Kochi-based model Papier Tradition revives the traditional artwork of paper making

Handmade paper by Papier Tradition
| Photograph Credit score: Particular Association

Hilonee Ok Shah enjoys being in her small, “messy” studio hooked up to her residence in Mattancherry. The nicely lit, verandah-like area is the place she finds peace and solace, says Hilonee, who makes her handcrafted paper merchandise right here. Papier Tradition, her firm, specialises in merchandise product of recycled paper. 

Hilonee Ok Shah, founding father of Papier Tradition
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

What began as a Covid-19 time pastime blossomed right into a enterprise, says Hilonee, who spent the next weeks researching, experimenting and finding out paper making. “I’m an individual who loves something handmade; particularly handmade paper. So, sooner or later, once I was at residence in Kochi, I attempted making it. The subsequent day I made some extra, and it went on. I discovered that making paper had a therapeutic impact on me,” she says. 

Hilonee who was pursuing her school training in Mumbai got here again to Kochi after her course and began spending extra time on her pastime. “I used to be all the time curious concerning the paper path. The place does all of the paper we use in a day find yourself? Most of it’s burnt or thrown into landfills. That was the start line,” she says. “I wished to discover how we are able to consciously repurpose used paper.” And that led to Papier Tradition, which in the present day makes delightfully textured handmade paper and sustainable stationery reminiscent of seed pens and pencils. “By recycling and reusing we can provide paper a brand new life and assist cut back the impression of waste on the setting,” Hilonee provides. 

She does a lot of the work herself — from amassing outdated newspaper, shredding it, soaking it, mixing it right into a pulp after which urgent it into paper. The sheets are then frolicked to dry.  

When sorting newspapers and notebooks that she has collected, she places apart clean pages she finds within the notebooks, that are sure to make little notebooks and are donated to youngsters in want. The used pages and the newspapers are then shredded in a paper shredder and soaked in water. 

“It’s a course of that takes time. Every sheet of paper is completed individually. However the truth that you’re creating one thing fully new out of all that waste paper is really inspiring,” says Hilonee.

Seed pens and pencils by Papier Tradition
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

The sustainability facet aside, Hilonee can be a part of the revival of the age outdated custom of paper making. Her Deepavali playing cards are letterpressed, a method of printing that’s quick turning into extinct. It includes repeated direct impression of an inked, raised floor in opposition to particular person sheets of paper. “I wished to convey again this historical custom of printing by these playing cards, so I despatched the handmade paper and obtained the playing cards letterpressed in a printing press in Nagaland.

Letterpressed Deepavali playing cards by Papier Tradition
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

A social media supervisor by occupation, Hilonee makes paper in her free time. She undertakes company orders as nicely. Papier Tradition is taking orders for calendars for 2025.

@papierculture on Instagram.