From discarded bedsheets to handmade postcards
In the spring of 2024 the Paper foundation partnered with Soho House to create an innovative new stationary set made from the end-of-life bedsheets from Soho House hotels across Britain. The idea was to create postcards which would be placed in each bedroom across all of their 29 hotels internationally, each of which would be made from textile waste from their own rooms.
The project culminated in a beautifully illustrated postcard set, illustrated by artist Angelo Dolojan and produced by the Paper Foundation in partnership with Imprimerie du Marais. This project serves as an innovative example of upcycling, transforming waste materials into something truly unique.
Paper was made from textile waste for hundreds of years, with this practice only ceasing during the industrial revolution when the supply of rags could no longer meet the demand for paper. By making paper from rags, we are rediscovering a lost tradition that has unique pertinence in today’s world, where sustainability is more important than ever.
One of the great appeals of a project like this is its perfect circularity. Taking the bedsheets from the houses and making them into stationary which is once again used by the hotels. The reception among members of Soho House has been wonderful, and it reminds guests in a tangible way of Soho House’s commitment to sustainability and reuse.
Over 200kgs of textiles were saved from landfill over the course of this project, and we hope to increase this over coming years.
