At the intersection where digital precision meets craft, The Wicker Story has long been a pioneer of “craft design.” Under the vision of Hyderabad-based architect and founder Priyanka Narula, the studio has evolved from the nostalgic experimentalism of its first piece, Imli, to orchestrating 100-foot-long seamless installations that challenge the perceived limitations of cane and rattan. Now, Narula has returned to the intimate scale of the home with her latest collection, Whispers of the Wildwood, a poetic exploration of the forest.
While previous works relied on the rigid beauty of Fibonacci-inspired geometries and DNA-like structures, Whispers of the Wildwood breathes a new organic softness. It is an invitation to slow down, drawing its tongue from the meandering of rivers, the density of forest canopies and the textured elasticity of bark. “True inspiration is often found in the quieter corners of life: a flicker of childhood nostalgia, the remembered warmth of a mother’s touch, or a lonely evening walk. These are the slow, sacred moments that bring me back to myself in the midst of life’s chaos,” says Narula.
Each piece, such as the Pagdandi wall unit and the Bark ornament, uses cane and rattan to mimic natural movements such as the flow of forest paths or the gentle sway of wild grass. The steady dawn-to-dusk lamp captures the golden-to-purple gradient of a setting sun through intricate weaving, while Bark Jhula recalls the weightless freedom of childhood.
