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The Hidesign Atelier

 

We believe that the way you work should reflect your brand – Hidesign does not have a system of mass manufacture. Our work is a craft, and each bag is individually handcrafted by a team of 3-6 artisans. The premises where we work reflects our brand values – our atelier is constructed from bricks made of local earth and fired in kilns that were made on the premises. Hidesign established its first custom designed atelier in Pondicherry, India in 1990. This important milestone confirms our commitment to innovation, technical excellence and local community development.

 

You will not find asbestos anywhere in the atelier. You will see minimal use of paint; only solid raw brick fired from local earth by Ray Meeker, the well known low cost ecological building expert, himself. The place is all grass. Ray built ponds, waterfalls and streams into the layout of the atelier. We try to reduce the amount of pollution we generate and try to find ways to reuse resources. All waste water from the tannery is filtered using RO before it is let out. All waste water in the atelier goes through a natural process of filtration in the water bodies we've built as a part of the landscaping and is reused. We use only vegetable extracts for tanning as far as possible. All waste material is separated and reused or sold for reuse. We do not burn anything. Lunch time at Hidesign is pretty much outdoors, under the trees, sitting on rock benches and tables.

 

At Hidesign no work space holds more than 100 people at a given time with ample organized workspace for every artisan. For us the concern for ecology is an ongoing search for better healthier ways to live and work. It comes out of believing in it and making it a core value.