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We tend to think, especially in creative fields, that everything in this world has already been invented, or at least imagined. We’ve grown somewhat used to no longer being surprised, to letting things pass us by without much wonder, to rediscovering a faint sense of awe only in what is grand, spectacular, or so complex that we couldn’t even explain it to someone else—but that, precisely because of its obscure and convoluted nature, we feel compelled to label as “innovative” or, at the very least, “original.”
For this very reason, we decided to tell you about a project whose extraordinary simplicity — and, I would add, its subtle delicacy — allows us to rediscover a natural sense of surprise and wonder. Today’s story begins in northern Italy, more precisely in South Tyrol, in the small one-woman studio of designer Jasmin Castagnaro, Miyuca Design Studio.
Founded in 2015, Jasmin’s studio has become specialized in creating entirely natural products called “Laab”, which means “leaves” in the South Tyrolean dialect. Leaves, in fact, are the key component of a line of interior design pieces ranging from lamps and panels to various home accessories. Fallen leaves, to be precise, the same ones that, in autumn, form a natural carpet over the streets and parks of our cities, which we admire for their endless shades of color before gathering them up and throwing them away.
It is from observing this cyclical natural spectacle that a simple yet remarkably poetic idea was born: to transform fallen leaves into design objects, bringing a small fragment of autumn’s magic into our homes. A few simple yet fundamental principles guide the creative process, allowing it to follow a fully sustainable direction. The first essential step is patience: Jasmin’s products are made exclusively with leaves that have naturally fallen from the trees in the surrounding areas, avoiding any harmful interference with nature and preventing waste.
Once collected, the leaves are sorted by color and type, then combined with natural resins. The use of biological resin significantly reduces the carbon footprint, complemented by Jasmin’s conscious choice to rely entirely on handcrafted processes— from gathering the leaves to crafting and packaging each piece.
Another admirable aspect of the project lies in its production chain. Lamps, panels, and accessories are created only on demand and customized for special projects, thereby completely avoiding the rampant overproduction whose damaging consequences we know all too well. With the help of wooden moulds, Jasmin handcrafts a line of truly unique pieces whose color, texture, structure, and personality are shaped primarily by the nature of each leaf itself.
The first creations were lampshades, inspired by the light filtering through autumn leaves. These lamps reveal their subtle poetry and elegance at sunset, when—once illuminated—the light within them seeps gently through the leaves, much like the soft autumn sun glowing through the forest.
Versatility is another key aspect of this story, expressed most clearly through the “Laab” panel collection. Staying true to the idea of bringing nature’s beauty indoors—into homes or public spaces—Miyuca Studio’s panels can be used as wall coverings that, when paired with a light source, instantly create a warm and cozy atmosphere.
They can also serve as tabletops, as the panels are easy to cut into various shapes and can be adhered to any surface. Fallen leaves, once considered waste, can thus be transformed into accessories such as coasters, trays, bowls, or vases.
To the warm, raw aesthetic naturally expressed by the leaves, one can pair the more refined and sophisticated allure of gold. The Salt Edition is Miyuca’s most recent experiment, combining leaves, salt, and gold—or, in some cases, the striking interplay of just the latter two—to create panels reminiscent of elegant stone or marble.
Although this story begins in Jasmin’s hands, in her South Tyrolean studio, it quickly unfolds into a collective tale that intertwines with the voices of those who wish to take part. In fact, clients are invited to send in their own locally gathered leaves, as in the case of a winemaker whose vineyard leaves were used to create the furnishings for his tasting room.
Here, innovation and originality are not found in grandeur or intricate concepts, but in a project rooted in deep listening and careful observation. The work of Miyuca Design Studio reminds us of something beautifully simple: that sometimes, all it takes is to pause and look around to rediscover the sense of wonder we often lose in our restless search for the new.
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