A house built around Indian handmade paper
Chimanlals grew from the handmade-paper department of Chimanlals Paper Co. in the early 1960s. Today, its catalogue brings that material into cards, envelopes, writing papers, gifting and packaging.
From a paper department to a paper house
What began as a handmade-paper department became a studio devoted to social stationery and gifting: greeting cards and coordinated envelopes, letter papers, gift envelopes, tags, bags and packaging. The company has long worked to promote Indian handmade papers, a commitment it traces to the 1960s.
It was formally incorporated by the late Mrs. Bharati B. Dalal and continued as a family paper house.
Drawn from craft and culture
The designs take their cues from India’s traditional arts, and turn them into paper you can send, gift and keep.
- Textile weaving
- Embroidery
- Khadi printing
- Ancient architecture
- Native & folk art
- Pottery
- Jewellery
- Traditional motifs
What the paper is made of
The core ingredient is cotton waste. Texture comes from additives blended in varied proportions. Examples described by Chimanlals include:
These are examples of what can go into the handmade paper. Not every product contains every material.
Printed by hand, colour by colour
Chimanlals largely uses silk-screen printing. The supplied company profile describes it as a labour-oriented process with a rich, vibrant result.
Because it is done by hand, slight variation between pieces is natural. It is the signature of a handmade object.
Come and see the paper in person
Our showroom is on D.N. Road in Fort, Mumbai. Call ahead if you are looking for a particular design.