Trade Union | Earnest Studio

"Trade Union" uses the starch-based plastic Solanyl as a link between industrial production and handcraft. The plastic—which is industrially-produced, but naturally biodegradable—is mechanically extruded into simple profiles. These profiles are then used to craft a family of woven vessels using traditional methods. Revisiting tradition using an industrially produced "natural" material suggests a new relationship between industry and craft; a marriage of industrial chemistry and traditional knowledge that allows for a more flexible system of production and design. Meldon Plastics and Dutch basket maker Esmé Hofman act as collaborators, bringing their skills and expertise to the project.