Shanti Ganesha

meracu

Bag maker

Shanti_Ganesha_©SusannaPozzoli

Meracu_©NinaAlessandri

Shanti_Ganesha_©SusannaPozzoli

A dance with leather origami

Shanti is a self-taught leatherworking artisan
Crafting her creations takes a considerable amount of time
Each item brings her wanderlust to life

Shanti Ganesha has a very international background and education. She spent the first ten years of her life in India, then moved to Italy, where she grew up and attended art school. After a decade of travelling between New Zealand, Australia, India and England, the Coronavirus pandemic brought her back to Venice, where she turned her passion for leather into her profession. She opened up her studio, Meracu. Shanti cuts and sews versatile and multifunctional artefacts using an age-old saddler's technique. Her approach is the result of an ongoing exchange between classicism and modern design. The minimalist design behind her bags and accessories brings geometric sculptures to mind. Each creation is crafted from leather treated with natural tannins sourced from tree bark and leaves, giving the material strength and new character over time.

Interview

Shanti_Ganesha_©SusannaPozzoli

Shanti_Ganesha_©SusannaPozzoli

What is it about leather that appeals to you?: Its practicality and suppleness, the fact that it is unlikely to get damaged or broken, and that it never goes out of fashion. It has a long lifespan, and transforms and improves as it ages. Plus the fact that it is a material that leaves room for exploration.
What can visitors find in your atelier?: In addition to my own creations, I offer a custom design service. People come to me with an idea for a bag or accessory and I make a bespoke product for them in keeping with my own style. I also repair old bags, which is a service the locals appreciate.
Is there something about your work that not many people know?: Not many people know that there are two types of leather tanning: the most common and highly polluting one is chrome tanning. I opt for vegetable tanning, which only accounts for 10% of worldwide production, and is protected by the Real Italian Vegetable-Tanned Leather Consortium.
What fuels your inspiration?: Experimenting with shapes, techniques, styles and creativity are the cornerstones of my work. I like to give the classics, like briefcases and Gladstone bags, a contemporary twist, to show that there are other shapes and looks that can be applied to accessories.

Shanti Ganesha is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2013 and she started teaching in 2023