Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Quote Copenhagen
Giving Indian saris a new life in the north Charming plaids, colourful bags and stylish cushions – made from upcycled saris, all the products from Quote Copenhagen are truly one-of-a-kind. Behind the company is Danish Hanne Birkholm who, every half year, travels to India to handpick the traditional Indian saris for her designs.
wide range of home and garden accessories made from Indian saris, including mattresses, cushions, and bags.
By Signe Hansen | Photos: Captured by Birkholm
When Birkholm arrives at Kolkata, in West Bengal, the locals know it is time to get out the saris – all of the saris. This is because the experienced entrepreneur is not content to have just any sari; she wants to sort and look through every single one of them herself. This way, she can ensure that the used saris she imports to Denmark are not just of the best quality, but also compatible with the distinct style of her popular home and garden accessories. This means that even though each product is unique and tells the story of its Indian life and use, the individual saris picked by Birkholm, and 12 | Issue 120 | January 2019
the way they are put together, give the designs a distinct Nordic character. “What’s important to me is that the products are authentic and each tell their own story,” says Birkholm. “In theory, everyone could find a manufacturer that could make some colourful prints in the desired colours and patterns – and many do – but every single thing we make is unique.” While Birkholm originally started out importing colourful plaids, Quote Copenhagen today makes and sells a
Birkholm.