Thela to Rickshaw

Thela to Rickshaw is a Risograph-printed accordion Book that confronts the marginalization of Indian Street Vendors, highlighting their labor, heritage, and innovation. Using Riso Printing, the book mirrors the vibrancy and rawness of street food culture, celebrating these culinary artists as tradition keepers and innovators.

A Visual Rebellion against Erasure

This project reframes the narrative by celebrating street vendors as innovators, not just "informal workers," highlighting their creativity and resilience. It works to preserve endangered oral histories by documenting time-honored techniques at risk of fading away. At the same time, it sparks dialogue around food equity, questioning who gets to decide what is considered "clean" or "valuable," and challenging biases that undervalue street food culture. Through this lens, the project amplifies voices often left out of mainstream culinary discourse.

Target Audience

This book is for food lovers and nostalgics seeking to reconnect with their cultural roots through the rich, often-overlooked stories of street food artisans. It’s also for the design and art communities, demonstrating how bold aesthetics like the raw textures of Riso printing can challenge stereotypes and reframe perceptions of value and authenticity. By blending visual storytelling with cultural insight, this project invites readers to see street food not just as sustenance, but as a dynamic intersection of heritage, innovation, and artistry.