The latest Talent Thai and Designers’ Room showcases repurposed furniture, textile waste and cement bags
Kieron is a freelance writer and Digital Consultant who doesn't consider himself a design lover but a user of design - which to him is more than enough.
LinkedinRecycled materials prove useful in a series of collaborations highlighting the next-generation design talents in Thailand.
For over 19 years now, the Talent Thai and Designers’ Room event has provided opportunities for talented designers in Thailand. Launched in 2002, the annual initiative showcases collaborative projects across various categories including furniture, home decorative items and jewelry with the potential to highlight these projects on a global stage through international media.
Hosted by the Thailand Office of Innovation and Value Creation, Department of International Trade Promotion and Ministry of Commerce, Talent Thai and Designers’ Room Project act to introduce and elevate a new generation of lifestyle product designers at the international level.
“The event aims at providing opportunities for these talented designers’ works as well as paving the way for Thailand’s lifestyle product innovation and design segments from furniture, home decorative items, jewelry to gifts,” explains the organisers of the initiative, which since its inception has promoted and helped launch the career of over 601 designers.
“By adding value to the products through exceptional design and unique concepts, the works, along with the image of the country as the hub of creativity are promoted globally.”
This year, 20 designers from the Talent Thai showcase were selected to show their new collection at Maison & Objet Paris 2021, exhibiting a vast array of different projects from furniture to accessories. The designers also worked and collaborated with professional Thai lifestyle brands such as DEESAWAT, PASAYA and SCG. Here we’ve picked six projects part of the Talent Thai Project.
Vantzer X Deesawat
Creative studio Vantzer has collaborated with outdoor furniture company Deesawat to create a ten-legged stool characterised by its contrasting materials. The seat and legs are made from charred teak in contrast with an iridescent titanium ring, which works to reinforce the design whilst evoking the look and feel of intense heat.
The design scene in Thailand is quickly developing its trademark, check out Thai Spirit returns to Maison&Objet with design for a post-pandemic world.
Patipat X Pasaya
Inspired by circular design processes, design studio Patipat has worked alongside home fashion brand Pasaya to repurpose textile waste. Together, they have created a series of stencils, which can be used to cut out shapes inspired by flora or fauna and use them for various design ideas including lampshades, bag designs and wallcoverings.
Kitt.Ta.Khon X SCG
Working closely with the Siam Cement Group Public Company Limited in Thailand, Kitt.Ta.Khon has found a way to repurpose the thousands of old cement bags that are thrown away every year. After cutting them into strips, the design studio has used them to decorate a rattan bench by applying the material via a heat process.
“As a result, the plastic shrinks and creates a strong grip on the rattan creating a pattern with SCG’s signature texts and graphics while also mimicking natural wood bark surface,” the studio explains. “We hope that this project will give an alternative way of using the material, which can perhaps be developed into a new packaging solution for SCG in the future.”
Aibelle X Deesawat
Sustainable fashion brand Aibelle has worked with Deesaway to create a series of brightly striped bag straps and handbags made from upcycled yarn sources from knitting factories. Called Passion in Palette, the collection employs hand-knotting techniques to produce oversized decorative elements that function as a quasi-chair or lounge space.
Be sure to check out some other events that showcase the design scene in Thailand, don’t miss Design in Thailand: DEmark Awards spotlights “Regenerative Design” in the country.
Deesawat X Isan cubism
Deesawat has created a children’s toy chair in collaboration with local studio Isan Cubism. Together they have crafted wood in the image of animals closely linked to Thai culture and in particular Isan people, an ethno-regional group native to Northeastern Thailand.
