08 September,2013 10:00 AM IST | | Moeena Halim
At product designer Aziz Kachwalla's Mazgaon studio- cum-store At-Tin, a washing machine drum turns into a lamp, while a clutch plate from an abandoned car transforms into an ashtray. "Every time I come across something that is interesting and seemingly useless, I try and create something functional out of it," says Kachwalla.
The exhibition will feature innovative products such as metal screens, floor lamps, table top lamps and furniture madeu00a0from scrap u00a0materials
Showcasing his work at the Artisans' Centre later this week, the designer will exhibit not only these innovative products, but also a lot of his other works including metal screens, floor lamps, table top lamps and furniture.u00a0Kachwalla has been designing innovative products and furniture for about 20 years now. "When computers were first introduced to the city, my team and I began creating ergonomic furniture suited for desktop users.u00a0
There wasn't much of that available back then," he recalls. In January this year, when opportunity struck, Kachwalla set up At-Tin in January this year. "Although we do get interested customers making the hike to the mostly industrial Mazgaon, we rarely get walk-ins. Exhibiting our work at the Artisans Centre will allow us greater visibility and make us more accessible to our customers," says Kachwalla, who continues to take on design projects
As is the case at his store, Kachwalla will not limit the exhibition to his works alone. The National Institute of Design (NID) graduate is also presenting interesting items designed by fellow alumni. "You will find some of Anu Tandon's work with recycled scraps, for instance. She uses scrap cloth and plastic wrapping material woven into a kind of a rope to make charpais or stools," explains Kachwalla. Kaushik Ramanathan's work will also be on display. The Goa-based designer uses discarded tyres, often those left with puncture marks on them, to create satchels.
Due to a lack of space at the venue, not all of Kachwalla's designs can be displayed. "I also create a lot of architectural products such as large doors, gates and so on. These obviously can't be exhibited. However, we will screen a presentation that will give people an idea of our work," says Kachwalla, who also customises products to a person's requirement.
