London designer Angela Mathis turns old paper money that will otherwise be burnt into recycled upholstery for her line of eco-friendly furniture. The line is called 'VALUE' and features wooden stools with padded tops that are created out of shredded money notes. The cushions integrate a wide array of money, including the American dollar, the British pound, the Indonesion rupee and the all-uniting Euro. The colors from each different note blend together to create a colorful, visually appealing speckled pattern.
Paper money generally has a lifespan of only 18 months, proving to be quite wasteful. This line provides a great way to reuse the notes that would otherwise be destroyed. Paper bills are made from a blend of cotton and linen that could serve various design purposes like this recycled upholstery.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Upcycled Furniture
- Using shredded money notes as upholstery for furniture provides an innovative solution for recycling and repurposing old paper money.
- Eco-friendly Design
- The use of recycled paper money as upholstery aligns with the growing trend of sustainable and environmentally-friendly design in the furniture industry.
- Creative Material Blending
- Incorporating different currencies into the upholstery creates a visually unique and colorful speckled pattern, showcasing the trend of using unconventional materials in design.
Where This Applies
- Furniture Manufacturing
- The furniture manufacturing industry can explore the opportunity of incorporating upcycled materials like shredded money notes to create unique and sustainable designs.
- Sustainability
- The sustainability industry can partner with designers like Angela Mathis to promote the use of recycled materials in various applications, including furniture upholstery.
- Interior Design
- Interior designers can incorporate upcycled furniture with shredded money upholstery to create visually striking and eco-friendly spaces for their clients.
