A sparkling Akoya pearl.
Where does this shell go after the pearl is extracted?
Seashells are grown in the ocean over a long period of time.
After completing their role, most of them are disposed of as industrial waste, putting a strain on landfill sites.
After learning of this reality, we began searching for new ways to utilize seashells about two years ago.
One of these attempts was to crush seashells and use them as pottery glazes.
However, that alone is not enough to make full use of all the shells.
Seeking further possibilities and exploring new ways to utilize the material, we finally created "plaster."
From shells to plaster: a new challenge in "sublimation"
Calcium carbonate, the main component of seashells, has the potential to be used for a variety of purposes.
However, rather than using it as is, it must go through a number of processes to be transformed into "pure calcium carbonate."
In particular, the process of carefully washing, drying, and crushing each shell requires an enormous amount of time and effort.
When creating the plaster walls, the brand team themselves cleaned the shells and worked closely with local governments around the pearl producing areas and with firing factories in Japan to persistently search for a solution.
Wash, dry and grind.
As a result, we succeeded in transforming the shells into plaster paint.
By the way, the plaster used in our directly managed stores this time was made from pearl shells that were stepped on by visitors to the [TWO WHEELERS' FLAT] event that was launched last August.
Thank you to everyone who stepped on and crushed it.
The memories of shells at ANNA DIAMOND Gallery
This plaster will be used in the ANNA DIAMOND store that will open on February 14, 2025.
Try putting your face close to the wall.
You might even find a tiny, sparkling piece of shell.
This plaster has moisture-regulating, deodorizing, and antibacterial properties,
It tells us the story of the "sublimation" of something that was supposed to disappear.
Looking to the future
Because this was a project-based initiative, we were able to clean and shape the shells with our own hands.
But the ideal lies ahead.
What if we could create a more environmentally and economically sustainable system and build a future in which more discarded shells could be utilized?
We turn the beautiful materials nurtured by nature into new forms without wasting them.
We will continue to take on new challenges.
ANNA DIAMOND Founder/Designer
Haruna Mori