Box & Blossoms

‘Box & Blossoms’ exhibits colour, vibrancy and creativity. It is a reflection of a welcoming culture that young people today delve in by thinking out of the box. A heart warming concept that grew out of a young professional, Sentila Longchar, ‘Box and Blossoms’ was born as a result of her immense interest that is closely embedded to her childhood.

But it was not until 2010 that she thought about turning the unique packaging into production. With a short training that she undertook, Sentila managed to refine the entire process of box making, and eventually started the production of gift boxes ideal for occasions such as Weddings & Anniversaries, Birthdays & Showers, Christmas & Easter, Holidays and any other special event, initially in partnership with YouthNet during June 2010.
Box and Blossoms now operates as a home based production under her supervision. But Sentila fully acknowledges that she owes the success of this creative project to YouthNet, even as she recalls the immense support she received from this organisation, while making special mention of Hekani Jakhalu.
The fine handmade boxes were an attraction during the 2010 Hornbill Festival, which, because of its quality and beauty, also garnered much attention. Some of those who were introduced to the products were obviously taken in by the pretty boxes made of paper that orders immediately followed. But Sentila speaks of a wedding, which she says was the first major order – and it happened in the same year that she started production!
Box and Blossoms, as the name suggests, is a mix and match of two elements - boxes and flowers. But to complete the picture is a creative mind, blending rich ideas, colours, designs, ribbons, flowers, shapes and sizes. In the process of running the production, Sentila Longchar also trained two people in this creative field, and while catering to bigger number of orders, she would employ young people, identifying those who would need it the most.
Such part time employees have included school dropouts besides others who were at loose ends at that moment. While being partially employed in this endeavour, Sentila has encouraged them to pursue their dreams, and it is indeed commendable that in making use of the fleeting opportunity, some of these youths went on to pursue their further studies while some of them went for trainings based on their interests.
Sentila is herself a lawyer by profession, currently practicing at the Guwahati High Court, Kohima Bench. But despite her busy schedule, she still finds time for Box and Blossoms, which, she likens to a favourite hobby that she has never left; something that she pursued in her free time even during college days. As an in-house production for now, she caters to most of the orders by herself mostly in the evenings (after work), although for big orders like weddings, she indulges the help of those she had trained earlier.
She is especially excited with a new concept she introduced to box and blossoms this year: Favours. Also, with the wedding season just brewing up ahead, she is looking forward to an upcoming wedding where she is catering to the favours with the use of candles and diyas. Over the years, she has only added more colours and designs to the box packagings with her innovative ideas.
It does take a lot of patience because it is a time-consuming affair, owing to the fact that it’s all handmade. But Sentila takes great pleasure in engrossing herself in this beautiful world of boxes and blossoms, which she also seem to perfectly balance with her other profession.
Think of occasions that keep happening round the clock and one would find the concept extremely resourceful because it looks like a great one stop for any special occasion with finely made products ranging from gift boxes to corsages and wedding favours.
If you don’t find her engaged in legal affairs or making boxes, Sentila would be in the world of books, reading, or travelling, even as she confesses that these are two other things she enjoys doing the most.
But over and above, she deems it “important for a girl to have something creative in her hands”. As for her, it seems she already has that grip on creativity, even as she colours events and occasions with flowers, beauty and sweet little things.