- Art & Design
In an old warehouse in India, ARIANE GINWALA, founder of the design studio This and That, came across twenty-seven antique doors from Odisha. Their wood was weathered by the fierce sun and decades of monsoon rain. The panels bore meaningful motifs: kalasa pots filled with sacred water, hamsa birds ready to take flight, matsya fish, and elephants flanking the goddess Lakshmi. For Ginwala, this was the beginning of Niraba, a collection that restores Odisha's material memory in all its glory.
The search for meaning led the designer to Richa Maheshwari, founder of Boito, a label committed to preserving Odisha’s textile and art traditions. Together, they travelled to the Mayurbhanj district, where Ginwala was introduced to several indigenous crafts. One in particular, bobei, made a deep impression. Women from villages along Mayurbhanj’s forests weave dried sabai grass into baskets and handicrafts, earning a modest in- come to support their families. To complement the soft, tactile character of this craft, dhokra metalwork was employed. This technique, based on the lost-wax casting process, creates bronze and brass objects with intricate textures. 
A long journey
The doors were transported to This and That’s studio in Ahmedabad. Bringing the collection to life required artisans and carpenters to collaborate in a process that unfolded in real time. Without hesitation, five sabai women travelled to the studio for a groundbreaking collection. ‘It was a deliberate step toward creating real, sustainable opportunities for craftswomen to expand their skills, earn steady incomes, and see their work valued in new contexts of collaboration’, explains Ginwala. The sabai grass weaving was transformed under the guidance of Dharmendra Bhai, a master of cane and rattan work. The material was incorporated into upholstery for chairs and barstools, with traditional techniques adapted using leather laces for added strength and durability.
Niraba means “quiet strength” in Odia. It is not the absence of sound, but the presence of a concentrated, almost tangible calm.
With support from Radhika Sanghvi, known for her sculptural light installations, the pieces were displayed in a soft glow. To complement the eclectic exhibition, Boito created a capsule collection of textiles, clothing, and home accessories. The collection features heritage textiles from Odisha — such as Khandua Band- ha silk, Kotpad handloom cotton, Pipili appliqué, and Habaspuri silk. The motifs on the door panels find echoes in the woven patterns, reflecting a rich history. 
Quiet strength
Niraba means “quiet strength” in Odia. It is not the absence of sound, but the presence of a concentrated, almost tangible calm. The collection embodies this concept. Doors that once guarded temples and homes have been transformed into lounge and dining chairs, barstools, and sculptural lighting, all in dialogue with Boito’s fashion and lifestyle pieces. The Niraba Pots illustrate this interplay: handformed from sabai grass and metal, with warm tones and organic patterns unique to each piece. They can be displayed individually or as a set with dried branches or pampas grass. As Ginwala describes it, the authentic aesthetic of This and That is deeply rooted in the rhythm of Indian artisans: ‘We don’t begin with a concept; we start with a craft. A weaving technique, a forgotten material, or an old door panel becomes the starting point. Design follows’. Together with artisans, forgotten techniques are rediscovered in a process that values more than just the final product. Social, cultural, and ecological values are built in: women’s organisations are supported, motifs evolve alongside the artisans, and materials are carefully selected or reused.
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Photography by Ravi Mistry
Text by Carolien Depamelaere