While developing idea of sustainable hemp and organic cotton fruit bowl designed for rather beech or country house, I have decided to design fruit bowl opposite to that. This idea came from initial mock up I have made out of card board and reused leather. Shape that came out was so striking that I kept coming back to it. Eventually, I decided to go ahead and design lather and metal fruit bowl.
Here are some initial mock ups….. testing three or four arms, split leather or just cut and etc.
Once first prototype has been finalized, production of eight-teen fruit bowls has started. In order to finish this project as quickly as possible number of steps needed to be completed to save money. How easy would it be to just hand in drawing or prototype to someone else and one week later to pick up finished product???? Well, that would also cost much more and I wouldn’t gain any new experience and skills, right?
So…..
Step #1 – order right quantity of appropriate fabric. Like I described in earlier post, I have made a decision to produce these fruit bowls of 55% hemp and 45% organic cotton fabric. I have found really great supplier, Hemp Gallery based in Sydney, who imports non bleached, organic fabric from fair trading factories.
Step#2 – screen-print/branding fabric. Luckily, I have chosen for this semester screen-printing as my elective! It still took me half a day to figure out how to print without paint running everywhere!! Trick is in angle of pull! Now I know.
Step#3 – make pattern and find someone who can sew fruit bowls for me. This was my first time to make pattern for professional tailor. Eventually, I found friend of friend, professional tailor Naoko, who has done excellent job!
Step#4 – cut and bend stainless steel inserts. Due to my metalworking background this task was really easy. I was even able to source recycled stainless steel to use.
Step#5 – secure stainless steel inserts in fabric. This took one nice morning to sit down and drink four cups of tea while inserting one metal after other.
Below you can check these steps in form of pictures……..
Shortly after making my woolen samples I have decided to change fabric of choice. After all, wool looks great, but in combination with fruit juice it might not look very attractive.
Due to extended research I came across Hemp Gallery website and their eco products. I really like their environment friendly approach and their fabrics. It is our great responsibility to think about what products, that we design, are made of and what happens to them when their serving life is over. As much as I would love to save the world, some times it is just not easy. In fact, it gets really frustrating, seeing so many individuals (not only big companies are to blame) who just don’t care. Therefore, I was feeling enormous enlightening and completion, when my friend Lesley Hunt asked me why I don’t use hemp. Of course! Hemp is environmentally sustainable fiber that doesn’t require much for plantation. On top of that, it is the most durable natural fiber.
Check out first sample made of hemp and organic cotton.
in a week 6, I have decided to focus on three forms (square, rectangle and round) for fabric fruit bowls. I have also came to realization that if I like to make this product more appealing I need to investigate fabric itself in greater depth. Initially, I felt that wool would be appropriate material. Nice and soft qualities really complimented to form.
more fabric & metal experiments
This week I have been experimenting with fabric in combination with metal. I was hoping to get more control, add bit more structure and malleability to a form. thick cotton with stainless steel plate inserted at bottom four stainless steel bend plates inserted and secured in thic […]
photo by Hiroshi Wasaki
More experimentation with fabrics.
Experimentation with fold continues and this week I have decided to look in to fabrics and its malleability. Slight creases were achieved by stretching fabric over various objects.