At Designer Lighting Company, we are proud holders of the Graypants’ Scraplight lighting collection. With lights made from recycled materials, helping you keep on trend while doing your part to save the planet.
This collection of lights are made with recycled corrugated cardboard. The result being humble, yet precise sculptural lighting masterpieces. Providing an ambient glow of light and rich design narrative to fit your space, whether you’re decorating your home or looking to relight your café or restaurant.
We’re moving into a new epoch. An epoch of sustainability and greener thinking. Our preference for materials is changing. Despite living in the hyper-digital age, we see a return to the interaction of craftsmanship and design. The value of hand crafts becomes so much stronger in a world dominated by the digital sphere. When computer intelligence, such as CAD design and craftsmanship interact, there is an undeniable magic and design evolution.
Sustainable Interior Design
Global trends permeate all spheres, including interior design. We’re seeing a swift shift towards sustainable interior design. Interior designers have long been interested in creating healthy and aesthetic spaces. How can our interiors be more sustainable? Making the right choices like choosing non toxic, recycled materials and paints. LED light bulbs which take far less energy to create light, saving the planet and your pockets.
The Makers Story
Great craft and design offers us an emotional connection to who made it. What inspires them, and like art, it moves you. And the thread of inspiration continues.
As Graypants say,
“Our products have stories that transcend their designs”… “Our lights are an extension of the people that made them”.
Craft and Innovation go hand in hand. Items crafted by hand with imagination reflect these new ways of thinking about design and material. Harmonious to the context and time in which we dwell. You could say all design is biophilic, as nature has always inspired the form and functions of design. Emulating the form and flow of nature.
As Gaudi once famously said,
“Originality consists of returning to the origin”
But luxury brands peering into the recycled world isn’t new!
Lexus Luxury Car Designers and Takumi
Lexus, luxury car designers, utilised laser cut cardboard, just like the Scraplight lighting collection. Their insightful team made an origami model of corrugated cardboard moving car. Takumi, they say is the heart of what they do.
What is Takumi?…..
Takumi is the highest mastery of skill in Japan. Lexus produced a documentary exploring craft at the highest level in Japan, called Takumi. It takes 10,000 hours to become an expert craftsmen but 60,000 hours is a pre-requisite to a Tukami master.
Here’s what the designers of the corrugated cardboard car say:
“people react to craftsmanship in an emotional way because it does stir something within them, you feel something, you feel an emotion, you can sense the human in it.”
(Lexus.com)
We agree with the premise of this documentary, that in world of artificial intelligence the art of craft will not only survive but thrive.
” The ancient Japanese concept of ‘Takumi’ is essential to all that we do. Our Takumi master craftsmen are the guardians of this artisan philosophy, applying the subtlety human touch to every aspect of Lexus design and development. ”
Lexus
Lexus’ motto is “the relentless pursuit of perfection”.
“Takumi are extremely well versed in the most cutting-edge technologies, and play leading roles in creating them. But many of their most renowned skills far precede the digital age.”
It’s mind blowing what can be achieved with corrugated cardboard. Our perception of materials and their strength is often cultural, in China they trust in the use of bamboo to hold up their buildings. We on the other hand put our faith in metal scaffolding. Are they both as strong? It’s a lot to do with certainty and perception.
Corrugated Cardboard Lighting
Designers of luxury often re imagine materials. Corrugated cardboard has three layers and air columns. But what if this could filter light?
Design is a Personal Story
The Graypants story began with two students studying architecture. From the moment they met they had something in common, they were wearing the same pair of grey trousers, hence Graypants. Like many great things, it began with a friendship and they shared an idea about how design should be.
Graypants motto is
“Dream Big. Scribble often. Make thoughtfully”.
Re purposed, corrugated cardboard lights represent an epoch where materials are re imagined, re purposed and reinvented. Cardboard is transfigured, given a new lease of life.
Responsible Luxury Lighting
Scraplights are made using recycled, precision, laser cut cardboard. Put together by hand.
Aptly named Sun, when illuminated pendant lights glow like the warm light of sunsets. Sun is the smaller of the design and moon is the larger. They look great in combination.
Highlighting the textures and beauty of the elevated raw material. You can suspend sun pendants at various heights for maximum impact and drama.
Their ideal for hospitality spaces such as bars or home settings to add natural flair and relaxing lighting to bedrooms, dining rooms and lounges.
Its incredible that a material usually so flat and two dimensional has here been formed into such a perfect sphere. Surprisingly, they are very strong and durable lighting structures too.
Recycled and sustainable design is on the global agenda and its in our minds too.
The cardboard used to make this lighting collection is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). Made with non toxic fire retardant and nontoxic adhesives. Precision, laser cut cardboard with immaculate execution. The light offered to rooms is ambient, atmospheric and diffused.
Scraplights are a great choice for hospitality as the light is intimate and creates an atmosphere. The pendants have a long black cable, 2 metres, so you can suspend from high ceilings or shorten at the point of installation.
Ruffled textures, warm light and variation in tone makes wonderful over table lighting.
The corrugated cardboard material has a depth of light and shade. Ideal for cosy suppers and late night tipples in your bar or restaurant or home setting.
“Scraplights quickly became a prime example of the principles Graypants embodies, responsible materials and responsible production”.
(Scraplight HQ).