Mexican designer Moisés Hernández introduces the Grana chairs, a duo of vibrant wooden chairs using cochineal dye, an alternative to toxic synthetic paints. This is an ancestral technique used in Mexico for more than a thousand years formerly used for dyeing fabrics. The Cochineal dye is made out of a pigment of dried and pulverized cochineal bugs. Each element of the chair is immersed in a mixture of hot water, cochineal pigment, and acidic or alkaline additives. By experimenting and tweaking with the different variables, six different colors are created ranging from bright red to orange, purple, and pink. The result is an all-pink chair, which can be used for mass-production, and a multicolored one showcasing the variety of finishes developed from this technique. By sourcing the pigment from a local producer and using an ancestral technique, the designer wants to show how local and traditional craftsmanship can help create a more sustainable future.

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https://www.dezeen.com/2021/03/08/grana-chairs-cochineal-insects-moises-hernandez/