Pamono Large Black Tea Planter by Dust London> Decorative Objects

The latest homeware collection transforms tea waste into elegant objects using a unique process they have developed in the studio. They make the coaster moulds using traditional origami techniques. They begin with a sheet of paper; scoring, folding and pinching to create the desired form. A key part of this technique is balancing the tension between the curved facets. They then reinforce the paper and work through a series of steps to create a robust and seamless silicone mould. Preparing the coaster object for making the mould is a key part of the process to make sure we achieve a smooth surface texture on the finished pieces.

They collect the peppermint tea bags, thoroughly dry them out and blend them so that they are ready to mix with a non-toxic binder. After much experimentation, we settled on jesmonite as our binding material. A key process in the making to ensure the strength and surface finish of our coasters is balancing the ratios of the peppermint tea waste to the binding material. Once they have achieved the desired consistency, the material is ready to pour.

Working with tea waste allows them to do two things; the first is to create a range of natural pigments and subtle textures in the coasters we create. The second is to raise awareness of the way materials are conventionally used and to challenge the perception of what sustainable design can be. A coaster set made from tea waste paves the way for those conversations happen. As a nation of tea drinkers, we find that people can relate.

They are working with an organic material which can produce slight variations in the surface finish of our coasters. We celebrate the fact that each object we cast is unique and ask our online customers to bear this in mind when purchasing from photographs.