Elvis & Kresse have designed a hardware range for British Standard kitchen designs.
British Standard
Founded in 2012 by the design duo Katie Fontana and Tony Niblock, British Standard is bringing a handcrafted elegance to kitchens all over the world. After starting their renowned kitchen brand, Plain English, two decades previous, Fontana and Niblock wanted to create a range of cupboards which could be delivered readymade but carrying the quality of a bespoke design. Taking away the extra services normally associated with a Plain English bespoke kitchen, this sister brand is able to offer a durable and timeless solution with an honest and transparent price.
By allowing homeowners to create a unique appearance through a variety of colours and hardware, with no two kitchens being identical, allows customers to create an entirely personal space.
Design Director at British Standard and Plain English, Merlin Wright, and Elvis & Kresse Co-Founder … [+] Kresse Wesling.
British Standard
In April, at this years upcoming London Craft Week, we will see a new collection from the brand in collaboration with lifestyle accessory label Elvis & Kresse, who create a selection of fashion accessories and home decorations from recycled fire hoses. In this partnership, the brand has created a range of door handles and drawer pulls, made from the salvaged material to add a refreshing touch to these kitchen designs.
Elvis & Kresse was founded in 2005 after an encounter with the London Fire Brigade, where the duo were told that all damaged fire hoses ended up in landfill waste. After leaving their full-time jobs to set up the brand in response to this problem, they repurposed the material into a variety of goods reclaiming over 200 tonnes of it in the last 15 years. Now, after more than a decade, not one of Londons fire hoses have ended up in landfill. The brand has also gone on to partner with the Burberry Foundation to tackle other areas of waste in the industry. Not only seeking to rescue waste to reduce our environmental footprint, the team are encouraging further positive change by donating 50% of the company’s profits from the fire-hose range direct to The Fire Fighters Charity.
How these two brands have collaborated together is another example of the way industries can join forces to reach design-led solutions in a conscious way. For Suffolk-based British Standard, the team are keen to use reclaimed materials in many ways. Often accessorising kitchens with repurposed taps, sinks and worktops, this is another way the company can add to a circular economy.
The fire hoses have been repurposed into a range of door handles and drawer pulls bringing a unique … [+] touch to the designs of British Standard.
British Standard
With each industry seeking to close the loop on production systems, looking at waste materials in a renewed light like this can help to open up further creative opportunities. Presenting desirable, design-led solutions also helps consumers to understand how a contemporary aesthetic can be achieved with a conscious mindset when designing a home, without any compromise on personal style or taste.
Over London Craft Week guests will be able to visit the British Standard showroom in Hoxton to learn more about the collaboration and to attend a workshop with the co-founder of Elvis & Kresse, Kresse Wesling. Tickets can be purchased here.