Arunima Sachan is a student of National Institute of Design, pursuing Master of Design (M.Des.) in Lifestyle Accessory Design. She has previously completed a Bachelor of Design (B.Des) from National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Leather Design.
INTERVIEW WITH ARUNIMA
Tell us about the inspiration behind your project.
The inspiration for the product came from the material source itself. The arrangement and the organic curves of the bamboo leaves was the inspiration for petal structures.
How did you come to work with your chosen natural material? What do you find makes natural materials so good to use in design?
In the lighting industry, we often see a dominance of materials like plastic and metal, which are primarily industrially manufactured. Bamboo, however, not only stands out as a natural, eco-friendly alternative that supports sustainable practices but also provides economic sustainability by providing valuable economic opportunities to skilled bamboo artisans. I think what makes this material good to use is its abundance and rapid growth making it one of the most renewable resources.
What are your thoughts on natural materials & sustainability, and how do you think natural materials can adapt to a design industry increasingly focused on sustainability?
Natural materials are essential to building a sustainable future. While the design industry is beginning to embrace natural materials, accessibility remains limited. Their slower, handcrafted production process contrasts with the high-speed output of synthetic alternatives, presenting both a challenge and an opportunity. By integrating these materials thoughtfully and scaling their production sustainably, we can create designs that promote longevity and environmental balance.
Tell us about how you’d like to evolve and continue your work with natural materials in the future.
I am constantly searching for newer materials that are environmentally and economically sustainable and also searching for techniques on reducing the bad environmental impact caused by already existing materials.
Follow Arunima on her socials:
Instagram: @arunimasachan & @art_aura16
LinkedIn: @arunimasachan
