Handmade by Tinni | hand knotted cotton statement jewellery | Mates of the Month

Having met Paulomi a number of times over the years, I've long been obsessed with her beautiful statement jewellery. Her colourful pieces will certainly brighten and add personality to any outfit, but there's so much more behind her jewellery and brand too. 

I'm delighted to stock Paulomi's Handmade by Tinni jewellery in our Oxford shop - and soon in Brighton too - so I thought it was time we found out a bit more about the amazing lady behind the beautiful jewellery. Read on to find out more! 

1. Tell us the story behind Handmade by Tinni & how it has evolved

Hi, I'm Paulomi — maker, colour-lover, storyteller, and the hands and heart behind Handmade by Tinni.

Handmade by Tinni began in 2020 during a time of real uncertainty, but also creative freedom. But the story really started much earlier.

When I was fourteen, my elder sister came home with a bag full of wooden and ceramic beads. That simple moment changed everything. I started playing, knotting and threading without really knowing what I was doing — and soon I was making earrings I just knew should be worn. I still remember sitting cross-legged at a local book fair in India, nervously watching people notice them... and then seeing them sell out in hours. That feeling of joy, possibility and creative confidence never really left me.

Life took me through different chapters — education, careers, family, and moves from India to London — but that creative spark stayed quietly present in the background. Then at forty, I finally returned to it properly and Handmade by Tinni was born: a celebration of colour, craft and courage.

I wanted to build something joyful, expressive and deeply personal — pieces that aren't just accessories, but wearable statements of identity and colour.

My designs are inspired by vibrant cultures, bold colour palettes, and the beautifully expressive people who wear them. I specialise in handcrafted textile jewellery using organic cotton, traditional macramé and rope-knotting techniques, blending traditional craft with contemporary, playful design that feels like it has a personality of its own.

What started as small experimental textile jewellery pieces has evolved into a brand known for bold, handcrafted work that sits somewhere between jewellery, craft and wearable art. Over time, it's grown from a one-person creative practice into a label stocked in places like the Barbican Centre Shop, Camden Art Centre Shop, Wolverhampton Art Gallery Shop, and more recently expanding into independent retail spaces like yours in Brighton — which feels incredibly special. 

Along the way, the journey has also been recognised by the creative and small business community, including being named in the f:Entrepreneur #ialso100, winning Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday, and receiving awards celebrating vibrant, ethical design. The brand has also been featured across national media including Channel 4's Game of Wool, BBC and Channel 5, as well as publications like Fabulous Magazine, The Sunday Times, and Daily Mail Online.

But honestly, while those milestones matter, the most meaningful part will always be seeing how people connect with the pieces — how they bring colour, confidence and joy into everyday life.

That's really what Handmade by Tinni has always been about.

 

2. Why colour is so important

Colour, for me, is emotion. It's energy. It's confidence. As my tagline says – Colour Spreads Joy!

I've always been drawn to vibrant palettes — partly influenced by growing up between cultures and cities, and partly because I believe colour can shift how you feel in a moment. I want my pieces to bring joy, spark conversation, and allow people to express themselves without saying a word.

3. Craft techniques & training

My work is rooted in textile techniques like rope knotting and macramé, which I learned through a combination of self-exploration, experimentation, and material-led making.

It's a very hands-on process — I've developed my own way of working over time, testing structure, tension, and form until the pieces feel both wearable and sculptural.

4. Ethical values & sustainability

For me, ethical practice isn't a branding layer — it's how I choose to work at every stage.

Handmade by Tinni is all about sustainability and joyful colour. I am dedicated to creating a legacy of change for a cleaner, greener planet.

I use organic cotton because natural fibres feel like the right choice for my designs — it is biodegradable, soft to wear, anti-allergic, and allows my ideas to flow freely.

Every piece is made by hand in small batches, without machines or unnecessary energy use, ensuring minimal environmental impact. I design with a zero-waste mindset, using every offcut of material and transforming scraps into new pieces rather than letting anything go to waste.

I also work in partnership with Ecologi, supporting reforestation projects and contributing to measurable climate impact. To date, Handmade by Tinni has supported the planting of over 340 trees and helped manage approximately 29 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, which is something I'm incredibly proud of as the brand continues to grow.

For me, doing business ethically isn't a buzzword — it's the only way to do business.

5. Challenges since launching

One of the biggest challenges has been balancing creativity with the realities of running a small business — especially when everything is handmade.

Scaling without losing integrity, managing production time, and learning how to navigate retail and wholesale spaces as an independent maker have all been part of the journey. But each challenge has also helped shape the business into what it is today.

6. Biggest moment so far

There have been several meaningful milestones that stand out in different ways.

Stocking at the Barbican Centre in London was a particularly significant moment early on — it felt like a real recognition of the craft and concept behind the brand. Since then, I've been fortunate to see Handmade by Tinni stocked across respected cultural retail spaces, including Camden Art Centre Shop, Wolverhampton Art Gallery Shop, and Walker Art Gallery (part of National Museums Liverpool), with further expansion into National Museums Liverpool shops coming soon.

Being selected by these kinds of cultural institutions has been incredibly meaningful, as they are highly curated spaces that champion independent artists, design-led products, and contemporary craft.

Alongside this, the brand has gained wider recognition through national media and creative platforms including Channel 4's Game of Wool, BBC One Show, Daily Mail, Good Housekeeping UK, Fabulous Magazine, The Lady, Bloom Magazine, and various regional lifestyle publications such as Essex Life, Kent Life, Yorkshire Life, Devon Life, Somerset Life, and Cotswold Life, as well as international mentions including Forbes online.

Internationally, Handmade by Tinni is also beginning to grow, with customers already in the USA, which has been a really exciting step in demonstrating the global appeal of small-batch, handcrafted textile jewellery.

More recently, expanding into independent retail spaces like your Brighton shop feels like a really exciting next step — it's about connecting with new audiences in a more personal, physical way.

7. Future plans

Looking ahead, I want to continue growing Handmade by Tinni in a way that feels intentional and aligned with its values.

That includes expanding into more curated retail spaces, developing new collections that push the boundaries of textile jewellery, and continuing to grow the brand internationally in a slow, considered way.

Alongside product development, I'm also really excited about building the experiential side of the brand. This includes workshops — both corporate mindful creative sessions, where teams can step away from screens and engage in hands-on making as a form of wellbeing, and also community-led creative evenings in spaces like the Brighton shop, where craft-loving and creatively curious people can come together to slow down, make, and enjoy the process of creating in a relaxed, social setting.

Ultimately, I want the brand to stay joyful, expressive, and accessible — while continuing to evolve creatively and build meaningful connections through both product and experience. 

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A big thank you to Paulomi for sharing her story and business with us. If you're looking for some beautiful, bold, statement jewellery, come and visit our Oxford or Brighton shops! 

Sarah, Y.O.U Underwear