One big piece of news is coming out of Bengaluru! A 21-year-old student from NIFT Bengaluru has made headlines by designing a unique wristwatch inspired by Channapatna, the traditional toy-making town of Karnataka. What makes this story even more remarkable? It wasn’t just about making a watch—he went a step further and got it officially protected with a global design patent. A blend of heritage, creativity, and innovation, this young designer’s work is gaining well-deserved international recognition.
This story has the power to inspire countless people across the country—and could even reshape the future of fashion by proving that tradition and innovation can go hand in hand.
From Toy Town to Timeless Design: NIFT Student Blends Channapatna Craft with Innovation
Prithwiraj is the name of the student who crafted this unique watch. At just 21 years old, he is currently a student at NIFT Bengaluru. He recently shared detailed insights about the making process, explaining that the idea for the watch came to him during his 5th semester while working on a project titled “Sustainable Future: Innovation with Indigenous Knowledge” under the guidance of Professor Dr. Shipra Roy.
The name Olavu, meaning “liking” or “fondness” in Kannada, was carefully chosen to represent the watch’s emotional and cultural story.
Channapatna, a small town near Bengaluru, is famous for its wooden toys and lacquerware, earning it the title “Gombegala Ooru” (Town of Toys). This 200-year-old craft uses eco-friendly dyes and ivory wood, shaped and polished by hand. Once supported by Tipu Sultan.
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What Sets This Watch Design Apart from the Rest?
The watch casing is crafted from recycled aluminum, sourced from discarded automobile parts. This not only gives the watch a sleek, modern finish but also reflects a conscious design choice rooted in sustainability and waste reduction.
Through the use of traditional lacquer sealing techniques, the wooden surface is well-protected, making it both water-resistant and structurally reliable—proving that natural materials can offer durability without compromising on design. The dial can be easily swapped, allowing users to personalize the watch based on mood or occasion. This interchangeable system makes the watch both customizable and long-lasting, encouraging thoughtful, repeat use instead of fast fashion.
Thanks to traditional lac sealing techniques, it is water-resistant up to 200 meters and maintains a structural precision of less than 0.5 mm. This ensures that the handcrafted aesthetic doesn’t compromise the watch’s performance or reliability.
The rich red shade on the Olavu dial isn’t just any standard pigment—it’s a natural, locally sourced dye unique to Channapatna’s craft tradition.
From Prototype to Patent: How a Student Designer Went Global
- He developed the first working prototype in February 2024, turning his concept into a physical model.
- In April 2024, he began the intellectual property filing process, applying for a global design registration to protect the uniqueness of his design.
- The application highlighted the watch’s innovative construction, sustainable material choices, and cultural relevance through traditional craftsmanship.
- By July 2025, he received the international design patent, granting him exclusive rights to his creation on a global scale.
- The patent recognition marked a major milestone for Prithwiraj, validating his efforts to bridge heritage techniques with contemporary product design.
How Childhood Stories Shaped a Watchmaker’s Vision
Prithwiraj grew up in Singur, West Bengal, where his dad—a literature professor—often shared folk stories and cultural traditions. That early exposure to art and storytelling stuck with him and later shaped the way he approached design, including the handcrafted feel of the Olavu watch.
Conclusion:
Prithwiraj’s journey from a classroom idea to a globally patented watch shows how thoughtful design, rooted in tradition, can make a global impact. His story proves that innovation doesn’t always mean high-tech—it can also mean looking back, reimagining craft, and designing with purpose.