NATURE'S CHILD

Meet Vaidehi Lilladhar Thakkar, the fibre flat artist who makes lamps out of cabbage and other veggies and fruits. Next on her agenda is furniture! We speak on the innovation and inspiration behind her exacting craft

- AVRIL NOEL D'SOUZA

Vaidehi Lilladhar Thakkar grew up in a small town in Kerala alongside nature. She remembers going on long walks along the backwaters and seashore, and spending hours exploring the family’s sprawling backyard. She says, “These experiences were magical! The flowers, the insects, the seashells, even the seeds…were for me treasures hidden in plain sight.” And they stayed with her long into her young adult life…she couldn’t shake off the wonderful symmetry of nature’s creations! “These influences left an indelible imprint and it is probably within these memories that I started to observe design in nature. But I came to think of it as a calling and a potential career choice during my higher secondary.”