Priyanka Patil: A Young Industrial Designer From Pune Motivating People Towards Sustainable Activities

Shail Shukla

Pune, March 27, 2021: Priyanka Patil is an industrial designer by profession and a sustainable activist by heart-based in Pune. She has been taking up sustainable activities for Thalassemia patients (kids) online for an NGO called the Wishing Factory. She conducted a workshop on the making of organic Holi colours at home on Friday, where she tutored children about colour making from simple kitchen ingredients and safe edible flowers like Gulmohar, Marigold, Bougainvillea, and Butterfly pea flower.

Inclination Towards Sustainability: Talking about her inclination towards sustainable activities, she says,” I was interning in the sustainable village of Tamil Nadu, Auroville. I participated and worked for many sustainable activities, like sustainable construction. The village’s daily lifestyle was also very sustainable, and this is how I got into the field. Later, I explored more about it and went to many places where people carried out many sustainable activities. After two months of internship, I came back to city life. When I came back to Pune, I did not want to lose touch with it. Hence I started practicing the things here with bits and pieces.”

True Sustainability: Describing the concept of sustainability, she said, “Sustainable activity involves consuming day-to-day waste materials and producing something good out of them with a sensitive touch. I think that it is the need of the hour. People are favouring organic materials. However, that is not the core of sustainability. Sustainability is more about living a simple life without any waste.”

Idea Of Organic Colour: “I was looking for Holi colors on the online website because I was unsure how the colours are being prepared in the company. So I was looking for something more trustworthy and quality pigments. However, while surfing, I got the idea of making colours with natural ingredients. I have also worked with natural dye. So why not produce colours for Holi with dye”, said Priyanka.

Difficulties While Making Organic Colors: “I was experimenting with different things to produce Holi colours. Initially, I started with beetroot, but it was a flop show. It did not turn anything close to a powder. So, I worked with natural food colors. One friend of mine just casually said that rice flour does not adhere easily, and I can try with that. So I proceeded with the idea and started making colours,” she expressed.

Online Workshop With Children: She further stated, “The online workshop with children was exciting. Generally, I tell them how the people in the olden days used to make colours. I describe to them how our ancestors used flowers to create colors. Apart from this, I guide them on how they could sell the colours in the shops.”

“On the other hand, I always have to prepare for their questions as one can never anticipate what they would ask. Sometimes they ask very general and logical questions that make you reflect upon”, said Priyanka. 

Journey and Future Plans: Narrating the journey, Priyanka says, “It been two years that I have been working towards it. It started during the lockdown. Initially, My grandmother and I started dying clothes. We made coloured bags, Napkins, etc. Later, I experimented with things. It has now become a never-ending thing for me.

Currently, I am working with an NGO, Wishing Factory. Recently, we conducted a workshop for children suffering from Thalassemia. I am looking forward to taking up more workshops with other people.”