Jute
Light

The Jute Light is made of 50% jute fibres and 50% porcelain plaster. The combination of jute with plaster ensures that both materials strengthen each other.

In fact, the jute fiber acts as reinforcement in the plaster while creating a special and unique pattern. The strength and beauty of the material is highlighted in the minimalist design of the pendant lamp.

The jute fibers used, shaped like lint, come from Forbo's flooring factory. This natural fiber is the only waste material resulting from the production of Forbo's linoleum. By working with this waste material, the linoleum becomes a zero-waste product.

Plaster, like glass, is endlessly recyclable and can be widely used after processing. Before the two materials are mixed, the fibres preferably receive a natural colour bath, such as indigo, turmeric, or red ochre.

Variants:

Currently, the Jute Lights are available in 3 varieties: plain jute, green and indigo blue. They have an E14 fitting and are delivered including a LED bulb. The diameter of the shades is 14 centimeters.

the Vij5 steps
of the
Jute Light

Transparency of the production chain comes naturally to us.

For us, that doesn't just mean giving information about where something has been produced. Our chain starts much earlier: with the designer of the product!

We'll tell you the whole story. Click on the buttons to discover the different steps:

The Jute Light is a mood lamp designed by Atelier LVDW, the design studio of Laura van de Wijdeven. With her studio, Laura researches and designs materials with a focus on organic waste streams and bio-based materials. These sustainable or circular materials are then translated into various interior products.

She draws inspiration from the calming effect of nature on human well-being. Maintaining a connection with nature through the materials in your interior is the underlying mission of her work, which is also evident in this designer pendant lamp.

Atelier LvdW

"My work is always material driven: the possibilities of the material lead to the final design. For me, material always comes first. Therefore, the start of a new product begins with material experimentation rather than at the drawing board."

Laura van de Wijdeven

Prior to designing the Jute Light, Laura initiated a materials study on the potential for using jute lint, an industrial residual waste stream generated from the production of Forbo linoleum.

Through numerous experiments, the material "jute ceramic" was created: a sturdy material in which the jute fluff is mixed with porcelain plaster. Here, the jute fiber acts as reinforcement in the plaster while also creating a special and unique pattern.

The Jute Light has been part of the Vij5 collection since 2021. We are always fascinated by interesting new materials, especially if they have a sustainable character in addition to an aesthetic appearance.

Circular design appeals to us, and Laura's experiments caught our eye, partly because she had already taken a step toward a possible application for the material she had developed. Together with Laura, we took a further look at the Jute Light by optimizing the manufacturing process. This made small production runs realistic and succeeded in closing the cycle of the material.

The Jute Light is made manually and in small series by Laura herself in her studio in Rotterdam. Through countless experiments, she has mastered a production process that suits her sustainable slant. If desired, the Jute fibers are colored naturally and then mixed in the correct proportion with porcelain plaster and poured into a mold. The end result is finished with beeswax for extra shine and protection. Finally, the cord and socket are attached to the lampshade.

At the end of its life, the lampshade of the Jute Light is fully recyclable by Atelier LVDW. It is returned to a raw plaster powder from which Laura can make new products again; a great example of circular design.

In the material passport you can find where and by whom the different parts of this product are made.

Jute lint is the material left behind when we vacuum clean the jute undercloth. This is done before we run the cloth through the calander. The removal of ''loose lint'' is very important. The smoother the cloth the better. Any small unevenness in the substrate can become visible in the linoleum top surface.

Forbo Netherlands

Would you like to see this product in real life ?

Come to our showroom in Eindhoven or visit one of our ambassadors or other points of sale.

In need of larger numbers or application in a project?

Please contact Arjan and request a quotation here.

Vij5 webshop

All Vij5 products can of course also be ordered directly from our own webshop:

Vij5
Showroom

You can visit our studio and workshop to see, feel, and experience our products in person! We operate from a distinctive industrial building on the Hallenweg in Eindhoven. Most of our products are on display here, but currently, the showroom is being used for another major project. So, please get in touch and let us know what you'd like to see, and we'll make it work!

You can make an appointment for this by mail or phone.

Exact location on Google Maps