# Bright Upcycled Chess Tables The Upcycled Gambit by reEDIT Uses Bamboo and Tea Waste By Amy Duong | Published 2026-05-05 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-upcycled-gambit References: [instagram](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXwbjHfPOSU/)  The Upcycled Gambit by reEDIT, a project by EDITECTURE, debuted at Milan Design Week 2026 as a [chess table set](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chair-chess) built from [upcycled materials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/project-materia) including bamboo scaffolding, tea waste, and recycled plastic. The design draws from Hong Kong street culture, referencing informal chess games and milk tea rituals, translating these elements into a functional table with integrated board and seating. The structure uses modular components that can be assembled and disassembled, allowing the set to adapt across different environments. The table combines a central playing surface with attachable elements that extend its use beyond a standard chess set. Material choices reflect reuse and [circular design](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chromaterico-textile-objects-collection), with visible textures from reclaimed bamboo and composite surfaces formed from tea residue. The system is designed for repeat assembly and transport, using a construction method that prioritizes flexibility. Image Credit: Editecture ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.3/10 - Popularity: 42% | Activity: 41% | Freshness: 75% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Modular Upcycled Furniture:** Products composed of detachable, reusable modules that adapt to different spatial contexts and extend product lifecycles through easy assembly and transport. - **Food-waste Composite Materials:** Composite surfaces incorporating tea residue and other food waste that offer unique textures and circular-material narratives with lower embodied carbon than conventional plastics. - **Street-culture Inspired Design:** Design language and functional cues drawn from informal urban rituals, such as public chess and milk-tea gatherings, that translate cultural authenticity into mainstream consumer goods. ### Who This Affects Most - **Furniture and Interior Design:** Mass-market and boutique furniture lines leveraging upcycled components and modularity to introduce value through sustainability storytelling and adaptable form factors. - **Sustainable Materials Manufacturing:** Manufacturers developing processing methods for plant-fiber scaffolds and food-waste composites that shift supply chains away from virgin plastics toward circular feedstocks. - **Urban Public Space Development:** Placemaking projects and public-furniture programs that integrate culturally resonant, transportable pieces to activate neighborhoods while emphasizing reuse and community rituals. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Limited Dress Watch Lineups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/naoya-hida-co.md) - [Coastal Sunrise Alarm Clocks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solume-sunrise-wake-light.md) - [Storytelling-Inspired Exquisite Jewelry Capsules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hidden-gardens.md) - [Portable Halo Lamps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ilo.md) - [Portable Hygiene Packs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portable-hygiene-packs.md) - [Bent Tube Tables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/whisk-table.md) - [Armor-Inspired Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/secretlab-titan-evo.md) - [Scaffold Clip Seating](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/thing04.md) - [Court-Inspired Atrium Workspaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/studio-multi.md)