Born in Indonesia, but raised and educated in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, Novi has an international perspective on British and Asian culture. Novi began her exploration of handicraft at college, establishing her pioneering point of view at that time. Her passion for crafts began to evolve in a stage of experimentation, at which time she began researching and developing her craftsmanship. After a long period of exploration in handicrafts, she began understanding important details in crafting and recognising the quality differences in materials. In 2016, despite the downturned retail economy, the young craftswoman partnered with Luke, who had a design and business background, to create her first collection utilising high-quality materials and workmanship. Manofatto is inspired by shapes and symbols associated with adornment, architecture, and interior design, offering a contemporary style on made-in-Hong Kong craftsmanship.

"I like to create something with my hands, even though the world is chasing after automation and fast turnover. Creating with our hands makes things very personal and allows us to earn more instant gratification when we receive positive reactions to our work as compared to factory mass-produced products. We might not be as well-known as famous brands, but our passion and effort placed into our designs and products will not be less."