Recycled handmade paper technology is “appropriate” as it fulfills several objectives – it has potential as a profitable enterprise in semi-urban areas, can be adapted to easily by women workers, recycles waste materials and is less energy-intensive and resource depleting compared to its mill-made counterpart. The two centres operating for years by Development Alternatives (DA) — at TARAgram, Orchha and TARA Nirman Kendra, Ghitorni — are a testimony to these broadly outlined facts. The finished paper compares with the finest in the industry in terms of quality and sophisticated production methods. Value-added paper products are an obvious choice to further commercialize the paper, and DA markets a range of (mainly) stationery products also, under the brand name TARA.

At the outset of this project, TARA wanted to upgrade their existing product range and introduce something exclusive and “exotic” in the market. There were two important considerations - (1) the products be fabricated by the local women working at their paper plant at Orchha and (2) apply motifs and designs used by the traditional textile block-printers of Madhya Pradesh to the products, to give them a distinct appeal. Thus, the design brief was essentially an open one.  Being a student of furniture design (National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad), I thought it befitting that a range of paper lamps was a potential idea that combined utility, value-addition, exclusivity and the natural beauty and property of paper to diffuse light.

Since TARA is in the business of promoting handmade paper, it was befitting to introduce a range that uses only paper for the whole structure. Use of an additional wire frame was inevitable for a metal holder attachment to hold the bulb in. Thus, the USP (unique selling proposition) is that they are all paper products.

Besides an understanding of the natural properties of paper, my information collection simultaneously revolved around that of lamps. The market survey was done on lamps in general, and paper lamps in particular. Though there are a lot of paper lamps available at select furniture and accessory stores in the Capital, there is a definite lack in terms of variety in the designs. The same models are often repeated. Not many people are even aware of these products, though they display a lot of interest in the subject.  Urban upper middle-class city-folks are becoming more conscious of their lifestyle than ever, and their buying-power is on the rise. Interior accessory products like lamps have a high commercial value as they add immensely to the decor, and are not very expensive. According to the design brief given by TARA, these products would also have the additional positive appeal of being made from recycled handmade paper and would be handcrafted, thus promoting environment and livelihood causes. Thus, there is a lot of scope for sales if these products are marketed well, and at the moment there does exist an untapped market. 

Along with the use of block-printed paper by a master craftsman at Indore, some additional special paper was developed by sandwiching flower petals and other foliage, along with thread strings, in between two sheets of paper in the manufacturing stage. This turned out to be highly appealing, as the paper seems ordinary at first glance, but pleasantly surprises the viewer when light passes through. Beautiful shapes and shades of colour are seen. Since the petals are sandwiched, the original colour is maintained for a particular period and there are fewer chances of them getting damaged with time or due to cleaning. This “laminating” of the paper also makes it stronger.

Since the paper being used to diffuse the light was so special and decorative, it was treated like a beautiful artwork that was literally “framed” and illuminated from the back. All the final models have this feature in common. The design approach was to combine industrial and craft processes for quantitative and qualitative production. Thus, while the outer frames could be made of thicker paper and die-cut by machine, the inner paper could be hand-pasted and the final prototype fabricated by hand. Vertical and horizontal folds in the paper provide structural strength and prevent buckling. Different geometric shapes can be designed following the general pattern of making. Packaging and transportation being an important consideration, these products are designed to be folded completely. Some of them can be packed compactly into long and narrow carry bags of handmade paper.   This forms an attractive gift package that is convenient to carry too.

Towards the culmination of the project, a short workshop was held at TARAgram (DA’s paper unit at Orchha) to introduce the women workers there to the making of these products. Their response was highly commendable in terms of their enthusiasm to learn and their sensitivity towards the material.

Rather than ending with this project, the process has just begun in terms of the natural transience of these lamps from an outcome of a design process to a line of successful products meeting the needs of all  - manufacturer, business trader and the final user.

Along with these obvious choices for immediate success, are the underlying issues of environment-friendly production and providing livelihoods to people. In a labour-intensive country like ours, a combination of these two is a must for sustainable development. Though beginning in a very small way right now, a venture like this has good potential for fulfilling some of these ideals. The use of recycled handmade paper should be promoted especially for products that can make use of its special properties, thus doing justice to the material as well as being beneficial to the society at large.

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