Duali Studio · CLIENT: Duali Studio
Duali's concept with the Clay and Sway mug was to create a dialogue between two opposing yet harmonious elements, the cool, rigid permanence of porcelain (clay) with soft, dynamic movement of tassels (sway). The challenge was to design an object that would not just sit on the table but live on it. An exploration of how a static object can be imbued with a sense of life. The hand splattered ink pattern on the mug ensures no two mugs are ever identical. The tassels are then hand-tied into the drilled apertures to ensure a clean and honest connection between the two materials.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Clay and Sway mug is a minimalist porcelain canvas, made dramatic with spontaneous, hand splattered ink pattern which ensures no two mugs are ever identical. The half-moon handle has textile tassels which are not merely glued on. The tassels are meticulously threaded and hand-tied into the precision-drilled apertures which are integrated directly into the handle during its formation. This is a first-of-its kind mug which fuses porcelain and textile into a functional coffee mug.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The product dimensions with the handle are 292mm x 76mm x 89mm. We used 3D modelling software for prototyping of handle ergonomics and traditional clay modelling to understand weight and balance. The handle’s specific curvature and the tassel’s weight were meticulously calculated and prototyped using 3D modelling to ensure the perfect balance, preventing any tipping or strain on the wrist. Each tassel is hand-tied and cut to precision to maintain the length with the mug body.
- Tags
- clay and sway, coffeemugcouture, mug with charms, tassels mug, coffee mug with charms
- Production Technology
- Our product is entirely handmade from fine porcelain. Each mug is individually hand splattered with glaze which ensures no two mugs are ever identical. Each mug body is individually slip-cast, followed by the manual attachment of its handle. We then drill the handle's apertures before the piece undergoes a patient, multi-day air-drying process. The final assembly is an entirely manual stage: skilled artisans, who specialise in intricate thread work, personally tie every tassel to the cured porcelain, ensuring each mug meets our standards of craftsmanship.
- Design Challenge
- Finding the right textile for the mug that is so functional in use was one of the hardest challenge. Our objective was to identify a material with three key performance attributes - exceptional colorfastness, rapid drying capabilities, and shape retention. After subjecting a wide range of textiles to rigorous and repeated wash cycles, we successfully finalized a specialized thread that meets these demanding criteria, ensuring both the beauty and longevity of the final product.
- Project Duration
- The ideation of the mug started in July 2024 and the mug was launched in June 2025. The entire mug is handmade in our Duali Studio in India and the textile artisans who specialise in thread work have finished the tassel work in their workshop. Our production is a multi-stage process where semi-finished porcelain bodies are transported to be paired with tassels. They are then packaged back in the studio and are ready for dispatch.
- Operation Flow
- The function of a mug is to hold a beverage. We transformed its true function from a mundane moment to a sensory experience. The entirely non-adhesive method of attaching the tassels ensures a clean, secure and honest connection between the two materials - porcelain and textile.
- Research
- Our research objective was to understand technical feasibility, see the market uniqueness, check durability and to understand the user experience. Over eight months, we subjected over 20 different types of textile threads to a series of aging tests. The primary test involved repeated washing cycles in a standard washing machine for the colour bleed, shape deformation and drying time. We used 3D modelling software for rapid prototyping of handle ergonomics to understand weight and balance. The handle’s specific curvature and the tassel’s weight were meticulously calculated and prototyped using 3D modelling to ensure the perfect balance, preventing any tipping or strain on the wrist. We then conducted sessions with a curated group of 20 participants, comprising design professionals, home decor enthusiasts, and daily coffee drinkers.
- Inspiration
- Why must our most-used daily objects be purely utilitarian? Why can’t they possess the sensory richness, the engagement and personality we expect from couture fashion? We envisioned an object that would not just sit on a table, but live on it. The concept was to create a dialogue between two opposing elements, the cool and rigid permanence of porcelain(clay) and the soft, dynamic movement of textiles(sway). An exploration of how a static object can be imbued with a sense of life.
- Image Credits
- All the images, videos and the sound belongs to our in-house Duali Studio team.
- Patents
- This design has an Indian Registration. Indian Registration number is 463008-001.
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