Folk

Between growing and making

Folk is a material exploration into the Broomcorn plant (Sorghum bicolor var. technicum). This ancient crop is a resilient, fast-growing fiber plant that thrives in warm, dry climates and adapts well to poor soils, requiring minimal water. As its name suggests, Broomcorn has been grown for centuries mainly for its stiff stems—used across different cultures to make brooms, brushes, and other everyday crafts—making it a specimen of raw materials cultivated for design. This plant speaks to our deep connection with the natural environment, but also to our evolving relationship with objects and object-making.

Rethinking production systems

Growing Broomcorn requires several hours of daily heat, limiting its cultivation to warm-temperate regions. However, as global temperatures rise, farmers in colder areas are forced to reconsider what and how they grow. Broomcorn, along with other Sorghum varieties, offers a unique alternative.

As climate conditions shift, forcing us to rethink agricultural practices, we must also reconsider the objects surrounding us—and the ways we make them. Folk offers a material and aesthetic language for Broomcorn as a potential material for contemporary design. It aims to learn from traditional skills and techniques that are inherently resilient, fostering a dialogue between age-old practices and contemporary production methods.