EVERYTHING HAS A STORY

The Paper Rain Project is a social enterprise founded from a want to do good through artistic and ethical creation. Specialising in board artworks and apparel, Paper Rain seeks to make positive impact throughout its production, creation and sales. Our small, Kiwi company is based in sunny Marlborough and after several years of pop up shops, we’re now solely selling through our online shop and wholesalers. 

It is our absolute pleasure to work with some of New Zealand’s top artists. Each artwork is carefully curated in order to provide a range of boards, t-shirts and tote bags which support a range of NZ artists and causes. We care a whole lot about where our materials come from and how they are made so we’re fussy about the details. We believe this approach is what makes our offerings high quality and unique. We hope you’ll agree! 

OUR PEOPLE

The Paper Rain Project was officially founded in 2013 after years of painting recycled boards & scribbling in notebooks (2009 - current status). We, Indigo & Wills Rowe of Marlborough, New Zealand, began life among small trees – Indigo in the North of Scotland on a tree nursery, Wills on a cherry farm in Spring Creek, Marlborough. It is safe to say we both had plentiful childhoods filled with tree-climbing, vege gardens, chickens and mud. It is from these modest roots which our love for nature, the organic and environmentally-friendly grew wild. Apart from wanting to spend time outdoors and raise our daughter in the best way we can, we would love to plant a permaculture garden and walk across America – all these are far off dreams. The Paper Rain Project is a big part of realising these. We love it.

We are lucky enough to work with artists from all around New Zealand as well as an International few. Some of our many guest artists include Hannah Jensen, Katy Hayward, Milarky, Chimp, Sean Duffell, Deow, Erika Pearce, Emmaline Bailey, Hannah Starnes, Faunesque, Cracked Ink, Monique Richards and more. Meet our small but mighty team staff here.  

CLOTHING 

The Paper Rain Project t-shirts are created as wardrobe staples that tell a story. Each with an artwork that was designed to help share the voice of a particular cause, our customers take ownership of positive impact. Our unique shapes (available in men’s, women’s and kid’s) are made from rain-fed, fair trade organic cotton and hand-printed right here in our workshop. 

 

BOARD ART 

Since their inception, skateboards have always been a canvas for creativity and expression. Our art boards are just for wall hanging and we believe that their retro skateboard shape helps to create a unique, accessible art form for the home. We also absolutely love working with timber, a natural material that has a whole story and life of its own. The macrocarpa we use to craft our boards is grown just 30km away from our workshop, on a small wood lot. Paul, the grower, is passionate about sustainability and replacing heavily treated pine timbers with more sustainable alternatives grown in a way better suited to the environment. 

Every one of our boards is crafted by our co-founder, Wills, here in Marlborough. Made solely from timber with a plant-based finish, our series of artworks is laser etched into the wood. Like our t-shirts, our boards sport a range of artworks by Kiwi artists. For each board sold, a native tree is planted here in Marlborough by Trees That Count. 

RIDEABLE BOARDS

We also craft a selection of rideable boards made from locally grown, small-lot Blackwood timber. With two unique, Paper Rain designed shapes to choose from, as well as a range of laser etched artworks, our cruisers are suitable for beginners and regular riders alike.

 

TOTE BAGS

In support of reducing single use plastic bags, these hemp bags are an excellent alternative to hold your goods! Soft, durable and recyclable, these hemp bags are printed with non toxic inks on renewable hemp fabric. We’ve teamed up with some fellow creatives with a mutual passion for conservation and the environment to produce these graphic bags. For each hemp tote sold a donation is made to an environmental or social cause.

 

& MORE 

If you'd like to read about our trip to visit our suppliers - & how we feel about ethics along our production line, read more with our Interview with Idealog Magazine.  For sustainability, and greener living, check out our feature with Ecostore.... There are a number of companies doing fantastic things to support sustainability, fair trade & organics and we think that's AWESOME. If there's a way you believe we can do better with what we have, please let us know. 

We want our customers to have access to a little piece NZ art, or a high-quality, hand-crafted product and know the story behind it's curves & lines. We honestly don't know what we'd do if it weren't for The Paper Rain Project which is the heart & soul of our daily lives, as well as where we pitch our future. We really hope you like it too.