Shruthi Prakash, a 28-year-old Chennai native, has been scaling a sustainable furniture brand since 2022.

‘Ombak’ was the result of an epiphany Shruthi had a couple of years ago when she was overseeing design and marketing for brands in the real estate space as part of her family’s advertising business.

She began to see furniture and home decor as a route that would enable her to champion natural fibres.

But it was only after the move to Indonesia after marriage that Ombak formally took shape. The move provided her a window into Indonesian decor that prides itself on artisanship and eco-friendly nature.

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Ombak is the result of the best of two cultures. Raw materials for the products are sourced from both countries.

The brand prides itself on decor made out of banana fibres, seagrass and water hyacinth. “I wanted to focus on natural fibre. There are so many of them, but I decided to choose fibres that would be a blend of eco-friendly nature and good aesthetics,” she notes.

Shruthi has become adept at spotting value in what others might consider to be waste, and she emphasises that the search for such materials is not over yet.

She is currently exploring the potential of paper and raffia palm. “We are exploring fibres that do not compromise on the product and ones that are locally available,” she points out.

These materials, she insists, contribute their plus points to the furniture and decor.

While banana fibre proves to be a hero for its durability, water hyacinth is a draw for its beauty. Sea grass on the other hand is rough and sturdy.

With its range of baskets, mirrors, lamps, furniture, cabinets and wall decor, which are “100 percent handmade”, Shruthi says each product is an experiment in sustainability.

“A home is where we build our lives, so it’s here where we can start the good practices that can one day impact the world around us.”