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.
“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!”
In our Material Library, we hold over 10,000 references, that we are happy to explore with you in the showroom. To facilitate your material research, we have condensed this down for you into 12 Material Collection binders, containing 150 samples, classified in our 6 material families that are informed by their manufacturing processes:
EXTRUDED / CALENDERED
Material extrusions formed by passing the matter through calendaring rolls.
PRESSED / CAST
Sheets made using a heat press, with the possibility to combine several films together.
APPLICATION / LAMINATED
Transfer application to create specific effects on a support.
Bonding process combining layers, using heat or adhesive fusion.
RELIEF / 3D EFFECT
Relief created by thermoforming or embossing. Three-dimensional optic effects using holographic or lenticular processes.
COATING / PROJECTED
Fluid materials or particles applied to a support using coating or projection to embellish.
WOVEN / BRAIDED
Knitted fabric, using warp and weft weaving techniques or coagulated fibers.
Our Material Collection binders will soon be available for purchased for your own library and used to facilitate your personal research.
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
Our iconic Magic Mirror material comes in many different forms, on various supports and is as adaptable as your imagination itself. A dichroic material made of over one hundred superposed micro-layers, with different refractive indices, that separate the light in many different directions at once: perplexing the eye and troubling your senses, adding color where there was none and separating tones. It is capable of being transparent, invisible, saturated, hyper-visible, intense and eye-catching all at the same time. Watch the video above to see and hear our most popular iterations and allow yourself to be transported through the medium of Magic Mirror.
Magic Mirror Film
A lightweight film of material that can be used smooth or crushed, to increase the diffraction and add another dimension.
Magic Mirror Adhesive
A layered material, comprising the lightweight film with an invisible adhesive layer and a fine protective sheet. This material can be used as is, or you can take off the protective layer and stick it onto another surface.
Magic Mirror TPU
This is one of the thickest of the translucent iterations; comprising the lightweight film sandwiched in-between two layers of transparent PU making it more durable.
Magic Mirror DS
The lightweight film laminated on a compact polystyrene backing, which comes in adhesive and non-adhesive versions. The pink version is laminated on a white backing, and the blue on a black backing to enhance the coloration.
Magic Mirror Textile
A lightweight woven textile with Magic Mirror threads, the textile is sheer and subtle in its coloration.
Magic Mirror Luminium
Our iconic Magic Mirror adhesive on aluminium, a spectacular reflective dichroic surface available in blue or pink.
Magic Dawn - New
This is one of the thickest of the translucent iterations; comprising the lightweight film sandwiched in-between transparent PU and reflective PU making it more durable and with a prismatic effect from one direction.
The Luminiums are a range of our materials on lightweight aluminium support that we have developed. This opens up the different materials to a new world of sculptural possibilities, as the aluminium holds its shape, yet is soft and light enough to be manipulated by hand. You can easily imagine mountain ranges, ski slopes, icebergs, extraterrestrial planetary surfaces, or the wonderlands of your wildest imagination come to life!
To illustrate their individual quirks and character traits, we have made a small video for each variation being manipulated.
Here we list their individual traits:
SKI-LUMINIUM
Our Glitter Hexa Ski on aluminum, a timeless classic and the first in the aluminum family, perfect for recreating snow-capped mountains and festive scenes.
MOON-LUMINIUM
Our Microbilles Reflective on aluminum, a space-age reflective material that turns a dazzling white when activated with a camera flash.
FLASH-LUMINIUM
Our Rainbow Flash on aluminium, a dark counterpart to our Moon-Luminium that becomes rainbow coloured when activated with a camera flash.
MAGIC-LUMINIUM
Our iconic Magic Mirror adhesive on aluminium, a spectacular reflective dichroic surface available in blue or pink.
BRAISE-LUMINIUM
A glitter paper on aluminium, perfect for a touch of luxury or to mimic a hearth of smouldering embers.
MOUSSE-LUMINIUM
Our felted polyester Mousse on aluminium, soft to the touch and perfect for imagining mountain ranges and rolling fields.
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!
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 Recyclingfield, 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.
Tsunoda Seibee Shoten from Japan creates Bento boxes carved from single blocks of Japanese Cypress wood, that are completely joint free, highlighting the wood’s natural grain. They are unique in their use of glass Nano-Coating which provides stain resistance and durability, whilst meeting the exacting standards of health and safety food regulations, and maintaining the natural beauty of the wood grain. LPJ Studios from Germany work with the leftover yarns and garments from prestigious fashion companies to develop new products. The LPJ Studios Punch Rug caught our eye, using a needle-punch felting technique they take wool based garments and integrate them seamlessly into rug forms that can be wall or flor based. A unique solution for your favorite old sweater!
Nous utilisons des cookies sur ce site pour vous offrir la meilleure expérience possible, et à des fins statistiques. Vous pouvez choisir d’accepter tous les cookies ou uniquement les cookies nécessaires au fonctionnement du site. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. You can choose to accept all cookies or only cookies necessary for the operation of the site.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.