Introducing the Remains Collection - an innovative tableware collaboration between Simple Dwelling and Claire Ellis Ceramics.

The Remains Collection represents an inspiring collaboration between Simple Dwelling and Claire Ellis Ceramics, embodying simplicity and environmental consciousness.

An exploration of minimalist design and sustainability, Remains presents a captivating collection of essential tableware staples, including a dinner plate, side plate and bowl. The collection features the use of a first-of-its-kind clay body, comprising ceramic sink sludge and crushed recycled ceramic, researched and developed by Claire Ellis.

Anthony Richardson, Founder of Simple Dwelling, has long been inspired by minimalist architecture, and when it came to the Remains Collection, he wanted it to be a reflection of his values and philosophy in design. Not knowing how to make a plate himself, Anthony reached out to the former Attica chef turned ceramicist Claire Ellis to collaborate on the collection, and soon realised their shared passion and commitment to sustainability and design.

The design for the Remains Collection was kept simple. Starting with the dinner plate, Anthony wanted to give form to the piece through a low lip, creating a defined edge and providing a frame for your dish. The bowl simply becomes an extrusion of the plate, with the lip rising. The modern, simple forms and clean lines embody the minimalist aesthetic.

What makes the Remains Collection stand out from other dinnerware is its effort to reduce its carbon footprint and divert two of the biggest ceramic waste streams from landfills by using 75% repurposed material, in place of mined virgin materials. Seeing how much clay gets wasted every week, both in the form of sink sludge and cracked or damaged ceramic pieces, Claire wanted to explore ways of repurposing this lost material.

A challenge for Claire was developing a ceramic glaze that would work with the sink sludge clay body, and so a bespoke glaze recipe was developed specifically for this collection. The clear satin glaze uses eggshells as the source of calcium, replacing the mined alternatives, and omits imported oxides as colourants, which often carry environmental and social challenges. The clear glaze celebrates the original clay material.

The outside of each piece is left raw to highlight the beauty of the undervalued sink sludge, giving texture and a natural earthy tone. White flecks and brown speckles from the wide range of clays collected in the sink traps and crushed ceramics decorate the dinnerware, creating one-of-a-kind markings on each piece.

Each piece that is made for the Remains Collection is handmade by Claire in her Melbourne studio. Adopting the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, finding beauty in the imperfection, the slight irregularities in form, size, colour, glaze and texture are embraced and it also reflects the unique beauty of using recycled materials.

The Remains Collection captures the essence of modern sustainability and minimalist design and looks to redefine the idea of eco-friendly dinnerware.