ANGLES
“From our first
collection, which used
reclaimed and recycled
materials sourced
locally from buildings
lost in the regeneration
of Ho Chi Minh City,
we have always strived
to use only sustainable
products.”
What about the similarly named neighborhood
attracted you to set up shop there?
Our first workshop, studio and office was based in
District 8 of Ho Chi Minh City. The truth is that we
have now moved out of the district, but we still carry
the spirit. District 8 is by definition a historical industrial
neighborhood. While nowadays, most large-scale
production are located around the city, in towns like Binh
Duong or Dong Nai, the older industries and traditional
commerce of Ho Chi Minh City passed through District
8. It is located along the river, allowing for an extra means
of transportation, and conveniently, the main national
roads also track nearby. To this day, it’s still a vibrant
district conveniently sprawling on both sides of the river,
although it’s not a central district.
What steps does your studio take to ensure materials
used are sourced sustainably?
From our first collection, which used reclaimed
and recycled materials sourced locally from buildings
lost in the regeneration of HCMC, we have always
strived to use only sustainable products. That is why
in our collection, you find a lot of oak from managed
forests instead of old growth tropical hardwoods. When
buying our products, you will notice our packaging is
also designed to minimize plastic and foam.
More on District Eight's furniture pursuits at
districteight.com, and at @districteight on
Instagram. Visit their office-showroom and
factory at E4/52, 1A Highway,
Binh Tri Dong B Ward, Binh Tan District,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Aside from furniture-making, what other services and
projects does District 8 take on?
We are currently working on developing a space
where the District Eight lifestyle can be expressed
further, engulfing accessories and home objects.
We also are amazed with the widespread success of
our Games collection (Foosball Table, Ping Pong Table,
Shuffleboard) among creatives around the world and
are dreaming to connect all the people who’ve played
our games through a community.
We’re currently trying to reach out with
#D8sportingclub as a social media initiative and will
encourage future buyers of the games to join the
club. Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a way to know,
wherever you travel, that there is a like-minded space
nearby where you can join a game?
What lies in the future of District Eight? Are there plans
to set up shop and factories abroad?
Much like Ho Chi Minh City’s current dynamic,
we are open to collaborations. Setting up shop would
be an exciting idea, and we would do so if the right
collaboration could materialize.
Our first foray into spaces overseas is our next pop-up
showroom, which will be set in Milan's Salone del Mobile.
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