For my upcycle project I took inspiration from the hardcore scene to make a punched leather lamp. The main characteristics I based my design on were minimalist, functional, and utilitarian; DIY customization; and a muted color palette.
Hardcore punk branched off from punk music in the late 70s to 80s, and focussed on an aggressive sound, taking more influence from metal and adding it to punk as a reaction against punk becoming more commercialized with bands like The Sex Pistols and The Clash. Big players include Black Flag and Bad Brains as well as newer bands like Mindforce and Haywire. Hardcore carries similar values as punk such as anti-consumerism and anti-authoritarianism. Its influence has lasted and spread, breaking into further sub-genres of music, political ideologies, and pioneering DIY-culture.
I started this project by thrifting materials. I found the base for my lamp and some scrap suede. I painted one side of the suede so that the natural warm tone on the inside would create better lighting. I 3D printed my initial lamp shade frame which allowed me to pivot to making a much taller floor lamp. The new shape also emulates the Black Flag logo. I punched a design through the suede so the light would shine through and added studs, chains, and pins around it.
My favorite part of this project was working with leather for the first time and making something that I could really use every day. Check out the full journey on Unrulr!
