TIHG SPECIAL

In this day and age, where its established that we need sustainability to be instilled to prolong the life of our planet, these designers are certainly making a mark

Set the stage for these ultra futuristic and sustainable brands

WORKSHOP Q

WorkshopQ is an innovative eco-product manufacturing company driven by the passion and belief of two like-minded entrepreneursRad hik aK hai tan Mitt alan dMadhviP it tie. They create stunning lifestyle home accessories by re-engineering seemingly useless scrap in an effort to reduce the waste generated by households and factories. In addition to the aesthetics, WorkshopQ hopes to increase awareness concerning both ecological and social responsibilities through its products. Upcycling is the outline of the designdriven green movement that converts waste materials into products with a higher value that look as chic and new as products from a branded store. Made from waste procured from factories, construction sites, small artisans, households and just about anywhere, along with other eco-friendly material, WorkshopQ aims to establish this as the standard way of creating objects. They make clocks, trays, photo frames, tissue boxes, coasters, card holders, lamps; just about anything eye-catching and which is of utility! The brand also strives to reduce the impact of its own business by using scrap paper for any documentation, keeping packaging to a minimum and using recycled or recyclable material wherever possible. We think WorkshopQ is definitely setting an example all over the world.

PLASTICIET

“Plastic is the gold of the present and we show that by transforming this waste stream into the raw material for the next economy.” Plasticiet is a Dutch startup that aims to create “something of value” from recycled plastic for use in interior and furniture design. Based in Rotterdam, the startup was founded by designers Marten van Middelkoop and Joost Dingemans. The idea originated from a romantic vision and passion for material development within the topic of sustainability. Plasticiet produces sheet-plastic materials that are similar in appearance to manmade stone composites like terrazzo, using recycled plastic collected and processed in collaboration with recycling companies across the Netherlands. The sheets are made up of different-sized pieces of coloured plastic to produce a variety of effects, and can currently be produced in sheets up to 80 cms by 80 cms, and are being worked upon to produce bigger sizes in the future. Plastic is a global problem and finding a way to process large volumes of this problematic material to a building block with a visual language that almost everyone recognizes is revolutionary.

SARAH TURNER

Sarah Turner is an eco artist and designer who upcycles waste materials into new and beautiful creations. She works mostly with plastic bottles and cans, transforming them into unique lighting, pictures, sculptures, flowers and gifts. This is a unique art form where the designer collects waste materials from local businesses and homes. Sarah makes all of it by hand at her studio in Nottingham. She uses highly skilled cutting and intricate sculpting methods to transform these discarded materials into high quality unique objects. Sarah has made various objects including a plastic bottle elephant, a recycled dragon, a life sized WW1 tank and an illuminated plastic bottle family. She has also been commissioned by Coca-Cola for the London 2012 Olympic Games which included five giant chandeliers and a 9 metre high sculpture for the Olympic Park. Sarah analyses the natural properties and features of the waste material and takes advantage of them, using them in a new and different way. The lighting installations are particularly stunning.

CARPET COUTURE

Carpet Couture by Rashi, established in 2009, is probably a first of its kind company that makes carpets out of waste plastic. Made out of PET-fibre these rugs are an emerging innovative and sustainable trend in home décor. These are essentially outdoor rugs that have been tested in 500 hours of sunlight without colour fastening. Tightly woven with skill and precision, they are lightweight, substantial, soft and feel just like any other natural woven wool rug in a wide range of styles and colours. Besides the aesthetics, these rugs are sustainable, durable, stain-resistant and easy to maintain. This is a revolutionary concept and can be soon made universal as an idea that potentially saves the environment. Carpet Couture not only makes custom-made carpets but with their innovative designs they turn carpets into pieces of art. The studio offers a variety of options from luxurious carpets with Swarovski elements to carpets made in handspun bamboo silk, banana silk, raw silk, New Zealand wool.