Artist and inventor Bandana Jain works with recycled and eco-friendly materials to create one-of-a-kind artwork for the home.

Sharing a deep concern for the environment, the contemporary artist has been creating artwork using corrugated cardboard for the last seven years. She crafts unique furniture for clients — from couches and desks to tables and lamps.

She is also the founder of Sylvn Studio, a business dedicated to conserving the environment. The India-based business is the country’s only design label specialized in hand-crafted décor products made of recycled corrugated cardboard.

How did you first begin your work with cardboard? Why did you choose this medium?

Initially, I worked with a few other mediums. To choose cardboard as a signature medium was a conscious decision I had taken because I wanted to offer something different. Also I wanted to educate people about adopting sustainable lifestyle.

How has your journey with this medium shifted in the last seven years?

It only grew with time. Corrugated cardboard is certainly not an easy medium to work with. I struggled a lot and over time I gathered experience and maturity to handle this medium. I must say nobody can touch me now.

Why is it important that designers/artists use recycled and eco-friendly mediums and that homeowners choose to purchase these types of artwork?

We are all the children of the earth. The existence of our being is intrinsically connected to nature. As responsible humans, it is for us to ensure that we build a better place for ourselves and subsequent generations to come. This can happen only when we make the right choice.

Why should homeowners incorporate these pieces into their homes?

A well-designed interior accessory revs up the design quotient of your abode. And every accessory in a home is akin to an individual chapter in the overall design narrative. It defines the space and tends to be a conversation starter because of its exclusivity and aesthetics. Who doesn’t want to be talked about?

Where do you gather inspiration for your creations?

Inspiration comes to me from a myriad of spaces. As an artist, my observations and experiences guide me. My choice of medium is also a part of my experience. Once I was in Zermatt where I had the chance to explore the Eco Village; the determination of the locals to keep the town sustainable inspired me a great deal.

Photos courtesy of Bandana Jain

These extraordinary women found a way to make their mark in the design world, though once considered something of a boy’s club. Here are highlights of the acclaimed designs by the industry’s leading ladies, talents who are innovating beautifully.

Liquefy Table
Patricia Urquiola, 2017

Patricia Urquiola continues to produce timeless, contemporary designs. Each are defined by a stunning sense of color, texture and material that creates beautiful and functional works of art. Her latest collaboration with Glas Italia comes in the form of the Liquefy Table, an elegant set of tables that evokes a feeling of fluidity. Available as a high or low table and in two different colors, Liquefy is a dynamic design and an instant statement piece.

SVS Rugs
Salem Van der Swaagh

Salem Van Der Swaagh is a textile designer, committed to creating products that have both environmental and social impact. All rugs are designed and hand woven in Berlin, using 100 percent salvaged material from industrial weaving, then repurposed into highly textured, luxurious wool products.

Model 71
Bodil Kjær, 1959

Bodil Kjaer’s iconic upholstered series produced a variety of career-defining designs, including a sofa, lounge chair, bench and low table designed for use in public spaces of contemporary architecture. The Model 71 lounge chair exudes a classic, Mid-Century elegance through impeccably tailored loose cushions and a unique polished metal vaulted leg adding additional comfort and stability while creating a floating effect, a common thread throughout Bodil Kjær’s work.

Modern Line Sofa
Greta Grossman, 1949 | 2015

Modern Line was one of Greta Grossman’s most elegant and minimalistic designs, praised in particular for being representative of her background in Scandinavian design. Her timeless sofa collection has a sleek, feminine and light expression that is supported with elegant slender legs. In her words, the sofa was “developed out of our own preferences for living in a modern way.”

Miira Suspension
Sofie Refer

Miira is a series of lamps in a simple and timeless design, embracing Nordic design’s commitment to both elegance and function. The neatly mouth-blown glass and processed metal give the design balance and depth, while soft light shines from the glass globes creating a warm and unique atmosphere within a room. Shapely and subtle, Miira is brought to life by its fine curves and thin neck, adding to its graceful appearance. Available in a variety of configurations.