A pioneering collaboration between Delhi-based design studio Daera and sustainable brand Cancelled Plans is turning industrial waste, including discarded pharmaceutical packaging, into high-end designer furniture and home décor. The initiative has already repurposed 500 kg of waste materials, preventing them from ending up in landfills.
From Discarded Materials to Chic Designs
The collection, aptly named Daera X Cancelled Plans, utilizes a diverse range of discarded materials such as tablet packaging, plastic wraps, shredded pharmaceutical waste, textile scraps, and leftover billboard printing. These unconventional resources are transformed into unique pieces with a minimalist aesthetic, drawing inspiration from the Bauhaus movement's focus on function and abstract forms.
Founders Jannat Gill and Sharon Sethi of Daera teamed up with architect Mallika Reddy, who established Cancelled Plans in 2018 with a mission to develop fabrics from waste. The idea for this innovative partnership emerged during a wedding in Thailand in 2019, where the trio discovered a shared passion for sustainability and creative repurposing.
A Journey Rooted in Sustainability
Mallika Reddy's background in the pharmaceutical industry provided a firsthand perspective on the vast amounts of waste generated. This experience fueled her desire to integrate waste materials into her designs, a philosophy that perfectly aligned with Daera's vision. The collaboration's core principle is to reflect the future and create furniture that embodies a circular economy.
The waste materials are carefully sourced from industrial areas around Delhi and Hyderabad. These non-hazardous discards are then ingeniously converted into fabrics, which serve as upholstery for the furniture. The team collaborates with skilled artisans in Hyderabad, including traditional embroiderers from the Charminar area and handloom weavers in Pochampally, ensuring both sustainability and craftsmanship.
Products for a Sustainable Future
The Daera X Cancelled Plans collection features an array of distinct items, including lounge chairs, warp chairs, shuttle benches, chandeliers, pod lights, and oracle mirrors. Each piece is designed to exhibit a fine, linear, and subtle appearance, allowing the unique textures and patterns of the repurposed fabrics to take center stage. This innovative approach offers consumers across India stylish, functional products while contributing to environmental conservation by giving discarded materials a valuable second life.