EU-Vietnam Sustainable Design Awards | Workshop 4: Materials Reimagined
02 pm – 04:30 pm, Fri 14 Mar 2025
Tách Spaces
20 Hai Bà Trưng, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
Registration link
Languages: English and Vietnamese, with translation
From the organizer:
Revolving around the theme of ‘Innovation’, Workshop 4 of the EVSDA project introduces new perspectives at the intersection of design and technology, as well as dynamics between contemporary and traditional elements in design and material creation. An opportunity for participants to connect, exchange ideas and explore fresh trends in the field of sustainable materials.
Speakers
Koen Meerkerk & Hugo de Boon (Co-founders, Fruitleather Rotterdam, Netherlands) – sharing their experiences in creating leather alternatives from fruit waste.
Tim Van Der Loo (Co-founder, A New Kind of Blue, Germany) – sustainable material solutions, with a focus on circular economy.
Vũ Thảo (Founder/Creative Director, Kilomet109, Vietnam) – bold ideas combining traditional craftsmanship and modern designs.
Speakers bio
Fruitleather was founded in 2016 by Hugo de Boon and Koen Meerkerk, two designers on a mission to tackle the global issue of food waste. Each year, nearly half of all fruit produced is discarded, despite its potential as a valuable resource for sustainable innovation. Hugo and Koen both graduated from the Willem de Kooning Academy with degrees in Spatial Design, where they developed a passion for transforming waste materials into high-end products. Their curiosity about sustainability and circular design led them to experiment with discarded fruit, ultimately pioneering a process that transforms unwanted fruit into durable, leather-like material. This innovative approach became the foundation of Fruitleather Rotterdam.
Tim Van Der Loo, a Berlin-based Dutch post consumer designer, studied at the Design Academy Eindhoven (BA) and Weißensee Kunsthochschule Berlin (MA), sees waste as an invaluable resource. Drawing inspiration from critical perspectives on current systems and infrastructures, Van Der Loo transforms waste discarded by consumers into new design templates. His focus lies squarely on regeneration and resourceful material strategies, underlining his commitment to sustainability.
Vũ Thảo is the founder and artistic visionary of one of Asia’s leading sustainable fashion brands: KILOMET109. Thao is a leader among the pioneering group of young designers who have made Hanoi an emerging creative hub of the fashion world. Thao creates fashion-forward pieces from the ground up: home-grown fibers & natural dyes, handwoven, hand-crafted by working directly with local artisans on every element that goes into them. And since these practical, affordable & well-made garments are made by human artisans rather than mass produced by machines, this has provided a valuable source of extra income for makers, communities and has helped incentivize the preservation of fading traditions.
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