Zhixi Dai

Functory London is my brand, which aims to reduce the strain on the environment by recycling and reusing secondhand unwanted items in a fun way.

I collected secondhand items donated by businesses and individuals from various locations in London, giving these items a second life.

Functory London has an important principle: Forget their original identities. Because I believe the items people discard are not genuinely broken or useless. People have simply been conditioned by consumerism to believe that these items no longer hold value. However, if we change our perspective and give these materials new identities, they can transcend their original worth.

While designing, I strive to document as much information as possible about each material, including the donor, location, and time. The information represents the unique story of each component, making products more distinctive and meaningful.

I hope that Functory London can inspire people to reflect on sustainable living and the reuse of items and encourages people to consume in a sustainable way.