Thai paper for home decoration
Curtains & room partitions made of traditional Thai banana-fibre paper capture the imagination of environmentally conscious Europeans.
Curtains & room partitions made of traditional Thai banana-fibre paper capture the imagination of environmentally conscious Europeans.
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Paper lion: Sarran Youkongdee adds value and environmental concern with his innovative interior designs by Yuthana Praiwan
Mr Sarran’s banana-fibre paper modular partitions and other products have proved a hit among environmentally conscious European buyers.
One of his outstanding designs is a curtain and partition made of banana-fibre paper, which adds immense value to the product and is chemical-free.
At present, Mr Sarran's banana-fibre curtains and partitions are receiving much attention from the home decor sector, especially in Europe, where buyers are vigilant about sustainable products.
The curtain originated from his own inspiration and that of others as well: his intention to produce a green product and raise the income of local villagers.
Before inventing the curtain, Mr Sarran met a group of villagers from Phrae's Den Chai district who originally produced banana-fibre paper for export to Europe for less than 10 baht a square metre.
The villagers were worried that using chemicals would damage their land, used for cultivating bananas, and harm their health. Still, they lacked know-how.
Mr Sarran shared the villagers' belief in producing products from natural materials free from chemicals.
Fibre paper, when produced, will normally come out black and have to be bleached white. Mr Sarran and the villagers replaced chemical bleaching substances with lime juice and made a natural brown from banana resin. They added charcoal to absorb smells from the surroundings and add value.
The banana-fibre curtains began production two years ago. This design is now in its third generation, producing export income of as much as 700,000 baht a month, with prices ranging from 1,200 to 1,300 baht per sq m.
The curtain is made in small pieces and assembled like a jigsaw, a design that avoids the use of glue or other chemicals. "If you succeed in creating and marketing a product, you must return to the villagers who are the producers not just money but also something else that will benefit them," said Mr Sarran.
His products recently received a Thai Creative Award for helping to stimulate Thailand's creative economy.
The designer is deeply fascinated by the charm of paper and Thai art. Take last year's example of a paper-fibre lamp in the shape of a chada (theatrical crown) made with fragrant flowers. The lamp was showcased at Maison & Objet in Paris, with orders of 7 million baht.
"I just want to show the people that Thai art and traditional wisdom are international, that they can actually help the environment," Mr Sarran said.
Making products from paper, he explained, uses less energy than making products from wood, plastic or metal and generates less trash.
When Mr Sarran was of school age, his economic condition was not good, and a college education exceeded his family's ability to pay. To raise cash, he converted useless paper into high-relief papier-mache. This gave him enough income to enroll in Srinakharinwirot University's imaging arts programme.
"Thais don't really see the importance of inventions from paper," he said
They are interested in metal and wood, which generate too much trash and waste energy during production, even though during the era of Ayutthaya we produced drama props including chada, from paper all along.
Today, the artist is creating tables and chairs from paper fibre and trying to integrate teak seeds in them. When the furniture's lifespan ends, trashing it will make teak trees grow from the paper. The collection will be called Mai Mai.
Mr Sarran plans to post a documentary clip on the internet for all to see that creative work can help the environment.
"Thais used to generate little trash when using natural materials," he said. "But we've forgotten this traditional wisdom.
Making products from paper, he explained, uses less energy than making products from wood, plastic or metal and generates less trash.
When Mr Sarran was of school age, his economic condition was not good, and a college education exceeded his family's ability to pay. To raise cash, he converted useless paper into high-relief papier-mache. This gave him enough income to enroll in Srinakharinwirot University's imaging arts programme.
"Thais don't really see the importance of inventions from paper," he said
They are interested in metal and wood, which generate too much trash and waste energy during production, even though during the era of Ayutthaya we produced drama props including chada, from paper all along.
Today, the artist is creating tables and chairs from paper fibre and trying to integrate teak seeds in them. When the furniture's lifespan ends, trashing it will make teak trees grow from the paper. The collection will be called Mai Mai.
Mr Sarran plans to post a documentary clip on the internet for all to see that creative work can help the environment.
"Thais used to generate little trash when using natural materials," he said. "But we've forgotten this traditional wisdom."
(Source: Bangkok Post, Paper lion, Sarran Youkongdee adds value and environmental concern with his innovative interior designs, 20/12/2011, Yuthana Praiwan, link)
Environmentally Friendly Interior Design Vocabulary
interior design - designing how the inside of homes and offices look, including furniture, carpets, paritions, curtains, paint, wallpaper, etc (See Wikipedia)
interior - the inside of something ภายใน
innovative - using new methods or ideas เกี่ยวกับการปรับปรุงใหม่, ที่เต็มไปด้วยจิตใจปฏิรูปใหม่
innovative interior designs
environmentally friendly - does not harm or hurt the envirnoment; does not pollute
create innovations that are not only environmentally friendly but also value-added
curtain - a long piece of cloth that hangs down or covers a window
partition - a division, separating a place into two or more parts การแบ่งกลุ่ม
a curtain and partition made of banana-fibre paper
banana-fibre paper modular partitions
concern - a worry ความกังวล
environmental concern
decoration
home decoration
independent - separate, not connected, working by yourself with your own resources เป็นอิสระ พึ่งตนเอง
an independent home decoration designer
techniques - methods of doing a task or activity เทคนิค
gathered tiny secret techniques about housework from his mother since childhood
a hit - people like it a lot; very popular
proved a hit - in the end people liked it a lot (not sure at first whether people would like it)
conscious - aware; noticing that something exists or is happening and realising that it is important ความสำนึก ความตระหนักถึง
environmentally conscious - aware and know about what is happening to the environment and pollution, for example
proved a hit among environmentally conscious European buyers
outstanding - clearly very much better than what is usual ยอดเยี่ยม, ดีเด่น
outstanding designs
immense - extremely large มหึมา มหาศาล
sector - a part of the economy ภาคเศรษฐกิจของประเทศ (public sector = government, private sector = all businesses, household sector = families and consumers, banking sector,...) (See Wikipedia)
home decor sector - the part of the economy that sells items for decorating the home
vigilant - always being careful to notice things, especially possible danger ซึ่งระแวดระวัง, ซึ่งดูแลความปลอดภัย
sustainable - able to be successfully continued for a long time without being forced to stop (some activities, like spending more money than you have, are not sustainable) แบบยั่งยืน ที่ดำเนินต่อไป ยั่งยืน, ถาวร
receiving much attention from the home decor sector, especially in Europe, where buyers are vigilant about sustainable products.
inspiration - someone or something that gives you new ideas or enthusiasm to do something แรงบันดาลใจ
intention - a goal, a plan for what you are going to do in the future; a plan in your mind to do something ความตั้งใจ เจตนา แผนการ ความตั้งใจ
income - money that people receive from work or some other source, used for household consumption and savings
the curtain originated from his own inspiration and that of others as well: his intention to produce a green product and raise the income of local villagers.
harm - damage ความเสียหาย
harm their health
lacked know-how - did not know how to do it
natural - found in nature (not made in a factory by humans) ตามธรรมชาติ
natural materials free from chemicals.
bleached white
chemical bleaching substances
lime juice
resin - a thick sticky substance that is produced by some trees and that becomes yellow and hard after it is collected, , often used for making paints, glue and plastic สารสังเคราะห์ที่มีคุณสมบัติเหมือนยางธรรมชาติ
banana resin
charcoal - a black substance made from burnt wood ถ่าน
absorb - to take in a liquid, gas or other substance form the surface or space around ซึมซับ ดูดกลืน
surroundings - the area around something บริเวณโดยรอบ
added charcoal to absorb smells from the surroundings
generation - a group of people or things that exist around the same time รุ่น (คนรุ่นต่างๆ)
This design is now in its third generation
assembled like a jigsaw
benefit - to get help or an advantage from something ผลประโยชน์
if you succeed in creating and marketing a product, you must return to the villagers who are the producers not just money but also something else that will benefit them
stimulate - help something grow
creative - creating and developing new original ideas, especially in art or literature
his products recently received a Thai Creative Award for helping to stimulate Thailand's creative economy.
fascinated - very interested in
the designer is deeply fascinated by the charm of paper and Thai art.
take last year's example of a paper-fibre lamp in the shape of a chada (theatrical crown) made with fragrant flowers.
the lamp was showcased at Maison & Objet in Paris, with orders of 7 million baht.
traditional - things (clothes, music, customs, etc.) that have been part of a country or society for a long time
wisdom - knowledge gained over a long period of time from experience
international - ระหว่างประเทศ between countries
environment - the natural world of land, sea, plants, and animals
I just want to show the people that Thai art and traditional wisdom are international, that they can actually help the environment