Bhoomi Subodhray Shah

BD2007

Ahorati - The Clothes Hanger Series

A set of four uniquely designed hangers has been created to display garments, each tailored to specific requirements. 'Keet', an asymmetrical statement hanger, highlights the versatility, form, and strength of the unconventional material Rattan Cane. 'Rajput', the Contoured Shoulder Hanger, is ideal for tops and jackets, while 'Arata' the Clip Hanger, introduces hand-cut groove forms as an alternative to mainstream designs for securing garment loops. 'Sarprati', the Co-ord Set Hanger, combines 'Rajput' with a pants bar featuring detachable clips. Its innovative two-way bent spine ensures structural integrity, preventing elastic deformation under stress. Named 'Ahorati' (Sanskrit for "Day and Night"), the hangers feature a striking contrast between the burnt outer layer and the smooth, white interior, enhancing their silhouette. Brass is used for hooks, joints, and the pants bar, complementing the hangers' warm tones while providing rust resistance and durability.


Report Content

The selected mainstream material, HDPE Plastic, was explored to its extremes to derive contrasting properties like thick-thin and heavy-light. Thin garbage bags, 2mm sheets, and 6mm blocks were heated, pressed, beaten, and stretched to achieve these variations.

The non-mainstream exploration involved creating a coffee composite, using instant coffee and used grounds combined with natural binders (gond, superglue) and hardeners (gelatin, cornstarch) in varying ratios. Samples were air-dried or baked to adjust plasticity.

The chosen object for redesigning is a specific clothes hanger from a retail store, used for hanging pants and trousers.

The study involved conducting user interviews, with 2 categories of sustainable clothing brands - ones with an online presence and ones with an online as well as physical stores

Based on the user study, the aim was to replicate wooden hangers and re-design a set of a normal flat hanger, contoured - shoulder hanger, clip hanger and freshly design a co-ord set hanger.

The chosen material was rattan cane - which is a very flexible material, hence, the explorations aimed at achieving the forms by bending cane on a flame and staining the surface by burning the cane skin. The initial forms explore wireframes and compactible version of a hanger, followed by groove details and later plywood jigs were prepared to bend the final forms.

This is a family of display hangers, made of rattan cane, and hooks made of brass. They’re purposed for displaying garments at retails stores. Here ‘Ahorati’ is sanskrit for Day and Night - representative of the burnt outer skin, and the white fleshed inside of the cane

Rajput, The Contoured Shoulder Hanger- Technical drawings

Rajput, The Contoured Shoulder Hanger - Exploded View and Table of Components