Crafting Futures supports the future of craft around the globe. This British Council programme strengthens economic, social and cultural development through learning and access. Crafting Futures’ projects support practices and people, through research, collaboration and education.
We journey through untrodden tracks in northern of Vietnam seeking traditional village crafts so as to understand, learn and eventually, develop contemporary designs that promote our Asian heritage, aesthetics and lifestyle. Though this, we hope to educate the values and beauty of craft making and at the same time, provide exposure of different cultures and way of life for us.
Crafting Futures endeavors to be a sustainable social design project. This project searches for the roots of traditional Asian craft that is fast losing its popularity and documents ours expedition and interaction in the village, with the people and their crafts. we hope to promote and sustain these crafts by applying them to newly developed products that are of relevance to today's contemporary living.
Though this programme, we have opportunity to learn and acquire these skills to develop the new and contemporary object typology within its local context.
Colonial plantation chair
Material Board
3D modeling
3D printed model - Scale: 1/7.5
Prototype
Final product
The lounge chair Tam Phong is part of the comprehensive range of the Việt Collection (armchair, sofa, dining chair, low stool, barstool, coffee table, side table,...) The Việt is a classical piece thanks to its materials used (solid oak for the structure, woven-cane and brass feet). This lounge chair offers a wide and low seating for a lounge spirit. It encapsulates everything about the “East meets West” aesthetic. The combination of elegant French refinement and oriental Asian perspective recreates the mood and splendors of the magnificent colonial spirit. Tam Phong’s Design has been well-considered. Each of its main elements stands out, from the wooden legs to the leather seat and rattan backrest. It’s angled down at the back too - another careful consideration designed for maximum comfort. The attention to detail led me to propose a woven-can back for further refinement. To be closer the “black textures”, I deeply scratched the solid oak to reveal the wooden lines.
Việt collection that combines modern forms with Vietnamese traditional handcraft skills. The language of the collection, though embracing simplicity and lightness of form, suggests a nostalgia for the Indochine period once left the influence on my culture. I work with artisans from bamboo and rattan villages in Vietnam to understand the material. Its perforation texture lightens up the black stained wood with a touch of delicacy from the brass detail. I hope, through Việt collection, I could introduce a bit of my tradition to the world.
All materials used
Woven-Cane Rattan
Charred oak
Brass
Wax pull-up Leather
Dimensions (mm)
Lounge Chair: H1000 x D850 x W860mm
Virtually all our products are made by hand. That takes place in Vietnam, a country with a centuries-old knowledge of craft techniques, as well as typically Asian traditions and customs. That requires respect, understanding and patience. We work intensively with honest and personal partners that often have small businesses and believe in our vision: to conquer the world with traditionally produce. Our point of departure is to develop long-term relationships based on equality and trust. We have earned that trust gradually. By making significant investments in training, knowledge and quality, we now work exclusively with a core group of loyal partners.
One of our production sites is in the Chương Mỹ village in Vietnam. The artisans are provided with the weaving material at a central point in one of the villages far beyond the large city. Most artisans earn a living in the rice fields in the country, or around the small farms with their cattle, poultry and fruit cultivation. They live in one house with their children, parents and grandparents. Once they have finished work in the fields, the mothers and grandmothers weave the baskets. When the baskets are finished, they are taken back to the village. There the baskets are inspected, cleaned and finished at a central site. They are then transported to the central warehouse in the city, where they are packed and shipped to export market.
We have a great corporate and social responsibility towards our craftspeople and we guarantee that each product is ethically produced: no child labour – on the contrary, we are involved in the education of our workers’ children. No mass production in factories, but small-scale projects with long-term personal partnerships.
Pillow making process
W.I.P
With thanks to the team at Curator9102.
All products are a development with skilled professionals from all aspects of the business and their supply chain.
