Local artists and artisans have become forgotten talent in society. Their crafts have been overshadowed by non-local products which most of us assume to be of better quality. To give such talented and ardent individuals the opportunity to focus on their craft, the e-commerce platform, Tuki-Taki, emphasises and motivates traditional artwork and hosts its annual event to familiarise their customers with the face behind the goods.

Leonika Hannan, the CEO and co-founder of Tuki-Taki and also an art enthusiast, decided to start this venture to promote local up and coming artists and artisans along with providing a platform for women to sell their crafts from home. Therefore, as a personal initiative and going with the entrepreneurial spirit, Tuki-Taki was born online in 2016.

Tuki-Taki’s Arts & Crafts Fest was held on Saturday, 4 December, from 11AM to 7PM at The Midori by Lakeshore. A total of fifteen stalls including Hat Bakso, WanderArt and many more showcased their illustrations, paintings, handmade jewellery and fridge magnets and other souvenirs, some of which fused traditional and pop-cultural styles to evoke a sense of harmony and heritage and to resonate with the Bangladeshi lifestyle, history, and culture.

The fest also had something for tree-huggers. One of the greener stalls in the fest was Rizwan Samad’s display showcasing a unique range of bonsais and terrariums for decor. In the fest, various other activities were arranged side by side. These activities included Painting with Samantha and interactive puppet show by Inventor’s Puppet to engage children with the creative arts.

Tuki-Taki, the Facebook-based e-commerce platform, has a selective range of artists fervidly working on their crafts and earning a little something on the side.

 Hannan says that talented women are nowadays home bound for a variety of reasons and for them, selling handmade items is not only an extra source of income, but also a good way for them to be creative.

 Today’s society focuses more on technical subjects. Often, the field of art and crafts is overlooked even though most of us seem to appreciate the outcome of the creative arts. With that, talented and skilled individuals succumb to societal pressure as their heartfelt desires and passions die out. To safeguard such visionary and adroit minds looking to work on their dreams, Tuki-Taki is open to everyone.

 To see more of what Tuki-Taki has to offer visit their Facebook page ‘Tuki-Taki’ or contact the platform through their email tukitakifactory@gmail.com