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Offcut Plates: Inspired by the city

The first inspiration for the Offcut Plates was found in the architecture and the streets, quite literally, of Guadalajara. Specifically, in the way that broken tiles from ceramic factories are commonly used as a decorative mosaic-like material for floors and pavements.

Films and photography by Sam Youkilis

“I find this idea very beautiful; that even the most derelict piece of something can have decorative and valuable quality. It also has so much to do with the resourcefulness that I have always been attracted to. If we consider everything, every aspect, every material (everything!) in our material world to have the same importance and that nothing, really, is worth throwing away - then we can invent ways to use the most broken bits, and this becomes a new way to generate beauty.”


— Fabien Cappello

An editorial image from a look into Fabien Cappello's Offcut Plates, a Hem X Limited Edition piece.

Yellow

“Guadalajara, in its attempts towards modernity, generated public spaces that would never feel as immense without the contrast of the beautiful big blue sky above.”

An editorial image from the inspiration behind Offcut Plate, a Hem X Limited Edition piece.
An editorial image from the inspiration behind Offcut Plate, a Hem X Limited Edition piece.

Modern meets Vernacular

“Far away from the traditional idea one might have of a Mexican city, Guadalajara is full of exemplar models of modern architecture; a mix of rational forms, all set against vernacular and natural environments.”

An editorial image from the inspiration behind Offcut Plates, a Hem X Limited Edition piece.
An editorial image from the inspiration behind Offcut Plate, a Hem X Limited Edition piece.
An editorial image from the inspiration behind Offcut Plate, a Hem X Limited Edition piece.

Fragments

“The city is famous for producing all kinds of tiles. I was fascinated to discover that even the broken pieces are part of a local economy, generating beauty by making the most out of all available resources.”

An editorial image of the inspiration for Offcut Plate, a Hem X Limited Edition piece.

All the colors of Guadalajara

“This city stimulates you on every single corner, the result of mixing ingenuity with locality and creativity. It is a city where you will never be bored.”

An editorial image of the inspiration behind Offcut Plate, a Hem X Limited Edition piece.
An editorial image of the inspiration behind Offcut Plate, a Hem X Limited Edition piece.
An editorial image of the inspiration behind Offcut Plate, a Hem X Limited Edition piece.
An editorial image of the inspiration behind Offcut Plate, a Hem X Limited Edition piece.

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