Studio Swine: Hair-Highway
The potential of human hair
Shangdong, China
Studio Swine explores the potential of human hair beyond its wildly expanding role in the beauty industry.

As the world’s population increases, human hair is re-imagined as an abundant and renewable alternative to diminishing resources such as horn, tortoise shell or tropical wood. By investigating the trade and craft around the hair industry in Shangdong province, Studio Swine explore the potential of human hair by creating new materials and a collection of exquisite objects. Asian hair in particular grows incredibly quickly - growing up to 16 times faster than hardwood mahogany. By combining hair with a natural bio resin Studio Swine invent a new composite material with an exotic aesthetic that evokes horn or tropical hardwood. The much fabled Silk Road once transported not only silk but also technologies, aesthetics and ideas between East and West. Hair Highway returns to the idea that trade has the ability to transport new materials, values and perceptions.

Image 32 of pareja1 in Studio Swine: Hair-Highway - Cosentino
© Studio Swine
Image 33 of pareja2 in Studio Swine: Hair-Highway - Cosentino
© Studio Swine
Image 34 of v3a in Studio Swine: Hair-Highway - Cosentino
© Studio Swine
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Image 38 of hh01A scaled in Studio Swine: Hair-Highway - Cosentino
© Studio Swine

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