Calor Ashtray
Colombia, 2023
Manufactured by Fango Studio
Coffee tree sticks structure, Fique fiber, Charcoal

Measurements
36 x 20 x 46h cm
14,2 x 7,9 x 18,1h in

Unique Piece

Concept
The Calor Collection aims to showcase the technical and aesthetic potential of the fique plant through a series of pieces, exploring the use of the material. The dry seasons of recent years have been causing numerous wildfires in forests and jungles around the world, prompting some communities to implement different strategies to slow forest degradation. In Colombia, it has been found that the fique plant, a member of the Agavaceae family that is distributed throughout Latin America, proves to be a useful element in combating the spread of wildfires and stopping vegetation loss. This plant has fire-resistant qualities due to its high water concentration in its leaves, which create a natural barrier that acts as an obstacle, thereby halting the progress of fire. Traditionally, the fique plant has been used in Colombia to create crafts, ranging from traditional coffee sacks to carpets and accessories in the fashion industry. In the process of extracting and combing fique fiber, waste is generated, known as « residue oakum» which has become the primary material for the Calor collection. In the creation of the pieces, Fango transforms the residue oakum from fique into a « mash » which we use to cover various volumes, providing rigidity, and then cover it with a natural pigment based on charcoal powder.