Chains Cut is a home decor system for living flexibly and with radical accountability.
The Cut—
51 Trolley Crescent is part of the River City Project by Saucier + Perrotte. It is just east of Toronto’s downtown core in an area called, West Don Lands. It’s a LEED building (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), the world's most widely used green building rating system. Certification ensures healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving standards, which offer environmental, social and governance benefits to residents and the surrounding community.
Unit 903 is a unit within 51 Trolley. It represents the standard single dwelling for the majority of renters in Toronto. It is roughly 600 square feet of open concept space. It has one bathroom, a kitchen and the design is neutral and straightforward. The monthly cost—inclusive of utilities and bicycle storage—is roughly $2,772 (the average market value for the West Don Lands district).
Criteria As A System—
The Chains Cut home system is entirely handmade, upcycled or previously owned, it includes:
10 Pieces of Furniture, Made in collaboration with Agile
13 Pieces of Art, Made from Used Fabrics
7 Upcycled Objects, Found Locally and Altered
10 Previously Owned Objects, Purchased Locally
Renter Demand
With reference to the ecological and efficient design considered in the architecture, Chains is interested in addressing the granular day-to-day needs of the individual renters* within 51 Trolley.
They are driven by a desire to travel, remote employment or careers that require frequent relocation. They are concerned with the cost of living in major metropolitan centers. Circumstances and approaches may vary from person to person, but these people are either unable or uninterested in real estate ownership, so they rent.
Commercially, Industries have adapted to serve this growing population, which is forecasted at one billion by the year 2035. Co-working spaces, international travel and health insurance plans, telecommunication and internet providers, and cryptocurrencies are among some of the products and services to meet the demand of this market segment.
As attitudes toward the workplace, marriage, family and home continue to evolve rapidly, so are demands of these individuals. In particular, there is a need to consider the environmental impact of travel, disposable furniture, and consumption of transient, or short sighted living style.
*Each unit in the building has an owner. A large portion of these owners choose to lease their unit on one-year term agreements. The Chains Cut project is focused on these renters.
Artwork—
All artwork is made from from previously used clothing and/or headed for landfill fabric. All sewing is done by hand, without the aid of machinery and using found thread, ribbons, needles and other previously owned and discarded materials and tools. Inquire for pricing and commission.
Seat Cushions Custom for Chains x Agile Furniture
Extinct Together (Small), 7 Second Shirt with Doom and Extinct Appliques
Radical Public Transit (Small), Youth Youth Youth Shirt with Stenciled Heat Transfer Fabric & Ribbon
Capitalism Disease (Small), Cursed Shirt with Silkscreen Patches & Fabric Scraps
Death Cult (Small), Nausea Shirt with Sewn & Embroidered Appliques
Use Less Garbage (Large), Minutemen Shirt with Silkscreen Patches & Handmade Appliques
Break Your Chains (Large), Crisis Shirt with Handmade Appliques
Radical Approach (Large), Violent Reaction Shirt with Stenciled Fabric Appliques
Pansy Boys (Large), Limp Wrist Shirt with Handmade Appliques & Silkscreen Patches
Duvet Cover made for previously owned feather duvet from Facebook Marketplace
How I Sleep At Night, Cotton Duvet Cover Reconstructed with Various Synthetic Fabrics
Activism Posters
Laudato si', Handsewn Previously Used or Deadstock Fabric
Rimbaud Rules, Previously Used or Deadstock Fabric Handsewn to Found Tablecloth
Planet Bookchin Previously Used or Deadstock Fabric Handsewn to Mennonite Quilt
Shower Curtain
A Drowning Man Will Grasp At A Plastic Straw, Reconstructed Shower Curtain
Floor Poster
Flora Fauna Funga, Punk Shirts (DOA, Black Flag, Extreme Noise Terror) Sewn With Found Fabrics & Stenciled, Painted Letters
Contents
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Lounge Chair for relaxing, conversation, watching and reading
Work Desk for desktop or laptop computer, making notes or drawings while sitting or standing
Dining Table for eating meals and entertaining 1 to 4 people, the center of the dining table accommodates a mature fruit tree for space limited home gardening
Bed for sleeping and for bedside items such as a phone, book or water carafe
Pet House for cat or small dog, comes with a cloth carrying case for pet travel
Stool for occasional seating or side table
Shelves for storage
*Agile Fabrication is based in Haute-Aboujagane, New-Brunswick—at the source of sustainably harvested lumber production that is purchased locally for manufacturing. The lumber is FSC certified birch plywood manufactured with formaldehyde-free, low-VOC soy-based glue. Designs are non-toxic, free of contaminants, all-natural and compostable. Each item can be assembled (or taken apart) quickly and intuitively without the use of tools or manual effort. For example, a woman weighing 120 lbs can pack, ship, construct and move each item. The entire Chains x Agile assortment is flat packed, shipped globally by ground and can be stored in a 6’ mini shipping container.
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Shop Till You Drop Vase modified With Paint
Garment Rack Discarded Metal Frame, Modified With Holes for Clothing Hangers
Floor Mirror Discarded Metal Frame, Refurbished by Gerrard Glass & Mirror Ltd.
Ironing Shelf Previously Used Ironing Board, Modified For Books
Times Up Clock Previously Owned Clock, Modified With Paint
Lucifer Photo & Frame Previously Owned Modified Frame, Featuring Found Photo
Acid Rain Photo & Frame Previously Owned Modified Frame, Featuring Found Photo
*Found or purchased locally and modified by Chains.
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Lemon Tree sourced from Facebook Marketplace and picked up in Erich’s truck.
Bedding
Mattress was from a spare bedroom at my grandfather’s home
Lighting
Kitchen Vessels
Kitchen Linens
Carpets
Dictaphone Cart (As Side Table)
Turntable Stand found by Jenna
Cords & Utility Items
*All previously owned items were purchased locally at one of the resources listed below and transported by foot (unless noted otherwise).
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Arcadia Books for previously Owned & Antique Books
Coffee & Clothing for premium vintage clothing, textiles, coffee & community
Corktown Cleaners for well-priced and high quality clothing amends and repair
Don Valley Trails for running, walking and hiking
Facebook Marketplace for anything
Green Bin Program for composting without a backyard
Guff for mid century modern antiques and homegoods
Leaves of Trees for all-natural, organic and sustainable skincare
Omo Bamboo Shop for zero-waste products and gifts
Second Voyage Vintage for vintage clothing and kitsch
Source Bulk Foods for bulk and refillable home and personal care items and high quality dry goods
St Lawrence Market for produce and packaging-free takeaway meals
The Apartment for vintage home goods
Underpass Park Farmers Market for locally grown and homemade food (June through October)
Value Village for anything you would purchase on Amazon or Walmart
Woven Treasures Gallery antique and handmade rugs and carpets
YSM's Double Take Thrift Store community driven not-for-profit thrift store and upcycle fashion retailer