HOW IT IS MADE: Wren’s “cement” kraft paper is sourced from local packaging printing factories, retaining a link to their origins with cement bags (you can read the story here). Even today, there remains a strong link to cement because Wren uses the same type of paper, but from a different source.
The packaging print factories discard the ends of paper reels due to creases, imperfections, or their small size, and Wren acquires the paper from them. Wren’s process combines the concepts of recycling, reclaiming, upcycling, and repurposing.
Once delivered the reel-ends of paper are slit into large sheets that get delivered to a local screen printing company. Using specially prepared ink with a unique recipe to flood the screen and print the paper. Some colours require multiple screen floods, and weather conditions impact the final colour outcome. Certain colours are printed on bleached kraft paper, offering a cleaner and brighter tone, while others are printed on natural kraft paper, offering a dustier and darker shade.
After printing, Wren’s expert team of makers (meet the team) meticulously hand-cut, fuse with cotton, stitch, and coat the paper with environmentally-friendly Nano Liquid Glass for water resistance.
More information about Wren’s paper, coating, printing, and packaging can be found here.
Quality workmanship and service
Katy-Jane de Koning –
A PERSONAL PRODUCT EXPERIENCE REVIEW 2016-
Every Wren product gets tested before launch. Wendren, our founder, watched as one of Wren’s first Travel Bags made from paper fell off the luggage cart on the way to the airplane hull at Lanseria Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. This was in 2004. Upon landing in Cape Town, the bag came through on the carousel without any indication of its fall. This bag is still in use after camping trips through Africa and several trips to Europe and the States. It turns heads every time and tells stories of so many adventures. In the family, Wendren says, everybody fights for this bag because of how special it is to them.