The Colour of Hair - Fabio Hendry

Fabio Hendry is a Swiss born, London based designer, whose work seeks to explore new potentials for overlooked matter from architectural systems to materials. Hendry is interested in exploring disruptive approaches to industrial manufacturing, revealing alternative systems of production.

Hendry is interested in the analysis of high tech and future industries and takes inspiration from nature’s ability to adapt and reconstruct. His innovative products and hands-on experiments explore the boundaries between crafts and industry, ranging from furniture to sculptural objects and spatial installations.

Fabio Hendry, Future Heritage 2016 Alumnus

Fabio Hendry has collaborated and been commissioned by both the private and public sectors. He participated in The Crafts Council’s 'A Future Made’ at Trèsor in Basel 2017. In the same year, he was commissioned by the Korean Crafts Council to create a collection of unique objects showcased at the Craft Trend Fair. In 2019, he was finalist and received a grant from 'The Arts Foundation' fellowship. Fabio Hendry has also worked extensively with the Swiss Arts Council, from whom he received a grant to develop his practice.

He has received and been nominated for awards both nationally and internationally, including the alumni prize by the University of the Arts Zurich; IMM Pure Talents in Cologne; Swiss Design Award, Ikea Foundation, Design Preis Schweiz, The Architecture Digest Design Award, Berlin and the Sustain award at the Royal College of Art.

Stools By The Colour Of Hair

At Future Heritage

For Future Heritage, Hendry, in collaboration with Martijn Rigters as ‘The Colour of Hair,’ produced a large, tiled floor, stools and trays. ‘The Colour of Hair was an innovative process and printing technique that transformed waste human hair and natural fibres, into a sustainable and resistant ink on a variety of metals. Drawing inspiration from both old ceramic techniques and modern printing techniques - like etching and screen printing - locally sourced off-cuts from hairdressers were processed in multiple techniques to create various patterns and images. The process was based on the hair's main protein, keratin, to be liquefied and carbonised by the use of heat.

“The opportunity provided an invaluable opportunity to connect and form relationships with a wide range of professionals and designers, whilst developing skills in communication, networking and sales pitching. The project was taken up commercially and shown in Milan 2017.” - Fabio Hendry

Current work

Fabio Hendry has recently received funding from the Swiss Arts Council to develop several new products and further research potential applications of his ‘Hot Wire Extensions’ project. This includes collaborating with material engineers to study various material properties, such as the heat radiation of sand, in combination with nylon plastic, in order to create a range of domestic heat radiators.

Having employed an extensive range of intriguing materials he is now working on a new collection of objects, made from oak. He recently completed a commission in conjunction with his architect sister, Silvana Hendry, of a private garden in the Swiss Alps.

Tiled Floor By The Colour Of Hair

If you would like to make an enquiry about Fabio Hendry and commissions, get in touch here or visit his website www.studio-ilio.com