emotions of the creator. And this truly matters today.
4. How many years have you been practicing this craft?
I started creating pieces in 2017, while doing design projects on the side , in 2019, I gave this practice my full time.
5. What makes an artist an artist? (like who can call themselves an artist/what counts as being an artist)
An artist will have an individual personal voice. To produce something which is truly their own, has come from their own perspective. The art will come after many failures, learning new things and unlearning.
At its core, being an artist is about curiosity and persistence—the drive to keep exploring, questioning, and creating, even without certainty. It is this ongoing process that shapes both the artist and their work.
6. What does being an artist/brand that sells art mean to you?
‘DITI’ was never seen as a brand or a label. It started as an individual journey of creating functional art pieces to become part of people’s life. It was an amalgamation of everything put together and conceptualised in a meaningful piece.
It is everything to me, it is a community; where I work closely with women to produce the pieces. It is a studio where I come back, where I interact and play with materials. It is a space and platform where I take pieces to the audience.
7. How long does it usually take to create one piece from start to finish?
There’s no clear timeline. Sometimes I would dive into the material and let it guide me. And I would just come up with the designs. Or sometimes I would spend months researching a particular design. If a design is finalised then it takes 2-7 days, Depending on the design.
8. What drew you to the medium(s) you work with?
I was in my first internship in Auroville, where I worked as a copy writer, where I truly learnt about slow and responsible fashion. I wanted to explore and experience the place beyond my laptop screen and interacting with fabric did that. I was creating little hair accessories for myself and friends with whatever fabric scrap I would find. After graduation I took a variety of design projects; Production Design, Interiors, advertising, illustration, branding. I continued creating little things with fabric on the side. It was my first exhibition which gave me a real break to introduce my pieces to the people.
9. How do you see art products being perceived in an Indian market?
The Indian market is gradually opening up and appreciating the process. It’s still a long way to go. But I do see a lot of young people visiting museums, talking about handmade.
10. What’s a misconception people have about your craft?
That it can be mass produced, and can be prepared in a short period of time.
11. What’s a skill in your craft that took you years to perfect?
The finishing bit, I wish to create a shift from machine made products to hand-made, hence it requires finesse, the piece carries a balance of finish and rawness.
12. ‘Diti’ means splendour and earth goddess. How does this duality of groundedness and grandeur guide your design process and storytelling?
My pieces are deeply rooted in sustainability and the environment.
Nature is abundantly creative, and keeps inspiring me. It’s the constant dialogue with myself and asking difficult questions. I’m so amazed how nature works, the flow, the energy, the connection, it truly heals and that’s what guides me.
13. Discarded fabrics, cords, stones, and wood become your raw materials. What does the act of upcycling mean to you creatively?
I feel, when you have limited material, you can be truly creative. I learnt this during my childhood. My mother would tell me stories of her childhood days how there were limited resources and they would create games, imitating her-I would pick up broken pens, fabric, torn socks and make them into props to enact in my games..
In 2014, when I picked up discarded fabric it brought back childhood memories and I absolutely started to enjoy the process. It’s the playfulness and childlike curiosity that guides my creativity.
14. Your brand speaks of journeys, communities, and memory. How do personal travels and interactions with artisans or tribal cultures shape the aesthetics and values behind each piece?
Honesty, observation, and truly being awe of my surroundings and curiosity to dig deep to connect with the subject. I feel, whatever design I am creating, if I am able to relate to it. For me, having fun creating and feeling the connection is very important. And then aesthetics come naturally.
15. Your jute necklaces have a very unique structure. How did the idea come about to utilize this particular material?
I’m an avid illustrator and I draw very intricate lines. When I was doing material explorations along with textiles, and came across jute, I loved how raw and fine the material was and as I playfully tucked it formed the infinite knot. It is one of the design which has evolved from my very exhibition.
16. Your pieces like Maldhari Man, Kathakali, and Bos Taurus transform cultural icons into wearable art. How do you approach translating such identities and traditions into a brooch or a neckpiece?
Being an illustrator I’ve always been drawn to creating characters. When I started creating accessories, I wanted to create something which makes a statement and tells a story, and that’s when I learnt about wearable art pieces, something one could carry around with them or to keep. The inspiration comes from my travels, memory and personal experiences and emotion, I transform these complex elements into simpler designs, which can become part of people’s life.
17. Is there a song that captures the spirit of your work or something you love listening to while creating?
It's a mix of soft and upbeat. My work playlist has retro disco - ABBA , Bee Gees,
The Lumineers, Lou Reed
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