BEST BEFORE Paris: Paper Cord Baskets and Bags

BEST BEFORE’s Collection 02: A GROS LEGUMES (top), PETALE and CABAS (bottom) handmade of recycled paper cord

It made my day when I discovered BEST BEFORE on Justine’s blog upon a fold. Paris based artisans Corinne Muller and Piotr Oleszkowicz concentrate and revive old techniques in their collections and Collection 02 is all about the Korean tradition of making paper cords and knotting and weaving with them.

I wrote about this Korean tradition once before in my blog article about paper artists Aimee Lee here. Aimee did extensive research on the topic in Korea and you can read about her research and see picture of her own work in paper on her website (make sure to check out the videos, they’re amazing).

BEST BEFORE’s collection 02: A making of… and a big roll of paper cord

The designers who had previously made interior objects out of salt and wool/felt explain about their work that “we chose to work with non-perennial, biodegradable materials. Though they are not fleeting, these objects can melt away and disappear” and paper cord made from recycled paper fits perfectly into this concept. With their Collection 02 BEST BEFORE tried to create soft braidings that adjust to the shapes that are put into the baskets and bags. These flexible, oversized “everything baskets” can also be transformed into footstools as well as light fixtures.

BEST BEFORE’s Collection 02: COCON and FOURRE-TOUT

Once again it’s incredible what can be made out of paper and paper cords and strings. Besides the French shop Caravane there are currently no retailers/”Points de vente” listed on the BEST BEFORE website but due to their success the BEST BEFORE bakets and bags are actually sold worldwide so look out for them when you’re shopping for something handmade and beautiful.