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Oorjaa Introduces the Sea Sponge Table Lamp: A Study in Material, Craft, and Quiet Light

  • Writer: Style Essentials Edit Team
    Style Essentials Edit Team
  • Dec 7, 2025
  • 3 min read

Oorjaa has always approached lighting from a place of material curiosity rather than decoration, and the Sea Sponge Table Lamp continues that line of thinking with a focus on texture, handcraft, and a slower way of making. The lamp takes its cue from marine life — specifically the irregular, naturally formed structure of sea sponges — but the reference is handled lightly. What stands out is not the imitation of form, but the sense of ease in its contours: nothing sharp, nothing overly sculpted, just a shape that feels settled and familiar.


At the centre of the lamp is banana fibre paper, a material Oorjaa has explored for decades. The fibre is processed into sheets that retain a visible grain, giving the lamp its characteristic surface — slightly uneven, soft to touch, and responsive to light. When illuminated, the fibres diffuse the light in a warm, concentrated manner. It is not a task lamp or a statement lamp; it is the kind of lighting used to soften a corner or add warmth to an interior without drawing attention to itself. This quality makes it adaptable across different settings, especially as more interiors shift toward natural materials and atmosphere-led lighting.


Oorjaa’s work has always been rooted in Bangalore, where the studio began as a handmade paper workshop in 1998. Over time, it developed into a space for experimentation with natural fibres and waste materials, but the process remained grounded in handcraft. The Sea Sponge Lamp reflects this consistency. Each piece is made through low-impact methods, relying on artisans who work with the fibres, mould the paper, and finish the lamp individually. Variations occur naturally, and these small differences reinforce the studio’s belief that craft does not need to be polished into uniformity to feel refined.


The lamp’s relevance also comes from how lighting has changed in the past few years. Homes and hospitality spaces increasingly turn to lighting that shapes mood rather than brightness, and the Sea Sponge sits comfortably within that shift.

It works well in living rooms where a central light may be too harsh, on bedroom side tables where a gentler tone is preferred, or in reading corners where soft diffusion is more valuable than direct visibility. Boutique hotels and wellness spaces use lamps like these to create transitional areas — spaces that bridge public and private zones through subtle, warm light.


In terms of design language, the lamp aligns with the broader movement toward natural textures and handcrafted pieces within contemporary interiors. Designers and homeowners are choosing materials that retain their natural character, and this lamp offers exactly that. The banana fibre paper, once illuminated, reveals layers within its surface, creating a visual depth without needing ornamentation. It is simple, but not minimal in the clinical sense; it carries the imprint of its making.


Sustainability is often treated as a marketing point, but for Oorjaa it has been a working principle long before the term gained traction in design. The studio consistently uses renewable fibres, offcuts, and repurposed materials, not as an aesthetic choice, but as a way to reduce environmental impact while keeping craft at the centre of production. The Sea Sponge Lamp fits neatly into this approach — its materials are renewable, the production relies more on skill than machinery, and its longevity lies in its straightforward construction.


The lamp also underscores a shift in how Indian design studios are positioning themselves internationally. Rather than leaning into ornate or traditional craft narratives, Oorjaa presents a contemporary, material-led sensibility that sits easily alongside global design dialogues. It is Indian in its resourcefulness and craftsmanship, yet international in its restraint and approach to form. The Sea Sponge Lamp is an example of how Indian studios are redefining the vocabulary of sustainable luxury.



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