Oakland CA – Metal sculptor Benjamin Cowden uses patterns found in architecture and fashion to create the 27 Gears line of belt buckles, bottle opener keychains, and earrings hand-crafted in his studio in Oakland’s Jingletown district. Lasercut from T304 stainless steel plate, Benjamin’s buckles and openers sport patterns derived from argyle socks, Byzantine mosaics, and Art Deco grilles. The buckles are strong and lightweight, and come with an added bonus: an optional bottle opener cut into the corner is subtle enough to wear to the office, but won’t let you down when you’re out on the town.
Both the buckles and bottle opener keychains come in a brushed stainless or a black lustre finish. Slip the buckle onto any 1-½” snap belt, or put the opener on your keychain, and you’re ready to go. Benjamin’s earrings come in the same styles but in a very different material: Delrin, a super tough resin that is used as tooling material in the metals industry. By lasercutting sheets of Delrin, Benjamin has created delicate but durable patterns in white and black.
The artist may be better known for his mechanical contraptions that mix cocktails and lick lollipops, but this latest venture is born from a longtime love of fashion. Four years ago Benjamin realized that the pattern on his funky socks would make an elegant silhouette if lasercut from steel plate. In the years since, Benjamin has honed his designs and process, always with an eye towards creating versatile designs at an affordable cost without sacrificing artisan quality. Ready to bring these products to a large audience, he has just launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for the initial batch. For $70 you get a buckle that will open your bottle but not break your wallet ($60 if you get the Earlybird Special!). The earrings and bottle opener keychains are also economical at $22 and $30 respectively. Just in time for the holidays, Benjamin has guaranteed December delivery for the first 200 pledges.
Check out the Kickstarter campaign here.
About Benjamin Cowden
Benjamin Cowden is an independent metal sculptor living and working in Oakland CA. His mechanical contraptions have been featured on BoingBoing, Make:blog, and Laughing Squid. When Mr. Cowden is not making kinetic sculpture, he is creating fashion accessories or teaching at Oakland’s Crucible.
Contact
Benjamin Cowden
1091 Calcot Place, Suite #108
Oakland CA 94606
510-529-1305
