As a design enthusiast with a soft spot for innovative and sustainable creations, I am utterly smitten by the captivating journey of Casey Chong and her brainchild, Chong Shop. Hailing from Melbourne, this creative powerhouse has effortlessly transformed a side project into a life-consuming passion that resonates deeply with the city’s artistic renaissance.
Occasionally, something initially meant as a secondary endeavor can unexpectedly become your main focus. That was precisely the case with Chong Shop and its creator, Casey Chong.
After completing her studies in furniture design, this Melbourne-born artist launched her own studio, “Chong Office,” in 2018. Since then, it has served as a creative outlet for her work. Initially, she focused on creating resin objects such as stools, side tables, and small vases. Over the years, she notes that Melbourne’s artistic scene has flourished – “there seems to be an influx of new artists and designers each year, particularly in furniture design, glassware, and pottery,” she shares with TopMob. “There’s a wonderful diversity in the art produced here, showcasing both subtle woodworking craftsmanship pieces and daring, innovative designs.”
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Chong Office 莊館 (@chongoffice)
The discerning sense of design I possess also shines in the numerous unique cafés and eateries scattered throughout the city, a trait that Melbourne is well-known for. Detailed, playful graphic elements adorn the interior spaces of these establishments.
In this environment, as Chong notes, it encourages your own ingenuity and motivates you to explore innovative ideas broadly in all aspects.
She mentions that they’ve encountered numerous innovative pieces across different fields, including food design. Eager to delve deeper into novel avenues, she focused on exploring sustainable materials, particularly in relation to everyday objects and mass production. This line of thought led to the conception of Chong Shop.
To kick off its initial release, Chong Shop presents a novel clothing hanger designed as a collapsed balloon shape. Debuted in three vibrant colors – Barbie Pink, Sunny Lime, and Pool Blue – these innovative hangers are meticulously produced from 100% recycled plastic sourced from Defy Design, a prominent plastic recycling company based in Sydney. Emphasizing sustainability was a top priority for Chong, but the material’s light weight and tactile texture were crucial considerations as well, given the hanger’s intended purpose.
“At first, our project was a fun endeavor that involved us trying out various methods for creating a hanger, like using PVC pipes and hoses. However, something interesting happened – we discovered a balloon in the process,” she notes.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Chong Shop (@chongshopp)
Fascinated by the notion of utilizing something that appeared so delicate for hanging and supporting other items, they embarked on a journey to discover how to do it effectively.
In the beginning, Chong used a balloon as a template for his designs, but the resulting hangers were too heavy and didn’t work properly because the resin cast wasn’t perfect. Frustrated by these inconsistencies, he turned to Defy Design for help. They collaborated on new prototypes using their unique materials.
“Considering the manufacturing capabilities of injection moulding with recycled plastic, we had to reduce the weight and volume of the hanger,” she adds. “Instead of shrinking it proportionally in diameters, we decided to ‘deflate’ it, adding layers of textures and sophistication to the initial design.”
At long last, Chong Shop’s inaugural project is ready for its global debut, and the founder can hardly contain their enthusiasm! You can secure your preferred color through Chong Shop’s active Kickstarter campaign, which runs until August 19th.
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2024-08-13 18:56