I have been working with a couple of artisan groups of late. Here are a few shots of the products that ACAT, a group of bamboo artisans make. ACAT are unique because their craftsmanship is truly spectacular, and they treat all their bamboo with an ecologically friendly finish. The finish gives the bamboo a darker look, and preserves the product, while still making it safe to dispose of should it break.
ACAT are seeking help with their marketing strategies so they can stabilize their revenue streams and provide higher wages to the local men that they employ. Get your orders in now because it looks like they've been under charging by a significant margin! Please provide any feedback you may have, will definitely be helping ACAT iterate with different designs and suggestions from potential consumers. More updates to come...
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| A lamp, can also be turned into the face of your favorite Central American Revolutionary |
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| Garden Lamps |
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| An unfinished mirror |
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| The Pinta |
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| The Santa Maria |
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| A wine caddy |
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| A wine car |
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| A wine, cannon? |
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| Candles |
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| Candles |
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| Landmarks for finding ACAT in Catarina |
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| The view on the way home. |
Gorgeous products!!! It seems as though bamboo is all the rage right now, as I've learned while apartment shopping. My aunt said that bamboo is being touted as the most eco-friendly material around right now, especially for kitchen products. I recently bought a bamboo salad bowl from Costco (around $20, I think), and I love it. My mom also recently bought 3-4 bamboo cutting boards in the shape of Michigan's lower peninsula and has given a few as gifts (state pride items are very "in" right now, especially with us Michiganders)! Bamboo really seems to be everywhere from bowls to mixing spoons to countertops to kitchen sinks! I see a lot of promise here!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Meredith- bamboo is huge! Cutting boards and customized cutting boards would be a huge market to tap into! I think decorations in general too- coffee table knick knacks, wall art. Also- I've noticed that bamboo bikes are popping up in Denver (see article: http://www.denverpost.com/ci_21177299/panda-cycles-bamboo-bikes-sustainbly-developed-built-fort) This might be more complicated, but something to keep in mind!
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Meredith on kitchen products in general- especially being eco friendly, free from chemicals and aesthetically appealing/unique - that is a huge pull around foodies & eco-friendlies. Bowls, utensil trays, containers, etc.
I agree that there is a lot of potential here! From a design standpoint, bamboo is very appealing for its raw beauty and versatility--it's flexible, but also very strong. However, some of these products seem a little heavy, while bamboo, as a material, has connotations of lightness. The unfinished mirror is a great color…I know that the darker glaze helps to protect the products, but perhaps the artisans could develop a translucent glaze to take advantage of the bamboo's pure, pale yellow tones. Looking back to your second to last post, I am really drawn to the organic quality of the wooden bowls and utensils. If the artisans take advantage of the natural qualities of the bamboo, that will actually help to make the products quite modern, while still honoring their traditional craft.
ReplyDeleteCheck out Japanese and Swedish design for inspiration--clean lines, organic forms, and more abstract, but still beautiful. Furthermore, the simpler the production, the easier it is for the artisans, cutting down on production time and costs. I agree with the previous suggestions about moving into furniture, too…again, influenced by the structure of bamboo, itself. We are working on a line inspired by bamboo here in Nepal, too---mostly screen printing, but we also use bamboo for the handles of tea kettles, and for some planters. I am so excited about the work of the Nicaraguan artisans, and will be eager to compare!
Some inspo:
http://thedesignfiles.net/2011/06/beautiful-bio-table-ware/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+TheDesignFiles+(The+Design+Files)
http://www.yatzer.com/Stockholm-Design-Week-2013-Yatzer-highlights
http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/tiger-bamboo-mortar-pestle
http://www.horchow.com/Bamboo-Towel-Rack-Objects/cprod97660120_cat14390732_cat000101_/p.prod?isEditorial=false&index=56&seoDesigner=&cmCat=cat000000cat000089cat000101cat14390732