Every Paper Has A Story. We Bring It To Life.
HEY!
I’m Devi Chand, the founder and artist behind Papermelon. I make some exciting paper jewelry.
I live in a colorful India. I create from my little home studio in Bengaluru. I craft so that I don’t have to do other boring things. I’m wife to one and mother to a smaller one.
FLASHBACK
As a tiny little kid, I loved to make things. My favorite things to make were glittery baubles and tiny gift boxes from candy wrappers. I proudly hung them on the Christmas tree, and then it felt like Christmas. My parents were super supportive in my crafty adventures and ignored the mess.
I grew up and studied design at NIFT. College inspired to dream, design and make more things. As a side effect, I met my awesome husband here. After graduation, I worked in a design firm. I yawned most of the time there. It took me only nine months to say goodbye to corporate life. I started Papermelon in 2009, and have since been crafting non stop.
SQUARE ONE
When I started out, all I had was an enthusiastic me and a colourful stash of paper, thanks to my design education. During one of my experiments, I made my first paper bead by rolling a paper strip over a tooth pick. I loved how unusal and delicate it looked (also messy!). That was the first of the many many hours I spend making paper beads, perfecting the art, and experimenting to make them durable.
Overtime, I’ve fallen in love with working with paper, and the magic it creates.
TRASHY TREASURES
I obsessively collect all kinds of papers – newspapers, magazines, calendars, gift wraps, paper bags and pamphlets to name a few.
And most amazingly, I have a network of friends, neighbours and well-wishers, who unconditionally passes on the vibrant paper stash they collected for this offbeat jewelry maker.
THE MAKING
I use simple hand tools and no machinery in production, because my hands are usually enough. Paper is cut into strips and meticulously hand rolled into perfectly shaped beads.
I work with papers that have irregular designs and colors, so it’s hard to predict the patterns the beads will decide to have. So when they are finished, I’m as surprised as anybody else. And I love that suspense.
The paper beads are given a coat of sealant to make the jewelry water resistant, so they can be cherished forever. The beads will rest in my balcony until they are thoroughly sun-dried. They are then assembled into necklaces, earrings and bracelets.
SUSTAINABILITY
Papermelon weaves eco-conscious decisions into the lifecycle of each piece. This includes what the jewelry is made from, how and where it was made, and how it continues its life journey. Here's how we do that.
MATERIALS
Paper is one of the few truly sustainable products as it is made from wood. It’s also one of the most recycled products on the planet.
Paper for our jewelry is recycled from newspapers, magazines, paper bags, gift wraps, calendars and pamphlets. We obsessively collect them through an amazing network of friends, neighbours and well-wishers.
All supportive beads, cords and silver findings are sourced locally from small home-run businesses.
PACKAGING
Our jewelry is packed in beautiful cardboard boxes handcrafted by a talented local artisan. The boxes are reusuable and recyclable.
Recycled crinkle paper is used as packing filler inside the boxes.
Fabric ribbons cut from tailoring waste add the finishing touch to our complimentary gift packaging. With their beautiful textures and patterns, they make each package unique.
Address is handwritten on envelopes. (Yes, it’s a bit of work, but we also get to show off our handwriting.)
STUDIO PRACTICES
All jewelry is handcrafted in our little home studio.
We use simple hand tools and no machinery in production, which means low energy requirements.
We follow a zero waste policy in our studio. We didn’t work hard on this, our materials and designs naturally allow this to be possible.
We transform everyday objects into efficient work equipments. Old pens and bottles, for example, are upcycled as moulds to make the base of rings and bracelets.
Our self-constructed lightbox placed in the balcony with ample sunlight works beautifully for our photographs.
We started as an ordinary business in 2009. Thankfully, we had an eye for ‘upcycling’, though the word was not coined back then. The brand naturally evolved by making sustainable choices in every step and detail – in life and business. We’re not perfect, but we’re determined to making this an extra-ordinarily ecologically committed business.
NEW DESIGNS EVERY MONTH
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Click here : https://papermelon.com/newsletter/
