By Sujata Rajpal

Bram Rouws, the French man, who has made Mysuru his home, is making creative ripples in the world of wood-crafting.

He, in the short time, has become a name respected and known for bespoke furniture, elegant swings and solid wood products. Apart from this, Bram also runs a wood-crafting school in Mysuru.

On behalf of Star of Mysore, Sujata Rajpal met this master craftsman to speak to him about his journey and love for furniture. —Ed

I’m a carpenter by profession, says Bram Rouws, Founder-Director of Bram Woodcrafting Studio (BWS) and Woodcrafting School, as we meet in his office at his factory in Mysuru. Bram is a carpenter, cabinet-maker and furniture designer, states BWS’ website.

Bram’s journey from Limoges, a quaint town in SouthWest – Central France, to Mysuru began in 2011, when he toured India as a member of Les Compagnons du Tour de France, a guild of master craftsmen. This guild, a UNESCO World Heritage entity since 2010, promotes traditional skills and cross-cultural learning. During his time in Kolkata, Bram joined Terra Indica and was quick to wear his mentor hat when he trained orphaned and underprivileged children in carpentry, eventually employing them.

Kolkata also played cupid. Bram met his future wife, a Bharatanatyam and contemporary dancer and teacher originally from Assam. “She was the reason I chose to make India my home,” Bram confesses with a shy smile. The couple has a four-year-old daughter.

In 2017, Bram’s dream of transitioning from artisan to entrepreneur became a reality when he founded Bram Woodcrafting Studio (BWS) in Mysuru. Today, BWS employs 135 people, both men and women, including managers, designers, carpenters, architects and artisans.

“Before starting BWS, I had studied carpentry for ten years,” Bram shares with a hint of humility.

Why ten years? Why can’t carpentry simply be learnt on the job? I couldn’t help asking. 

“Wood engineering is a full-fledged curriculum that teaches how to craft cabinets, wooden homes, furniture and interiors. It’s not just manual labour, it’s a craft that demands precision and knowledge,” Bram explains while skilfully stirring the French press, the rich aroma of coffee filling his office with glass walls while their indie pet dog sleeps lazily by the large table.

BWS initially entered the market with furniture, gradually expanding to provide B2B solutions while also working directly with customers. “We collaborate with designers and architects to execute their visions,” Bram adds. Partnering with the Vagh Group gave BWS a solid footing in the competitive wood-crafting industry.

The studio’s work culture is grounded in four core principles: Conservation, innovation, sustainable development and education. Bram is passionate about blending high-tech processes with traditional techniques, ensuring that the artistry of wood-crafting is preserved.

“We import sustainable wood sourced from responsibly managed forests in America and Europe which prioritise replanting trees, ensuring no harm to livelihoods or environment,” he tells, a pride smile playing on his handsome face.

A Woodcrafting School

In August 2024, Bram Rouws incepted a Woodcrafting School with an aim to make carpentry a skilled and dignified profession. The school provides high-quality training in carpentry, cabinet and furniture making to professionals. It also offers one-week induction programme for hobbyists.

Currently, the school has six students, including three women, undergoing six months of apprenticeship. Recognised by Skill India, the school requires no prior formal qualifications — just a passion for woodworking.

“Carpentry in India is often learned informally, passed down from senior carpenters without structured training,” Bram explains.

“This oral transmission, coupled with low remuneration and lack of trust, discourages people from pursuing it as a career. Our school seeks to change that.”

Students from diverse disciplines, including accounting, engineering and game design, are now pursuing their passion for wood-working.

With its focus on transforming carpentry into a polished, well-respected profession, the school is poised to create a new generation of skilled artisans. I couldn’t agree more.

India needs such vocational institutes to elevate this craft and turn this profession from a blue collar job with small remuneration to a polished and dignified profession. May his tribe grow !