From civil engineering to soft toys

by Lakmal Welabada

People become professionals in different subjects. It could be Science, Commerce or Arts. But on the whole all the subjects come under one umbrella if we really try to evaluate them. That's why professionals in Science get attracted to arts while artistes (especially in the media) handle Science topics extremely well.

Samanthi Manoja Tanabe passed out from the University of East London after studying there for three years by being a second upper graduate in Civil Engineering. Once she came back she worked in a couple of Engineering companies, and then decided to switch onto the design sector.

Why?.... "Well, the main reason was that I could find more time for my son, Taka. And the other reasons was I always had a burning desire to start something of my own. My father P.G.Ratnayaka was the Secretary for Rural Industries and was in the local art and craft sector (both government and private) for a long time. So art and craft has been in my system since I was a school girl.

And also I was quite good at art as a school girl. Though I was a Civil Engineer, art and crafts has been in my system right throughout. All these facts might have moulded me into a different calibre later," explains Samanthi.

This clever woman entrepreneur once noticed how her adorable little son was fond of soft toys. Since she had many experiences travelling abroad, she found that such toys had had less priority in this country though the desire of the little ones were still the same as those abroad but the quality of most of the available stuff was of a low standard.

The fur materials used for the many local soft toys would have been banned by any European country as they would go for the hygienic quality especially with items that are to be manufactured for infants. This is because sometimes this fur would be harmful to the infant's respiratory system.

It was a food for thought for Samanthi... During that time the handloom materials and kits were earning a large market among the local clientele. Besides that, she could remember that during her small days how handloom became a favourite topic of her administrative father when he was working at 'Laksala'. Even her late mother was fond of handloom sarees.

Samanthi found a piece of handloom material from her old clothes cupboard. A design for a soft toy was in her mind. She just sketched it . Soon a little crocodile was stitched, filled with wadding and handed over to her baby son. Taka cuddled it throwing a glance at his mother which had thousands of words written in, 'I love you, Mama'....

Samanthi got the idea. Yes! Soft toys would be the thing. She started designing animals to cuddle. "Many of them were zoo animals, and also basically more of them were Sri Lankan species. All were made out of handlooms and cottons. Fur clothes were not used," she reminisces.

Samanthi launched the business under the name of 'Okuru', and was quite smart to open up an outlet at the Jaic Hilton too. "My husband, Isao Tanabe is a Japanese National. This was why we selected a Japanese name for it at first which meant making and giving a gift. But later we changed it to our son's name as Taka International," she says.

The soft toys and the baby room fairy tale items designed by Samanthi earned fame in a very short time. And then she expanded it to interior decorations. So for the past few years, many main business outlets including Super Markets and showrooms island wide have been decorated elegantly with her novel artistic ideas during the main festival seasons - April (New Year), May (Vesak) and December (X mas)... Samanthi can be seen working day and night with her devoted staff decorating indoor, outdoor and window show cases with gracious and enthralling decorations.

"We do not use a single imported item, and all what we use are totally environment friendly items. We hope to touch Valentine's Day as well," she explains.

Samanthi travels abroad at least twice a year, mainly to stuff herself with many novel ideas. "I do extract new ideas that enter into the world decor-market. But I would sprinkle the dust of local concepts on it by adding and using the local stuff," she explains how she turns out an exquisite abstract art work.

"We do not re-use our decor-products, and leave them with the client to keep it. Last X'mas we did a 20 feet locally made X'mas tree for a business place showroom at Ratmalana.

So, on the other hand we have no place or space to keep such a big decor even if we want to keep it for a re-use," she laughs.

This young woman who was once a practising Civil Engineer and then sacrificed her career to devote herself full time for her son has started her hobby cum business in a very small scale. But, today the demand for her decorations is very much higher than she has had ever expected.

Her devotion for work and her novel creative ideas which she blends with her business intuition has won her a vast clientele. Sometimes she handles 60-70 branches of a single company during the festive season. The number of companies that entrust her work seem rising up each year.

"I have to handle everything by my own as my husband who is a Consultant - Engineer is always abroad. He appreciates my work and gives the fullest moral support always... It is my staff that stands for me in every up and down circumstances. I'm really cherish their dedication," she acknowledges.

Samanthi could be seen back in to work with her subordinates for the year-end festive season from September itself. The hectic routine continues until mid December. Her 7-year-old son would also would accompany with them. "I won't just command and stand at a corner and supervise while the others at work.

I too work as a labourer. When at work I do not let my workers to think I'm superior. I joke and talk and try to be one of them. My son too follow this. Sometimes we work till mid night as the business places get free during at that time," Samanthi reveals the secret of her success. After every such hectic sessions Samanthi throw an entertainment bash including a trip to some place where her subordinates can enjoy with their families altogether.

And apart from the decoration business, Samanthi's newest forte is working as a PR Consultant in conducting English training programmes for local and international companies.

Hard work, devotion and faithfulness are the three pillars of her success.