One of the most inspiring stories emerging in Indian design is that of Bamboo. This however, is not simply a tale of designers creating cutting-edge aesthetically driven products from eco-friendly material; this is about a holistic approach to sustainable design that is empowering artisans in rural India to become self-sufficient.
In Tripura, a state in the north-east where bamboo is cultivated, young designers are coming up with simple products that minimise the use of hardware, are sourced locally and develop local skills. Rebecca Reubens, who runs social design firm Rhizome, which works with the Kotwalia community of Gujarat, has taken the project one step further by opening her own retail outlet, Bamboo Canopy, to provide a vital link to the urban markets these communities are so removed from.
The drive is supported by design programmes at the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad, which has produced a raft of designers in recent years, including Sandeep Sangaru, Andrea Noronha, Manali Beri, Rajiv Jassal, Garima Aggarwal and M P Ranjan, who are all innovating new techniques for working with bamboo.
'The Tree' bookcase by Sandeep Sangaru for Sangaru Design Studio
'Flying bird' coat hanger by Rajiv Jassal, from the National Institute of Design, India
'Bo' table lamp by Andrea Noronha from the National Institute of Design, India
Laminated stool by Manali Beri from the National Institute of Design, India
Tripod stool by Garima Aggarwal from the National Institute of Design, India
Cube stool by M P Ranjan from the National Institute of Design, India
'Tessellation' coaster by Rhizome, from Bamboo Canopy
'Kids' hanger by Rhizome, from Bamboo Canopy
Bamboo pillar candle holder by Rhizome, from Bamboo Canopy
'Bar mitzvah' bamboo stopper candle stand on reused bottle by Rhizome, from Bamboo Canopy
'Branch' hat stand by Rhizome, from Bamboo Canopy
-
Premium patisserie Naya is Mayfair’s latest sweet spotHeritage meets opulence at Naya bakery in Mayfair, London. With interiors by India Hicks and Anna Goulandris, the patisserie looks good enough to eat
-
Discover midcentury treasures in Marylebone with Álvaro by AppointmentLondon is full of sequestered design havens, and Wallpaper* knows them all. Allow us to point you in the direction of Álvaro González’s shop window on Nottingham Place, home to a bonanza of beautiful 20th-century antiques
-
Beach chic: the all-new Citroën Ami gets an acid-tinged, open-air Buggy variantCitroën have brought a dose of polychromatic playfulness to their new generation Ami microcar, the cult all-ages electric quadricycle that channels the spirit of the 2CV for the modern age
-
Inside the Shakti Design Residency, taking Indian craftsmanship to Alcova 2025The new initiative pairs emerging talents with some of India’s most prestigious ateliers, resulting in intricately crafted designs, as seen at Alcova 2025 in Milan
-
'Now, the world is waking up': Vikram Goyal on bringing Indian craftsmanship to the global stageWe talk to Indian craft entrepreneur Vikram Goyal about redefining heritage, innovating with repoussé, and putting Indian craftsmanship on the global map.
-
‘The Indian market has come of age’: Inside Nilaya Anthology, India’s new design destinationNilaya Anthology – a global design showroom with a distinctly Indian perspective – has opened in Mumbai
-
This ethereal Chennai home is a celebration of Indian craft and cultureDesigned by Multitude of Sins, this Chennai home is an artisanal trove of rich texture and secret garden-like design. Wallpaper* speaks with design principal Smita Thomas on crafting the space
-
Indian furniture brand SĀR Studio is putting Pune on the map with a new flagship and residency programmeSĀR Residence, a multi-use concept space, acts as an extension of the Indian furniture brand
-
Pierre Jeanneret and Edward Armitage: tracing design inspiration in ChandigarhBritish designer Joe Armitage set off for Chandigarh, India, to trace his grandfather Edward’s footsteps and recreate a photograph of the latter’s ‘Armitage’ lamp. A trail of intrigue around its inspiration lay in wait, as he reveals
-
It’s the first-ever Design Mumbai: here’s what to seeAt least 100 international and Indian brands will showcase at Design Mumbai, referencing India’s rich and storied heritage of craftsmanship and highly specialised craft clusters (6-9 November 2024)
-
Pierre Jeanneret’s Chandigarh furniture meets South Asian diasporic art in an unusual London exhibitionRajan Bijlani opens a show combining Pierre Jeanneret furniture for the Indian city of Chandigarh with works for sale by six artists of South Asian origin – in his own London townhouse
