Ek Kalakaar, the brainchild of former transportation designer, Anurag Bhandari, is a unique brand committed to transforming waste materials into sustainable, functional, and artistic furniture and lighting. His journey began with a deep-rooted passion for the environment, nurtured through years of experience in the family steel business.
We talk to him about how he repurposes waste and develops it into functional artistic treasures in the form of furniture.
Anurag Bhandari
PHILOSOPHY OF REPURPOSING
So, the philosophy we use is all about reusing and repurposing things. This idea had been subconsciously brewing in my mind for a long time because of my love for the environment. My background in the family business, which was in steel manufacturing, played a big role. My father was a steel maker, and I worked in steel plants, so I could see the different kinds of positions industries hold. This experience was cooking in the back of my mind— how to solve these problems and what to do about them. I had already started shifting my lifestyle toward more sustainable practices, reducing plastic usage and waste. Eventually, when we were out of our family business, I had to figure out what to do next. Although my background is in transportation design, not interior or furniture design, I’ve always had an inclination toward product design. This led me to a house in our farmhouse—my uncle’s place—that wasn’t fully constructed due to financial constraints. We began storing things there, which later became my studio. I started making things with whatever materials were available, and some of them turned out really well. That’s when my philosophy of repurposing whatever is in front of me began to solidify, and Ek Kalakaar was born.
CREATING ART AND FUNCTIONALITY FROM WASTE
Every waste material we use has its own unique characteristics. When working with new waste materials, we never know exactly how they will bend or how paint will adhere to them, so there’s always an element of uncertainty. Since things made from waste materials can look raw, we focus a lot on finishing. We use the best coatings and paints to ensure the final product is polished and presentable. Often, people don’t even realize that the product is made from waste materials because we cover it up with other elements. In our designs, waste materials serve different functions. Sometimes, they’re essential to the functionality of the piece, while other times they only play an aesthetic role. We strive to balance the use of new and repurposed materials. Because we work with waste, there’s an inherent limitation on what we can do with the materials, which often leads to quirky, unique designs. Although I don’t aim for my products to be purely artistic, the nature of the materials we use often gives them an artistic look. My engineering and design background allows me to create these pieces naturally. The balance between functionality and art often happens automatically.
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN EXECUTION
There’s a poster in my room that says, ‘Soch mat, bas kar de.’ It’s simple but meaningful—it’s all about execution. Many designers have great ideas, but the challenge is putting those ideas into action. Once you start executing, even small projects, you get better and faster at it. Sustainability in design is not easy, and it’s not as widely accepted as it should be, especially in furniture and lighting. But I would say that even if you incorporate just 10% or 20% of sustainable materials in your project, that’s a great start. Over time, as the market accepts sustainable design, you can gradually increase the use of sustainable materials. Every small step counts and contributes to change.
Words Paridhi Badgotri
Date 19.03.2025
