DUST London

Dust London is a collaborative design company founded by Michael McManus and Matthew Grant in 2016. They transform tea waste into beautiful homeware.

With backgrounds in art and architecture, their approach to design draws on their experience in those environments and carries through to the objects they create. Everything they make is handmade by Michael and Matthew in their London studio using traditional origami techniques.

The team have developed a unique process in their studio through experimentation with organic materials. Working with tea waste allows them to do two things; the first is to create a range of natural pigments and subtle textures in the homeware they create. The second is to raise awareness of the way materials are conventionally used and to challenge the perception of what sustainable design can be. A vase made from tea waste paves the way for those conversations happen.

DUST London separates out tea waste into the different variations that they use. They collect the tea bags, thoroughly dry them out and blend them so that they are ready to mix with a non-toxic binder. Each of their designs can be poured in 3 tea variations (Chamomile, Peppermint and Roobis).