One of the first collections for our home brand TOWITHFROM involved working with cycle rickshaw decoration workshops in the old quarters of Banaras city. We explored working with typography - initially in the style of the decorators themselves, and later more formal styles including words such as Happiness, Nostalgia and Handmade. We also moved into imagery with colour filled artworks inspired by subjects as varied as Mexico's Day of the Dead festival to USB symbols and alphabet charts. The project instilled reassurance into the makers group - opening a new avenue for their work, oft neglected as only a final cosmetic act in the fabrication of a cycle rickshaw. Eventually, one of the lamps made using the repousse technique was exhibited as part of our stand at the Salone Satellite, Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan, Italy. And so were a pair of stools made using the typical faux-leather collage method employed to make rickshaw seats.
