Technology
Plas-Terrazzo

In our material library, we hold many different colors and iterations of ribboned PVC / PE Stripping in bobbins of varying thicknesses and weights. They are commonly used for weaving, trimming, embroidery and various other textile applications, but we wanted to test them under heat, sliced and diced, composed and layered to form plaques, turning them into a new sheet material, that we are calling Plas-Terrazzo!

Resembling liquorice laces, these futuristic threads in high brights, glitter and subtle translucent tones once cut and paste look like sci-fi cake toppings or sprinkles for the insta-generation – materials good enough to eat!

Here are some of our favorite experiments created by our in-house creative team.

Story of the Month
Tomorrow’s Material World

“Nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed.”

Antoine Lavoisier

Here at American Supply, we provide innovative solutions and are always searching for cutting edge developments, whether they be material or ephemeral. Our clients are always abreast of the zeitgeist and important societal shifts, and we cater to their needs. For our future, it is important that we consider our present, understanding our past and learning from it. It is imperative that we work towards doing what we can to help the climate and the planet that we live on.

With our productions, we are dedicated to using the minimum matter necessarily, but minimal excess waste is unavoidable. Since 2003 we have been donating larger scale excess of primary materials to schools and universities and storing material that is partly transformed in our own facilities. We do not consider material that has been transformed to have reached the end of its transformative life but believe that it is in transition and has further potential. As the old saying goes, One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure.

Our vision is a progressive one, and we believe it is crucial to be conscious of the world we live in and our impact upon it. We are proud to present our 2019 Sustainability Report, and lay out our plans for the future and our place in it.

“American Supply’s industry position at the heart of Material Supply & Material Design makes us a leader into the research, promotion, and production of sustainable and eco-responsible materials. In our profession, we face creative and technical challenges every day – the question of sustainability, on top of this, is both urgent and necessary for us to continue to take pride in our work! Our industry favors enormous over-consumption of materials with relatively short lifespans. We need to help evolve people’s habits and pre-conceptions towards material using our expertise: the material itself, eco-responsibly!”

Delphine Duval Delort, Sales Director

DOWNLOAD OUR 2019 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

News
Material Collection

Art
The Creative Promise of Spring

Spring has officially sprung, with its promise of renewal, hope, and fresh possibilities. The air is crisp, the wind is fresh, the trees are starting to sprout, and the first daffodils are already subsiding, as the new creative year is in full swing. Material trends come from all aspects of culture and the art world is always one of the most unfiltered. We took a trip to some of our favorite galleries in our hometown, to see what is happening in the material world of the arts.

Credit Photo: All photos courtesy the artists and galleries cited

Materials
It’s a kind of Magic

MATERIAL
Bend Me, Shape Me, Any Way You Want Me

Technology
Experiments on 3D-surface

This month we experiment with a new 3D support in our material library – Bamboo Pulp. The base support is created using bamboo fibers, that are pressed between two molded metal forms, in an iron. The result is a lightweight and easily reproduced 3D panel, which comes in many different declinations. We experimented with digital printing, glitter projection, flocking, and hand-painting & stripping wrapped around in a bondage fashion. The results were startling, as the panel’s original forms changed with each application… The science of experimentation is truly magical!

STORY OF THE MONTH
Home is Where the Art is!

Maison & Objet, the self-confessed international authority for home decor, interior design, architecture, and lifestyle culture and trends breezed through Paris again for it’s January edition. With over 3000 exhibitors, it was a fascinating whirlwind of creativity and inspiration!

We focus above on three main trends that struck us in the salon, Recycling, Cardboard & Paper, and Textured Walls, and highlight below some technological developments that caught our eye.

In the Recycling field, LLOT LLOV from Germany created a material they called Glacier, in collaboration with cosmetics group Cosnova – a Nail Polish Terrazzo made from discarded nail polish bottles in concrete support. ecoBIRDY, based in Antwerp, collected old children’s toys and recycled them into new design furniture, in an innovative material they call ecothylene® which they have managed to develop to the high safety standards for children – making it both eco-friendly and child-friendly!

In the Cardboard & Paper trend, the work of French artist Marie-Anne Thieffry was an astonishing use of layered cardboard, carved into beautiful spherical lights and figurative busts. Molo Designs from Canada showcased their unique structures in folded paper and cardboard, flexible wall partitions, seating and lights that can be adapted to any space, and reconfigured with ease. A perfect product for the modern city apartment.

Textured Walls were everywhere, giving a new dimension to any interior: we particularly liked Portugal’s Burel Factory, a historical wool manufacturer, who create intricate hand finished wall coverings in finest wool. They are used in hospitality for their acoustic and thermal properties, and they add a touch of luxury to the space. Who could resist couture walls?

We can’t wait for the September edition of Maison et Objet, it is sure to continue to inspire us in ways we can’t even imagine.