When upcycling meets traditional craftsmanship, beautiful design happens! The growing concern about climate change and the rise of the circular economy are pushing designers and brands to turn their attention to sustainable materials and processes.
We have been witnessing a growing interest in traditional skills and craftsmanship as a way not only to reclaim one’s own identity and heritage but also as an alternative to experiment with sustainable materials and process. With global market disruption due to pandemic, this trend is likely to accelerate, and we already see plenty of cases in the latest design fairs we covered, such as Maison & Objet as well as London Design Festival.
SAMESAME showcased at M&O this September, for example, is a series of upcycled glass objects presented by German designer Laura Jungmann in collaboration with glassmaker Cornelius Réer.
The bespoke Samesame pieces are created by upcycling existing glassware using traditional glassblowing techniques. Laura Jungmann and Cornelius Réer reformed mass-produced glass bottles, such as beer and wine bottles, into unique candle holders, carafes, decanters and vases.
By doing so, they managed to extend disposable products lifecycle and to add value to what otherwise would become waste.
Réer holds each bottle with a blowpipe and reheats it using a typical glassblowing oven. A beer bottle, for example, was picked up from the neck and re-inflated, while a water bottle was held from the bottom and the neck opened up, transforming it into a carafe.
“Some of the products get new functions, like the water carafe, some gain a new quality just through the contradictory aesthetic of the industrial features combined with the handmade character,” said Jungmann.
SAMESAME collection pays homage to glass blowing craft while giving life to sustainable and unique designs. We absolutely love it!
*Photo Credit: Celine Hurka