At Hastshilp, we’re committed to playing our part to protect the planet and ensure that our business has a positive effect on the world around us. Sustainability and ethical practices have always been the foundation of our company, and something we believe can always be improved upon.

The Story of Our Rattan

What is rattan and where does it come from? Rattan is a palm plant, native to North-East India, that grows in rural mountainous areas in abundance. Rattan grows wild in parts of Asia, Australasia and Africa, however the greatest diversity of this plant grows in Southeast Asia. We source our rattan and cane from Northeast India, where it grows in abundance due to the semi-tropical climate there.

Why do we choose to use rattan and cane? There are so many wonderful reasons for using rattan and cane. Some environmental, some cultural, and some purely aesthetic:

• Rattan grows extremely quickly, making it better for the environment than wood.

• Despite being so strong and durable, the rattan plant is also extremely flexible and can be bent, woven, and curved into almost any shape and design.

   

• It comes in many varieties, lengths, and thicknesses. This allows us to be flexible with our designs, depending on if we need to use thicker pieces for large sturdy items, or thinner pieces for more intricate designs.

   

• There is almost no wastage of materials, as each little piece of rattan cut-offs will have a use at some point.

   

• Rattan grows in abundance in India, where we also craft all our items. This means we are able to locally source materials, supporting other local trades and reducing emissions.

• It helps preserve the dying art of Cane Craftsmanship.

Why is rattan more sustainable than wood?

• Rattan is a vine that grows naturally amongst trees and can be ready to harvest in as little as two years (although the thicker and longer vines take around 5-7 years to grow), as opposed to a minimum of 20-30 years when using wood.

• The short amount of time it takes to grow in no way impacts its strength and durability. This is demonstrated by many vintage rattan furniture pieces dating back to the mid-1900s still being in pristine condition.

• There is hardly any wastage when working with rattan. As the vines grow up to 200 meters long, the pieces are all cut to size and the remnants can be kept and used when different sized pieces are needed.

How is our rattan furniture made?

• Rattan furniture is prepared and made in various ways throughout the world. We choose to use the traditional Indian method of Cane Craftsmanship that has been passed down through generations. This means that we don’t use any big machines or fancy equipment, just some extremely talented artisans, some water for soaking the rattan, fire for heating the rattan up, and a selection of hand tools.

   

• We try to reduce our environmental impact as much as possible, which is partly why we choose to scrape our rattan as opposed to bleaching it. Not only does it keep the beautiful natural markings and colorings that come with natural materials, but it also removes the need for using harmful chemicals. (TOP TIP: If you ever see a perfectly smooth thick piece of rattan with no markings… it’s been bleached!).

   

• In order to preserve our rattan pieces for as long as possible, we use a thin coat of lacquer once the item has been made. While there is currently no fully natural option, we use the highest quality with the lowest chemical emissions and environmental impacts. This is something we are always looking to improve upon.

   

The Story of Our Solid Brass

Why do we choose to use solid brass? Alongside rattan, solid brass is the cornerstone of our collections. We choose solid brass over cheaper, plated alternatives because it is incredibly durable and designed to last a lifetime. In a world of "fast homewares," brass stands the test of time, greatly reducing waste. Furthermore, brass is an infinitely recyclable material, meaning it can be melted down and repurposed without losing any of its strength or quality.

How are our brass pieces crafted?

• Like our rattan, our brass hardware and homewares are handcrafted using traditional casting and detailing techniques. We rely on the skill of human hands rather than mass-producing machinery.

• By choosing to leave the majority of our brass unlacquered, we allow the metal to develop a beautiful, natural patina over time. This not only gives each piece unique character but also eliminates the need for harsh, toxic chemical coatings and sealants in our workshops.

Our Ethical Practices

We believe ethical practices play a vital role in ensuring everything we create is truly sustainable. All our rattan and brass items are made by independent artisans in North India, where Aadil, our founder, is originally from. This direct connection ensures we know exactly who is making our items, the in-depth process of how they are made, and that all our artisans are well looked after, work in safe conditions, and are fairly paid for their generational skills.

Packaging and Shipping

• We send almost all our items in recycled cardboard boxes that are fully recyclable and ready to be repurposed or turned into cardboard again.

• Our tape is made of paper and can be recycled along with the cardboard.

• Our labels and packaging materials are all made of recycled paper and cardboard that is fully recyclable.

• Whilst we try to keep our packaging as natural as possible, we also don’t want any of our items to be damaged on their way to us or to you. Our mirrors are packaged using bubble wrap, which we reuse when we send our mirrors to you! This is something we are trying to find a replacement for, which we hope to substitute soon.

If you would like to know more about our materials, artisans, or our company, please send an email to hello@hastshilp.co.uk — we love to chat about all things sustainable!