Milan 2016: this eyewear collection by Crafting Plastics was created from test samples of new biodegradable plastics (+ slideshow).
The eyewear series – called Collection 1 – was developed by the Berlin-based studio as an example of how to manage the lifecycle of products within the fashion industry.
"Our pursuit is to be in full control of the lifespan of the product, from its origin – in the form of unrefined material – through to the final product until its inevitable decay," said Crafting Plastics.
Ten prototypes of the sunglasses were exhibited at Gallery Rossana Orlandi during this year's Milan design week.
Varieties of biodegradable plastic are formed from substances that will decompose. The studio's collection is made from biomass – a renewable resource created from plant-based materials – to make the product more environmentally friendly.
Polylactic acid, which can be produced from different substrates, such as corn starch, tapioca products or sugar cane, forms the base of Crafting Plastics' material.
"The specific properties of our bioplastic make it decomposable, and therefore ecological, but still durable enough to replace synthetic plastics in many instances," studio co-founder Vlasta Kubušová told Dezeen.
Related story: Ari Jónsson uses algae to create biodegradable water bottles
"We believe that perishableness makes our glasses not only more ecological, but more valuable as well – hence the main slogan: these won't outlive you."
Crafting Plastics collaborated with material scientists on experiments to create a series of swatches of the plastic, from which the frames of the glasses were cut into different styles.
"We worked in direct collaboration with researches who develop the material so that we can play with it, test different mixes and their specific properties, technologies, colours," said Kubušová. "We basically start designing in the lab."
Temperatures are lowered to force the plastic to harden, in a process called glass transition. As the material solidifies, the formation of crystals causes varying levels of translucency and bubbling textures.
Colour was added to some of the tests using biodegradable pigments and natural food colouring, resulting in either sharp accents or a marbled effect.
Some of the sunglasses feature strips of blue and yellow, while another has crystals circling the lenses.
One pair is formed from two different plastic samples so that the frame is different to the rim. The lenses are coloured in shades of yellow, orange and purple.
A number of designers are investigating alternatives to traditional plastics as concerns grow over the material's impact on the environment. Experiments with bioplastic include Ari Jónsson's biodegradable bottle that combines red algae powder with water and Peter Marigold's mouldable card that can be used to repair broken objects.
Crafting Plastics exhibited the eyewear collection at Spazio Rossana Orlandi during Milan design week, which ran from 12 to 17 April 2016.
Lifestyle photography is by Anna Smoroňová.
The post Crafting Plastics designs translucent bioplastic sunglasses appeared first on Dezeen.
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