2017 ~ The Year That Was

2017 ~ The Year That Was

We probably all say it every year, but time goes faster and faster the longer we live.  2017 just seemed to be a bit of a time warp in terms of going super fast whilst cramming so. much. in.

Firstly, THANK YOU for making it the year it was! 2017 was huge and we couldn't have gotten through it without the support from you, our tribe. 

Last year included a lot of change for us: a couple of closing doors and plenty of opening ones. Highlights for us included working with Hannah in her new role as Assistant Manager, setting up systems (yes, actually!), our exhibition at Framingham Underground here in Marlborough and our pop up at Ponsonby Central in Auckland. Looking back:

The Paper Rain Project at the Tannery, ChristchurchSaying Goodbye to the Tannery

Almost exactly a year ago, we closed the doors to our 7 month store at The Tannery, Christchurch.  We loved the space and the opportunity to connect with some awesome Cantabrians but made the hard decision to let it go. 

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 The Paper Rain Project, PictonJanuary '17 saw us fit out the Picton Store with industrial furniture. Gabriela stayed on to help part-time throughout the year (Thanks G!). We had many more visitors in Picton over Winter and in Dec 17', this was amped up by the re-opening of the road to Kaikoura. Cruise Ship season is again, upon us! 

Image: Rachael Brown Photography

The Paper Rain Project Kickstarter CampaignKickstarter ~ The Finish Line

After a gruelling 10 months of re-development, shipment delays, workshop moves and hands on production, we completed our Kickstarter Campaign fulfilment in March, 2017. This included many wine-barrels, many hours and many many recycled barrel long boards making their way across the globe.

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 Image: Rachael Brown Photography

Framingham Underground and The Paper Rain ProjectThe Framingham Underground

59 skateboard artworks, a barrel room, a concrete basement, a DJ, cheese and an exceptional group of guest artists, this was our biggest show of 2017. Cheers, Framingham Wines! 

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Cause Range, The Paper Rain Project, Social Enterprise, Organic, Fair TradeBe: Cause

In October 2017, we launched a full run of 'Cause' goods - ethical t-shirt art and recycled board art - which help to support a range of social and environmental Causes (including our first kids tee!)

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 Image: Rachael Brown Photography

Kokako Coffee and Indigo Greenlaw of The Paper Rain ProjectCoffee Catch Ups with Kokako Coffee

Indigo caught up with Kokako Coffee for a chat about small business, sustainability and of course, coffee. 

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 Image: Rachael Brown Photography

The Paper Rain Project at Ponsonby Central, Auckland - Pop Up ShopPopping Up in Ponsonby

Our busiest pop up yet, November saw us set up at Auckland's Ponsonby Central for two weeks. Fully kitted out in wood and steel, we made the space home. Thanks for having us Auckland! We'll be back in May 2018! 

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 Image: Josh Edmonds Photography 

The Paper Rain Project macrocarpa skateboard artA More Sustainable Alternative

We have been developing boards from different woods - recycled rimu, locally grown macrocarpa and eucalyptus.

Forward thinking Marlborough man, Paul Millen, has been researching the breeding of eucalypts and other sustainbly grown timbers for the past 12 years. Kicking our butt in the 2015 Environment Awards, Paul won the Supreme Prize for his efforts to produce NZ grown natural hardwoods, reducing the clear felling of tropical rainforests.We love using such a locally grown timber and knowing that Paul has sustainability at the forefront of his business. 

Grown just 45km from our workshop, the golden yellow timber of macrocarpa (pictured above) makes a perfect material for our art boards. These boards are made in our workshop and laser-etched or painted for wall hanging only.

Image: Tobias Illustrations Bison on Macrocarpa.

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The Paper Rain Project, Idealog's Most Creative Awards

 Idealog's Most Creative

We were stoked to have been voted 2nd in the People's Choice section of Idealog's Most Creative in the production innovation section (thanks!) We took some time to chat to Elly Strang of Idealog about what creativity means to us and our business.

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Fair Trade, Organic and anti-slavery - Freeset with The Paper Rain Project

The Hands Who Make 

You, our tribe and our customers have helped us to provide 1414 days of freedom through fair trade employment in India. 

We believe that fair trade & organic is just the way things should be. Read more to see how you've helped. 

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Watch the space for our trip to India in March 2018. 

The Hands Who Make, Ethical Production with Freeset and The Paper Rain Project

 

Thank you for an exciting year! Here's to a fantastic 2018.

OVER & OUT. 

Indigo, Wills, Hannah & Gabriela.