Vy Voi, a design studio based in New York and Sài Gòn by Steffany Trần, launches the Rễ Cây [Vietnamese for root] collection, a suite of lighting centering the tension between the weightless yet grounded.
The second lighting collection by the designer, the Rễ Cây collection was introduced at wanted/ICFF during NYCxDESIGN in May 2024.
The Rễ Cây collection showcases five individual lights, stemming from the belief of finding balance in the contrary, whether in form, material, or proportion. The collection includes the Sắn Light, Cà-rốt Light, Củ Cải Light, Khoai Môn Light, and Củ Đậu Light . Contrasting proportions and materials are designed to establish the tension between the weightless yet grounded, resulting in contained comfort. From afar, the lampshades appear to grow from their base—sprouting from the ground, like the namesake suggests. Up close, a visual synthesis of soft shapes and organic textures emerge.
The Rễ Cây collection leans in on balance, fusing heritage, natural materials with modern design. With a weighted, hand-thrown porcelain base, each lamp is firmly grounded to the surface it rests on. In contrast, a large lampshade covered in Dó paper—a historic paper handmade in Bắc Ninh, Việt Nam—is platformed atop, lightweight and soft to the touch. Intentionally smaller in scale, each porcelain base still proves to be gracefully stable, harmonizing with their proud Dó paper lampshade.
Dó paper is made from the bark of the Dó tree and is famous for its durability in the present and over time. It withstands age and wear, due to its multi-layered process, traditionally used for royal documents and folk art. The craft to create Dó paper is over 800 years old but is waning, with only a handful of families that still retain the knowledge to create this paper all by hand. Due to the heat and humidity of Việt Nam, production quantities must be smaller to allow proper pressing and drying, resulting in a textured yet pillowy paper that feels almost fabric-like. This collection aims to preserve the tradition by creating functional objects with the paper, re-thinking its past use to create functional objects for the home.
The paper’s rich composition highlights bits of bark from the tree that it comes from, whether the lamp is on or off, affording each individual lamp its own character. Users are asked to come closer, observing the transitions within the organic textures of paper down to the smooth surfaces of gas-fired clay.
With the long-term goal of working more closely with Vietnamese materials, I discovered Dó paper in my research and became enamored. The paper is truly the leading character in this design. It’s my hope that by centering this historic paper into a contemporary design context, we’ll be able to not only spotlight Vietnamese history but the paper’s potential as a design material for generations to come.
This collection came about first as an exploration of contradiction, resulting in a sort of composed yet contrasting language. I think of each design as a different iteration of what tension can be—refreshing and restorative, which is not what we often associate with the word. The Rễ Cây collection showcases how disparate elements, when together, can truly uplift and elevate each other.
Steffany Trần
Each light is designed to stand on its own, but materializes as gentle vignettes when joined together. Embracing their various scales and shapes allows for tender placements throughout your home, like arranging flowers—whether as a pair, or as a group. Users are encouraged to explore the dimming controls per light—from a gentle warm glow to full illumination—affording customization when it comes to crafting moments of calm.
The collection is designed, handmade and assembled in New York, and is customizable in scale and CMF. Ceramic bases are crafted in Vy Voi’s studio in a gas kiln, as well as the construction and application of paper for the lampshades. Dó paper is produced in partnership with artisan families in Bắc Ninh, Việt Nam.
Photo
Andrew Bui, Jonathan Fratti
