OUGD502 - Studio Brief 2 - Peg and Awl

Peg and Awl

Walter and Margaux are a couple that live and work in Philadelphia and run an online site called Peg and Awl. They create a range of products including bags, stationary, Homeware, Jewelry , Garden Accessories and one of a kind items.  Their products are made from old and reclaimed materials that they find, which they re-purpose into new products and aim to create things to be kept. 

They describe their work as being 'made from olde things, treasure found and recovered from misfortune and neglect, relics of the unusual, the confused and the macabre, cut and pulled and built into wearable curiosities, inscribable keepsakes and useable, longlasting treasures' 

They make their products in an old factory that still has original features which they describe as a place where 'histories overlap as Peg and Awl gathers new life with new makers, new personalities, and new hands'.

To create their products they find materials from 'flea markets and old shoppes, abandoned houses and torn - down buildings, construction sites, yard sales and dirty basements'. A lot of the materials they use are more than a century old. The finished products retain a sense of this history through the wear and tear of the materials they are made from. Common materials that they use are wood, leather, decoupage, fabrics, rope , metals and different finishes. The wood that they source is from old growth trees which were mostly cut down in the 1800s and turned into homes, they also scavenge wood from storm damaged trees or the local carpenter. Much of the leather that they source for their bags are made from military issue gun slings. Their decoupage designs come from antique book which they compile to create collections for their wooden blocks. They use antique fabrics from dresses, curtains, quilts and scraps, whilst their waxed canvas comes from a long lasting local company.

https://pegandawlbuilt.com/

What is interesting about Peg and Awl

- Their use of reclaimed materials to create new products brings a sense of story and meaning to the pieces. By reusing things around them they are able to create pieces that are unique and more tangible which are qualities that I am drawn to.

- The repurposing of old materials and bringing new life to these items is a technique / approach that appeals to me as it presents a challenge in how to create something new with those materials, whilst also having a positive effect on the environment. 

- Sourcing materials from a range of places adds to the excitement of the process as you may find things that you may never have thought of using.

- The use of minimal branding and packaging allows the products to be the focus.

- The qualities of the original material are maintained and embraced within pieces which gives charm and character to each piece which is appealing. 

Questions for Peg and Awl:

What are your backgrounds from before Peg and Awl?
What led you to open up Peg and Awl?
What draws you to reclaimed and salvaged materials for your products?
How long did it take for you to establish yourselves?
What is your process when developing new products?
How difficult was upscaling your business?
What is the toughest part of running a business like yours?
What is the highlight of your business?