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September 28, 2014

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Endless possibilities for upcycling objects

THE recent Maison & Objet in Paris showcased new ideas and creations in the design field along with how items can be upcycled into something better than the original product.

Designers showed they were inspired by the latest technologies as well as traditional know-how in their quest to emphasize sustainable and environmentally responsible designs. Many in the industry said going “green” is no longer just a trend, it’s a lifestyle.

Xavier Degueldre’s Kart by Degueldre line of chairs, for example, are made from old shopping carts.

Degueldre said he was inspired when his son asked him what happens to old shopping carts when they break. He said he realized immediately it was an opportunity to finally mix his passion for design and his wish for a better planet.

The designer said most shopping carts last somewhere between 10 and 15 years. Delgueldre added that he tested dozens of prototypes over the course of a year to get the chairs just right.

The chairs come in different shapes and sizes and a range of styles from pastel, pop, flashy and trendy to a variety of colors like chrome, gold and copper. They can also be adorned with a range of cushions made of different fabrics like suede or foal.

“The shopping cart is a symbol of consumption,” Degueldre said.

The collection will be available at Bon Marche in Paris beginning in November and Karl Lagerfeld was among those impressed. He purchased a gold and black Montaigne armchair, a blue St Germain chair and a small Etoile chair in a flashy red for his cat Choupette.

Berlin-based Llot llov also showcased its environmental principles with a range of products. The company’s design team used discarded mirrors to give them another shot to regain their place on the wall. They use a harness to hold the glass in place and rope to hang it on a wall. The set is as clever as it is light.

Rebecca Vallee-Selosse’s Bienvenue 21 brand showcased her passion for objects linked to her childhood and traveling.

She used old helmets to make Champagne buckets while abandoned coffee bags became bean bag chairs and old drums were converted into ceiling lamps.

The French designer said her childhood was spent between the very contemporary and architectural home of her parents and her grandmother’s place, which was filled with antiques.

Meanwhile, Les editions Be-Poles presented a range of paper bags manufactured from recycled paper. The large brown paper bags were reinvented to be used to store toys or as a place to put dirty laundry or even to hide ugly plant pots. The company added graphics on each bag.

Maison & Objet’s judges selected 12 winners for their environmental designs including Les Gambettes’ Farmica furniture. The range is made with FSC-certified wood in styles that revisit the 1950s. The Forest Stewardship Council is a non-profit organization advocating responsible management of forests around the world. Its standards ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally sustainable way.

The judges were also impressed with the colors of the naturally-dyed flax made by Couleur Chanvre, as well as by door handles manufactured by Bonnemazou Cambus,

Maiori Object of Design’s aluminium solar lamp, which is 100 percent recyclable, also made the judges list of favorites. Lastly, Meccano Home’s kitsch furniture, made with 80 percent recycled steel, was a hit in the do-it-yourself category.




 

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