These vibrant vases are constituted of discarded flip flops

Social media can lead you down a rabbit gap the place you both come upon fascinating discoveries or study a brand new dance transfer. Within the case of artwork director and designer Serena Confalonieri, it led to inventive inspiration. ‘I got here throughout the exceptional work of Ocean Sole, a nonprofit based mostly in Kenya that creates animal sculptures from discarded flip-flops, on Instagram,’ Confalonieri explains. ‘Throughout Covid, I purchased a small giraffe from them, and I used to be struck by the fabric. It’s so surprising, but so stunning.

Serena Confalonieri’ x Ocean Soles Jambo assortment at Milan Design Week

Confalonieri’s distinctive fashion joyfully blends surprising supplies, textiles, ornamental exaggerations, and geometric shapes. Impressed by Ocean Sole’s sustainable strategy, she reached out to suggest a collaboration. After sliding into their DMs three years in the past, they began an extended distance relationship, the results of which can characteristic as a part of the Can You Think about? exhibition curated by Federica Sala for Secondome. ‘I requested the designers to answer this query and discover the function of creativity on the earth we stay in at present.’ Sala explains. ‘ Jambo, which suggests good day in Swahili, is Serena’s collaboration with craftspeople that has a social and ecological affect. It demonstrates that creatives do make a distinction – creating items which can be crafted utilizing one thing that exists.’

Efforts to wash native seashores and gather the flip-flops, which regularly wash up from the ocean, contributing to marine air pollution, has a direct social affect, it results in employment alternatives. Volunteers additionally play a vital function in amassing the discarded footwear, actively collaborating in cleanup efforts. As soon as gathered, the flip-flops are completely cleaned to take away any particles and filth, making certain they’re prepared for the following stage of the method. Subsequent, the flip-flops are sorted by color and measurement, after which glued collectively in layers to type massive blocks. These blocks are the bottom for the sculptures.

‘After I first began working with Ocean Sole I used to be designing with a cloth I’d by no means used earlier than. Though this problem was refreshing they created three prototype vases to check if this idea may work,’ Calfonieri explains. Her designs have been dropped at life by expert artisans who carve and form the blocks utilizing knives and different instruments. After rigorously chipping away extra materials, the artisans reveal vibrant, colourful figures created from the flip-flops’ authentic hues. ‘Every bit is exclusive since you and you’ll’t assure the colors that you just’ll find yourself with.’