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Tag Archives: recycled
Reclaim Rethink Recycle furniture design with Ari Prasetya
Ari Prasetya is one talented and modest man (he chose to step outside the photograph frame) who has a great vision. His furniture range appropriately named Reclaim Rethink Recycle, showcases how discarded materials can be recreated into modern eye catching and covetable design objects.
Each piece in Ari Prasetya’s range, has been sourced from salvaged materials – the timber, wheels, trolleys and metal are all found objects that helped inspire the creation and shape of each piece. As a result, no two pieces are the same.
Ari Prasetya’s fondness for upcycled design rests in his upbringing. Born and raised in Indonesia, he witnessed the use of various discarded materials being carefully re-crafted into something functional as a matter of necessity. Ari says,
“I remember Dad taking my brother and I from Bali to Java a lot when we were younger. On the boat there were these chairs and tables, which were basically made out of old boats that couldn’t be used anymore. A lot of these memories came back when I started putting together these pieces”.
We LOVE it (want it) – How about you?
Posted in eco design, eco living, sustainable furniture
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Interview: Cath Young of Chunky Chooky
Cath Young has always liked making things. Her career with fabric began with haute couture ….. for her barbies at age 6. Her passion for design unravelled at age 13, due to a menacing Home Economics teacher wielding a seam ripper who put her off sewing for years! Thankfully, many many years later, Cath’s mum gave her a sewing machine as a gift. After staring at it for a few months, she took a look at the instruction manual and the brand Chunky Chooky was born.
Chunky Chooky’s current focus is on quirky children’s rattles that have been made from recycled and organic materials. When you see Cath’s environs, it is not difficult to see how committed she is to treading lightly on the environment. Living on a few acres on the edge of Bellingen NSW with her partner and young daughter, she grows her vegies organically, collects rainwater and uses only a composting toilet.
Such a smart composting throne!
Cath’s creativity and eye for style is evident throughout her house. Cath designed the double loft bed (above) herself – Complete with vintage linen.
Stitched poem by Bruce Williamson – Love the lined notebook look fabric
The images above look like they have been plucked from the pages of a glossy magazine … but no …. Cath’s talented partner (a chef) designed and built this outdoor wood fired oven on their property with his own hands …. And then of course whipped up this wonderful looking feast!
Cath and her muse (daughter)
Between working her day job, creating at Chunky Chooky and launching a new business (read on!) Cath found time to share with us a bit more……
1) What inspired you to start Chunky Chooky & how did your business name come about ? As soon as I found out I was pregnant the creative juices were awakened. I set to work almost immediately making a mobile as I couldn’t find one that was not in pastel colours or plastic or Disney. All the really interesting ones were SO expensive. It kind of went from there… I started making fisherman pants for babies and toddlers, then softies, then rattles…. the name Chunky Chooky came about at a friends place one morning, I had a list of animals and a list of attributes and I liked the chunky chooky sound.
2) What are the essential ingredients/aesthetics of your business? Essential ingredients: 100% certified organic denim, remnants, and off cuts and a lot of speed sewing. Lots of bright colours and no pastels. I also try to make most things unisex. My business is committed to making affordable and original softies that are eco friendly. I always want my wares to remain affordable.
3) What does a typical day involve running Chunky Chooky? I work three days a week in a job that I love. People often say “you will be able to give up work soon” but I couldn’t- I get so much satisfaction from it. Initially chunky chooky was just a little thing on the side….but now I am at the point where I may have to hire someone to help me – problem is I am a bit of a control freak…so I keep putting it off . There is no typical day running chunky chooky, I snatch time whenever I can and work at night a lot. I am trying some new designs at the moment and I am also in the process of starting up a new label called My Bearded Pigeon (clearly a bird theme happening) because I really just had all this spare time!!??! Most days involve blogging and reading blogs which are a constant source of inspiration. I also spend way to much time on etsy and flickr. Lots of tea is also involved. Cake too.
4) What are your biggest challenges running your business? Time, Time, Time ( like the Bangles once sang) and trying to juggle my work with my home life. A cliche I know. Keeping rattle making from becoming boring- it isn’t yet but I worry I will get sick of it one day….trying to find the time to get all the ideas out of my head and into reality. I have notebooks full of ideas… just need more time. (maybe if I spent less time reading blogs, etsy, flickr…etc etc).
5) How does Chunky Chooky endeavour to tread a little lighter on the planet? I only use 100% organic cotton certified by Global Organic Textile Standards. I am passionate about reducing landfill, as textile waste in landfill contributes to the formation of leachate as it decomposes, which can potentially contaminate groundwater. The decomposition of landfill causes methane gas, which as you are aware, is a major cause of greenhouse gases, significantly contributing to global warming.
I often have to weigh up is it better to get organic cotton that has travelled thousands of air miles, or to reuse fabric I can get locally. I have an Australian supplier now of certified organic denim. A neighbour of mine , has just given up his furniture upholstery business he has a huge amount of stuffing and wadding left over, so I use that, again with a focus on reducing landfill.
I don’t just use organic cottons because they sell. I use them because I want to help save the earth. This may sound a bit pollyanna- ish but it is important to how we live our lives.
I also set aside a percentage of each sale ( roughly $1) into an account and when it reaches $25 I choose someone to lend it to on kiva.org which supports microlending in developing countries. When the money is paid back I lend it to someone else via Kiva.
6) Where can we find your designs? Just click on over to chunkychooky.com. Did you know on Etsy now you can now get prices shown in your choice of currencies? Well you can.
7) What are your dreams for Chunky Chooky in the future? World domination. Bah har har har!!!!! ( JOKING!)
8) Share with us your easy eco friendly living tip! If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down. Even better rip out your toilet and put in a composting/waterless one. Trust me- they do not smell.
Posted in eco baby + child, Interviews
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Interview – Trinderella
Tracey Trinder loves to keep busy. When she is not looking after her family, she finds space to squeeze in her two other passions – writing and fashion design. As a writer, Tracey has spent the past 18 years writing television drama including Always Greener, McLeod’s daughters, All Saints, Mirror Mirror, and Home and Away amongst others. For years she has doodled fashion designs, but it is only recently after a trip to Hobart that her passion for fashion design was re-ignited, resulting in the creation of the Trinderella fashion range.
Tracey originally studied design in school, and grew up with a creative mother and grandmother who taught her first to crawl, walk, then sew ….and knit, crochet, embroider, make patterns etc! So it was not a huge leap for Tracey to put her passion into practice, and develop the Trinderella range, which predominantly uses reclaimed ties to make skirts and handbags.
All Trinderella products are designed by Tracey, and sewn by her and her team in Sydney, NSW in a small solar powered studio made by her talented photographer husband. Tracey and her “lookouts” source ties from all over Australia which are then sorted into colour codes ready to be selected for designs.
Tracey is passionate about reducing waste, reusing what we have, and making quality pieces that are earth friendly from their conception to production. She graciously agreed to take some time out from writing scripts, a novel, pattern making and sewing to share some more information about herself and Trinderella:
1) What inspired you to start Trinderella?
I was at a market in Tasmania and saw a shoulder bag made of ties. After that I started noticing beautiful ties everywhere. I started to collect some and it then became an obsession. I found vintage ties, silk ties, wide ties, thin ties and ties made of truly beautiful prints and fabrics. I made a skirt and every time I wore it I had people asking about it and wondering where they could get one. I saw an opportunity to do something I love and to do something positive for the environment.
2) How would you describe your style?
My personal style is eclectic. I don’t follow fashion trends and don’t like the idea of being slave to a passing fad. I’m just as happy buying something that’s made of beautiful fabric or is well cut in an op shop as in an expensive boutique full of unique hand made pieces. I prefer to collect pieces that will last and I wear them and love them a long time. Then I pass them on for someone else to love.
3) What does a typical day involve?
My day usually involves getting up at 6am to have breakfast with the kids, make the school lunches and throw on some washing before I start work at nine o’clock. I walk my little one to pre-school which is great because I can really relax and focus on the day ahead as I walk home.
I usually hit the studio with some ideas/sketches in place and then I start attacking my mountains of ties looking for just the right ones. I lay them out on a big long, well lit table; trying and discarding lots of ties until I can narrow it down to a set that really work well together.
If I’m working on a bag the process varies more than with the skirts. Because no two ties are the same – in size or texture, it is impossible to make up a pattern for the bags. Each piece is designed from scratch. I also use recycled materials, wherever possible, for the bases and skeletons of the bags. I’ve used everything from plastic milk containers, to cut down, hot water bottles.
Other days I spend time in the studio with my photographer husband who lights and photographs the new pieces, so I can put them on the Trinderella website.
4) Where can we find your designs?
Currently my designs are available in a wonderful, shop full of interesting designer pieces in Newport , Sydney, NSW, called Di Van Ooi after the owner and operator who is also an amazing milliner.
The biggest selection, however, is online at trinderella.com. I encourage people to book mark it and visit regularly because this really is “slow fashion.” Each piece takes time and care. It’s hand made and a one off, original. So new pieces take a while to get there but tend to go fast when they do.
5) What can we expect to see from Trinderella in the future?
Trinderella seems to be growing organically. There is no grand plan except to continue being true to my ideal of creating original, enduring pieces that are earth friendly in their conception and production.
Thanks Tracey – We look forward to keeping an eye on your range.
News hot off the press: One of Tracey’s dresses has just been selected to be part of the Warringah Art Exhibition in the category “Waste to Art”. The exhibition commences Thursday15 July – 25 July 2010 – Congrats!
To see the whole range, visit Trinderella online.
Posted in eco design, Interviews, sustainable fashion
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To Market To Market ……
It was a design market paradise at Federation Square yesterday. The Melbourne Design Market was in the carpark, and only a few metres away the MARKit@FedSquare was on in the Atrium outside the Ian Potter Gallery (excuse me whilst I hyperventilate). Each of the markets showcased a vast range of designers creations and it was inspiring to see the number of Australian independent designers who were considering sustainability in their designs.……
The Melbourne Design Market attracted a large crowd in the carpark hunting down a designer bargain.
Beautiful screenprints on organic cotton by the lovely Lara, Emma & Jess of Harvest Textiles (a bit more on this talented trio coming soon ….!)
Lox + Savvy had an eye catching display …. And were very understanding when I knocked part of it over ………(arghhhh)
Was great to see a large crowd eagerly gathered around the KeepCup stand.
The iconic Zaishu stools at MARKit stood out with their stunning artwork …..
One day into their week visiting Melbourne, the Me and Amber girls were having fun.
An original and unique range were exhibited by LUcE – products are handmade from a combination of vintage, recycled, re-purposed and new materials.
Mattt bags and satchels provided a rainbow of colour hanging off their wire wall, adorned with designs from a variety of Australian organic textile designers.
Vinyl records like you have never seen them before by Record Attempts
…..and all this whilst Supersized characters mixed with the market crowd …
The stalls featured above are only the tip of the designer iceberg of what was on offer – If you are disappointed you missed out, don’t despair! The MARKit@FedSquare will be on AGAIN on November 28, 2010 – Just in time to pick up some very special Christmas presents straight from the hands of their designers!
Posted in eco design, gifts
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