Every other week, we propose a Limburg design icon together with Sjiek \/ Het Belang Van Limburg, or one that is well on its way to becoming one. This week it is Edelplast by Billie Van Nieuwenhuyzen.<\/p>\n
WHAT: Marble-like plastic jewelry made from waste of power cables.<\/p>\n
YEAR: 2015<\/p>\n
Electronic waste or e-waste is an increasing environmental pollutant. Recycling programs mainly focus on the recovery of precious metals. The plastic sheath of the many cables that are stripped to recycle the copper is still just waste. There is not immediate a qualitative solution for these insulating sleeves.<\/p>\n
STRIPPING<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you sort all these cables properly and grind and fuse their plastic, you can get new granulate. However, the quality is far too low to reuse the material, especially compared to all the effort put into it, \u201dsays designer Billie Van Nieuwenhuyzen. She then looked for a way to revalue this residual plastic.<\/p>\n
Billie Van Nieuwenhuyzen (\u00b0 1992) started this research during her studies “Object & Jewelery” at the Hasselt PXL-Mad Faculty and conducted all kinds of experiments to “refine” the residual plastic from the power cables. \u201cBy first cutting the cable sleeves into bars, I was able to make fabrics, as you would in a traditional way with wire or loom,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is from these traditional weaving techniques that I first create patterns that also yield a graphically interesting color combination. Then I heat the thermoplastic fabrics to their melting point and the pattern is compressed.\u201d The manufacturing process plays a major role at Edelplast, because Van Nieuwenhuyzen meticulously set out a number of detailed patterns. And they are reminiscent of ceramic or marble.<\/p>\n
NOTEWORTHY<\/p>\n
It led to a graduation collection of ten pieces with earrings, bracelets and necklaces and, above all, many enthusiastic reactions. In no time, Edelplast became a hip brand with a wide collection of affordable multiples. \u201cThere are many shops that have picked up the brand and I was able to expand Edelplast with the help of my webshop,\u201d says Van Nieuwenhuyzen. But she says no to economy of scale. For the time being. “I also have many ideas for using other ‘raw materials’, such as cheap plastic from air mattresses and swimming pools.”<\/p>\n
Because of her part-time job at the well-known jewelry label Wouters & Hendrix, Edelplast is now put on hold. \u201cA job in digital marketing, but I learn a lot about the organizational side of jewelery. And at the same time I am also studying Communication Management. \u201d With a eye on the future this will also prove to be a successful fabric for Edelplast.<\/p>\n