Kasta Horse Chestnut Material
Every autumn, tons of horse chestnuts fall in parks and streets, considered useless waste due to their inedibility. While many associate them with childhood memories, their true potential remains overlooked. Beyond nostalgia, horse chestnuts contain saponin, making them a natural detergent with moth-repelling properties, an untapped resource for sustainable material innovation.
Created from horse chestnut granules with natural binders, Kasta is a fully compostable material that blends sustainability with innovative design. By bringing nature back into product design, it challenges the way we perceive waste and offers a meaningful alternative to conventional materials.
The Kasta Guard
While Kasta could be applied to a wide range of products, from packaging to game pieces, this project focuses on showcasing its potential through the design of a biodegradable, moth-repelling hanger, the Kasta Guard. This concept is further explored through hypothetical collaborations with two children’s fashion brands, demonstrating how Kasta can merge sustainability, functionality, and aesthetics into one compelling product.
"With Kasta, I wanted to challenge the way we perceive natural waste. Horse chestnuts have fascinated me since childhood; every autumn, I was drawn to collecting them, captivated by their smooth texture and rich color. This project brings everything full circle. What started as a nostalgic connection to autumn led me to discover the moth-repelling properties of horse chestnuts and their link to textiles. By integrating Kasta into children's fashion brands through the Kasta Guard hanger, the material protects delicate wool garments, just like the chestnuts themselves, tying back to the season and childhood memories that first inspired this journey."