Meet Madhu Akasapu-Smith

We were lucky to catch up with Madhu Akasapu-Smith recently and have shared our conversation below.

Madhu, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
Creativity is what keeps me alive and sane sometimes! In times like now, where we emphasize mindfulness and meditation, pursuing creative projects can not only be therapeutic but also meditative.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
As a child, I always loved to create, I used to design my own clothes, as eclectic as they were, but I always enjoyed the process of designing. I always thought I would be a part of the fashion world. But coming from a conservative society and because of lack of role models (at that time atleast), fate had different plans for me. That’s how I ended up becoming an engineer. Even while studying and working as an Engineer, I never ceased to create and design. I started designing and making my own jewelry. And I thought it was time to put it to test, so I opened my Etsy Store, Masakali Studio, a one stop shop for bohemian jewelry, and handmade crochet items. I always believed in the adage “Jill of all trades and master of all”! So I kept trying new things with jewelry design and handmade crochet items.

I draw a lot of inspiration from my culture. India is a country full of color and artists. So every time I visit home, I explore jewelry supplies, beads like kundans and Jhumkas in an attempt to introduce to the western world. My journey is ongoing and I am still discovering myself.

My philosophy is to create one piece for one individual only – one of a kind literally.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
While I am still learning to make the most of my creative journey, I have found these qualities and skills to be most impactful:

1. The ability to adapt to any situation, staying on top of things by researching trending themes or products.
2. Presence on social media—although I am not proficient at it, I have seen firsthand how being active on social media can work wonders for one’s business or creative journey.
3. Being honest and critical of your own work.

Looking back, I realize I could have invested more resources in conducting market research in my area of interest. Additionally, being creative with my presence on different platforms, such as participating in artists’ markets, pop-up shops, various e-commerce sites, and even different boutiques, would have been beneficial.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?
Because our markets are flooded with numerous jewelry designs and crochetpreneurs, it is very challenging to stand out. In a situation like this, it is extremely difficult to motivate yourself and believe that there will be light at the end of the tunnel.

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