Humtsoe Crafts is a home based jewellery crafts which initially started as a modest crafting tassel earrings, and soon evolved into a platform for experimentation with beads, clays, and resins. Irene Sungbeni’s journey into clay jewelry design was sparked by a deep fascination ignited by online imagery.
Speaking with Nagaland Tribune, Irene Sungbeni said that she was quite fascinated when she saw images of clay jewelleries in the internet. Instantly she made a deep search from YouTube and Google and gradually she managed to know more ideas and details on clay designs. Back then, clay jewellery designer in Nagaland was a rarity. This led to Irene researching from Google on which products and company to choose for. YouTube helped me a lot on starting clay works, says Irene who made herself productive during the pandemic.
With a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from SD Jain Girls College, Dimapur, Irene’s journey is not just one of artistic exploration, but is a testament to passion, perseverance, and the power of handmade craftsmanship.
Beyond her role as a jewelry designer, Irene served as a Student Union leader in Yanpha Village, Ralan Area of Wokha District, while also dedicating her time to church ministries. However, it was amidst the challenging backdrop of a nationwide lockdown in 2020 that Irene seized the opportunity to embark on her entrepreneurial odyssey.
However, Irene’s entrepreneurial journey was not without its share of challenges. As a one-woman army, she navigated the complexities of handling orders, sourcing raw materials, designing, and delivering products, all while striving to maintain the quality and uniqueness of her creations. Despite the hurdles, Irene finds solace and fulfillment in pursuing her passion, defining happiness through her dedication to her craft and seeing each challenge as an opportunity for growth.
In recent years, handmade jewellery trend has gained momentum, to which Irene advocates for authenticity and originality, urging aspiring designers to embrace innovation rather than imitation.
Apart from the support from her family, relatives and friends, Sungbeni mentions that many schemes for artisans are provided by the government but they are not reachable due to individual’s negligence or other reasons. She lamented that in most cases local handmade artisans promote their designs by themselves rather than government promoting them. She hopes that the government will reach out and support the local handmade artisans.
Speaking on the sustainability of local handmade artisans in the market, Irene remark that Nagaland is well known for local handmade business and the demand for local handmade jewelleries is increasing on a daily basis. Apart from jewelleries, many local products like wine, soap, clothing and other essentials are exported in many parts of the state, mentioned Irene. “The culture of local handmade attempts to promote all the different identities by working together which in today’s generation we called it a Fusion,” she added.
Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play
The collections of Humtsoe Crafts are based on beads, clays and resins. The designs are customisable so it depends on her clients on which design they want to opt for. Irene also mentions that she takes suggestions and corrections from her clients and this is how her works get better.
According to Irene, people message her and inquire on which company to opt for buying clay, how to work on it, how to make it well varnished and vice versa. Amid the pandemic, Irene also collaborated with other local handmade designers. Besides local collaborations, Irene aims to collaborate with designers from other states of India. According to her experience meeting sale goals depends on the product she designs. “If I make a unique and eye catching pieces, my sale increases. So that’s how I learn to be more creative and innovative and eventually my sale increases,” says Irene.
Sharing her personal experiences, Irene says that rewards depends on what and how an individual mould oneself. She encourages all upcoming handmade artisans to be passionate about crafting, with patience and a lot of practice. She urges the idle youths to focus more on what makes them happy. “The foremost must be ‘Talent’. Your talent and your aptitude will take you to many opportunities and places. Do not sit idly at home. Do something, be productive and be a hardworking person as in Proverbs 12:24 says, “Hard work will give you power, being lazy will make you a slave”,” Irene advises.
