Going organic — all the way

Jenny Pinto has taken organic to a whole new level. Based in Bangalore, Pinto is one of a few studio hand paper makers in India. She doesn’t just stop there; she transforms her paper into various home decorative pieces.

Previously a successful ad filmmaker in Mumbai, Jenny finally decided she wanted some change. “I had spent years making ad films in Mumbai, and successfully too, and I felt I need to move on, explore my own creativity, explore ‘greener pastures’ – literally!” says Pinto. “Paper making opened many of these doors for me.”

Pinto had always been fascinated and intrigued by paper for some reason — its feel, texture, all the different colours and kinds. So she started making paper at home with various waste agricultural materials — banana, mulberry, kora grass, jute, sisal and so on. She continues to experiment with new fibres.

Something that started small is now a passionate business, with a team that helps her with the tedious process in her studio.
“Its faster and easier to work with a team because there are many elements that go into the process of turning fibre to paper to lights,” says Pinto.

While papermaking is fun and can be done at home at a hobby level, it needs some infrastructure if you are doing it at a commercial level or want some quality, explains Pinto. She makes personalised lamps, home accessories and stationery for a niche market across India and internationally.

The entire concept of papermaking as used by Pinto, as well as the infrastructure she uses to create her paper lamps and other home accessories, is green in itself. Her new studio in Bangalore has been constructed with mud bricks and is designed to harvest rainwater as well as recycle sewage water and water wasted from the papermaking.

The water is then used for her garden where she grows organic fruits and vegetables. “Most of the aspects to my work are green. And that will increase and expand as people’s lifestyles get greener,” says Pinto. However, it is clear Pinto incorporates green into more than just her work.

The papermaker doesn’t stop just there. Recently she has established contact with NGOs, primarily in South India, to help women generate income by making paper using waste fibres in their homes. Organisations such as the Beluku Trust in Kanakpura have approached Pinto to conduct papermaking workshops to help the women. She has also helped women in Ahmedabad and Hampi. When asked how she was inspired to get involved this way she says, “I draw my inspiration from life. From the natural world. And I don’t go looking for anything or anyone. I believe that like minds always connect.”

Pinto will expand her works and herself as nature wills. She does not think she will move on from paper, as she loves it too much. Her future steps are open and she will simply go with the flow. “I am not much of a planner,” she says. “I believe in organic growth.”