NATURAL F(L)AKE

BY FRANKLINTILL

There is a new desire to re-connect with the natural, the real and all things organic and sustainable. More wholesome ways of living are being embraced and as a result a brave new eco-aesthetic is starting to emerge that appeals to a generation of hippy-deluxe consumers. Recycling is getting a sophisticated makeover, as designers look for ever more innovative ways to recycle and upcycle, adopting a waste to wonder ethos. Designers are keen to communicate the source of the materials they use – surfaces are left unfinished and exposed. Flakes, chips and patterning created during the manufacturing process are left visible so that elements of the materials characteristics are still recognisable.

The 50% Sawdust Lamp by Kulla Design studio transforms the waste of sawdust and plastic bags into a new composite that avoids using harmful binding chemicals. The lamps have an unashamedly recycled aesthetic to remind us of the material’s origin. Pepe Heykoop “Bits of Wood’ collection addresses the amount of waste used in production processes.  Off-cut pieces of wood are collected from a sawmill and modified to fit in a mold where molten tin embraces them and holds them together. This process enables the collection to be constructed without the need for glue or screws.

Flaws and the imperfections of natural materials are cherished, quenching the thirst for honesty in design. Textures appear hand-pressed and beaten, made of pulp and organic matter. Teteknecht’s ‘Sabot’ shoes are made from a mix of latex and straw to create an innovative concept for creating a soft and durable new material for footwear.

Traditional craftsmanship and indigenous materials are rediscovered and translated by a younger generation of designers who are keen to create a connection between the local and the global. Designer, Lenneke Langenhuijsen travelled to an island in the Pacific to learn the ancient craft technique of beating bark fiber into a textile. Her wooden textiles tell a story of a forgotten skill.
Surfaces are left rough and textured, unfinished edges create a more handmade appearance. The colours of natures harvest are accentuated with sky blue and sunshine yellow, making for a joyous and optimistic palette.

Colour Palette
PANTONE 607 U
PANTONE 290 U
PANTONE 1225 U
PANTONE 465 U
PANTONE 4685
GFSmith: Gmund Alezan Lezard Wild
GFSmith: Gmund Bier Lager
GFSmith: Woodside Garden Pine