Bengaluru: What began as a creative experiment inspired by Pinterest has blossomed into a successful side business for Saranya Prasad, a 28-year-old graphic designer from Bengaluru, who creates vibrant charms using ordinary safety pins and colourful seed beads.
Her handcrafted accessories have become popular on Instagram, where videos documenting her entrepreneurial journey have attracted widespread attention.
From hobby to thriving side hustle
Saranya’s journey started in December last year after she came across a safety pin charm design on Pinterest.
Initially, she recreated existing patterns, but she soon began designing her own artwork using Adobe Photoshop and hand-drawn sketches.
“Initially, I referred to patterns online, but now I design my own on Photoshop or draw them by hand,” she said.
Her creativity has since evolved into a small business, with nearly 300 handcrafted charms sold through Instagram.
Spider-Man charm tops the favourites
Among her collection, the Spider-Man charm has emerged as the bestseller.
Each piece is carefully assembled using 12 to 16 medium-sized safety pins, including one horizontal pin, and approximately 130 to 140 seed beads.
After finalising the design, Saranya meticulously calculates the number of beads each safety pin can hold before assembling the charm.
The collection includes designs inspired by the alphabet, zodiac signs, cartoon and movie characters, and FIFA World Cup jerseys, offering customers a range of personalised accessories.
Inspiring others to create
Depending on the complexity of the design, each charm takes 15 to 45 minutes to complete.
The colourful accessories can be attached to handbags, clothing or even used as decorative wall art.
Looking ahead, Saranya plans to introduce DIY safety pin charm kits, enabling craft enthusiasts to create their own personalised designs at home.
Her journey highlights how social media platforms continue to empower young creators, turning simple ideas into successful small businesses while inspiring others to explore their creativity.