After weeks of planning from afar, I’ve landed back in India – five intense, colourful, and inspiring days in Jodhpur.
My schedule here is always full: early morning factory visits, checking the progress of custom pieces, selecting finishes, running quality control. What’s ready for the next container? Which bespoke projects still need adjustments? I move from one workshop to the next, clipboard in hand – but somehow, it never feels like routine.
Because between the meetings, there’s Jodhpur…
The city hums with life. I walk through narrow alleys where artisans shape wood by hand, pause at roadside tea stalls, and watch as mango carts – bright orange against the dusty blue walls – pass by with the scent of summer.
One morning, I took a detour to visit a small collective that handcrafts paper-mâché decor pieces – a tradition that’s slowly disappearing in many parts of India. The workshop is tucked away in a quiet lane, and inside, the air smells faintly of glue, clay, and old newspapers. I watched as delicate bowls and vases took shape layer by layer – each piece molded, sanded, and finally painted by hand. Their work is time-consuming, almost meditative – and the result is lightweight, vibrant, and deeply expressive.
It reminded me why I love these trips: discovering materials and crafts beyond woodwork, supporting artisans who keep heritage techniques alive, and finding ways to bring these stories into our collections – in honest, respectful collaboration.
And then it hits me again: mango season is at its peak. The fruit is everywhere – in baskets, on trucks, in the air. But what many don’t know is that the same tree that bears this iconic fruit also gives us one of our most beloved materials.
Mango trees stop producing fruit after about 7 to 10 years. In a country where over 66 billion mangoes are consumed every year, that adds up quickly. Luckily, the wood isn’t wasted. Instead of being burned, it’s turned into something lasting – into furniture with character. It’s sustainable, durable, and full of beautiful texture. A real gift to work with.
So as I walk through the workshops, run my hands across a sanded surface, or approve the final polish on a hand-carved headboard, I’m reminded of why I come back here.
For the people, the craftsmanship – and yes, the mangoes.
