Dahan is a series of one-off handcrafted benches designed as a response to our concern about the diminishing richness of human experiences in today's throwaway culture. The objects we use and consume perpetuate a cycle of consumerism, forcing people to create and purchase items to keep up with never-ending production that often ends up in landfills. With Dahan, we aim to reintegrate humanity and nature into our consumption patterns by prioritizing natural materials and local craftsmanship.

Dahan's approach embodies innovation in both material utilization and craftsmanship. The bench is made entirely out of rattan, specifically Tohiti for the frame and Sega for binding, chosen due to their versatility, resilience, and rapid regeneration in various Indonesian forest ecosystems.

Rattan plays a crucial role in the local economy and livelihoods of many villages in Indonesia, being the world’s largest producer of rattan. Despite its potential, rattan remains undervalued—seen as an inferior material to other globally available materials such as wood. The plants are also not always cultivated and cared for properly—often exploited in their sourcing. Local rattan farmers and artisans are also frequently overlooked for their skill. Many of them stopped working in the rattan supply chain because they received very little compensation for the hard labor they needed to put on it.

In shifting the public image of rattan, we explore innovative shapes and larger-than-normal sizes to create statement pieces that showcase the potential of as well as to reposition rattan and Indonesian craftsmanship. By collaborating with local artisans from Cirebon, West Java, we aim to give rattan a 'new face' by combining contemporary design sensibilities with traditional craftsmanship. This not only elevates rattan—and its 600 species—as a material worthy of consideration for various applications but also supports those intimately involved in its cultivation—the local farmers and artisans.

In sourcing our rattan, we prioritize sustainability and climate considerations. We harvest the material only as needed and with a clear understanding of its intended use, ensuring responsible practices that support its natural regeneration. Our deep knowledge of rattan's growth conditions, durability, inherent flexibility, and traditional shaping techniques inspires us to use these methods in unconventional ways. This knowledge guides our creative process, influencing decisions on shape—taking inspiration from tree branches to honor the material's origin; size—purposefully oversized to challenge conventional rattan furniture structures; and our refusal to mass-production, prioritizing individuality and quality to ensure each piece retains a personal touch.

Each Dahan piece provides a contemporary perspective while honoring the rich heritage of our materials and the skilled artisans who craft them, aiming to restore the meaningfulness of objects as integral parts of human experiences.