East of India

In 1989 Anne Spratling and John Ayris went travelling around the world, meeting a talented family of craftsmen while making their way through Asia. These artisans hand-made beautiful items out of paper, wood and other natural materials found near their village. And so after some close work and friendly bargaining a selection of products was created, a small collection was bought, and a company begun.

Today, East of India still works closely with those original artisans, who now employ numerous other family members and friends to satisfy the increasing demand. They design all their products around the extensive range of traditional skills that these craftspeople possess and many of the artisans live and work together as family groups, passing down their skills through the generations.

Products are developed in Britain by a team of talented designers, with everything hand-made and hand-finished by fairly paid artisans based around the world.

East of India also care deeply about their environmental impact. For a number of years they have been involved with a tree planting project in Indonesia and they use recycled paper and cardboard wherever possible.