Paper craft

There is life after death for old newspapers. Craft City, a social enterprise, turns discarded newspapers into attractive and durable baskets, lampshades and photo-frames. Take your pick from laundry baskets, cylindrical baskets, fruit baskets, pen holders, bowls and boxes. There are also table lamps, vertical lamps and round lamps which illuminate your room with a gentle light.

Craft City was started in 2017 by Eshaan Kamdar, a computer engineer and management graduate. He says it was his sister, Aditi, who was making products from newspapers after working out techniques and designs. Eshaan converted Aditi’s hobby into a social enterprise, adding new products and marketing inventively through exhibitions, architects and event managers. Mumbai, Delhi, Raipur and Bengaluru have emerged as promising markets. “The lacquer we use is water resistant and gives our products strength and durability. The colours are organic. The process is eco-friendly,” explains Kamdar.

His small unit employs 11 people. Part of the manufacturing process is outsourced to home-based workers in slums and a village on the outskirts of Nagpur. “If they work well we include them in our core team,” says Kamdar. Craft City’s products are recognized by the Ministry of Handicrafts.

Contact:  +91 9588411415; craftcitystore@gmail.com