"Each piece begins with used coffee pods collected from my community, materials that were never meant to last beyond a single use. Before any design work begins, the pods must be cleaned, sanitized, flattened, cut, folded, and shaped entirely by hand. They arrive dented, stained, and inconsistent, carrying the marks of their previous life. Learning how to work with those imperfections, rather than erasing them, was one of my first challenges."
"Coffee pods are lightweight but sharp, fragile but stubborn. Early on, I spent a lot of time testing how the aluminum responds to pressure, movement, and long-term wear. The goal was never just to reuse the material, but to do so responsibly, creating pieces that are comfortable, durable, and meant to be worn often, not treated as fragile statements."
Used aluminum coffee pods are collected from the community and processed entirely by hand: cleaned, sanitized, flattened, cut, folded, and shaped. The pods arrive dented, stained, and inconsistent, and the maker works with those imperfections rather than erasing them. Aluminum behavior under pressure, movement, and wear was extensively tested to ensure comfortable, durable pieces meant for frequent wear. Learning and practicing upcycling began in 2021, informed by hands-on experimentation, environmental sanitation experience, and training with a Brazilian jewelry designer. Building credibility requires communicating the skill, time, and knowledge involved in transforming familiar waste into valued objects.
Read at Earth911
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