CORK CALVES
Manufactured using 100% recycled wine cork, Cork Calves are a sustainable alternative to existing products on the market used for Swimrun - a growing multi-stage endurance competition. Cork is an incredibly versatile and sustainable material. A chemical in the cell membrane makes it impermeable to liquids and gases, it also has a low density meaning it will float in water without gaining mass. Cork is also very durable; it can survive repeated friction or impact. Whilst we wanted to create a product that was 100% natural and true to cork’s unique properties, our aim was to create a product that would act as a buoyancy device and be able to withstand intense conditions that the athletes sustain. Through a process of elimination, we tested a number of natural and synthetic adhesives and eventually settled on liquid latex – a material that is safe for the skin and gives enough flexibility to allow our product to be worn on the shins.
Throughout the fall semester 2017 at Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Åsa, Rachel and myself explored cork. Our exploration and findings are available under.
