Meet 23-year-old making kitchenware from glass bottles
Carlos Saola (right) and his partner Davis Otieno hold some of the glasses and candle holders they have created from glass bottles
Driven by his love for art, Carlos Saola has been recycling glass bottles from which he creates beautiful utensils and flower vases.
“In June 2020, I came across a beautiful wine bottle and out of curiosity I decided to cut the bottle to create a glass from it. However, the bottle broke into uneven pieces,” Saola recalls fondly.
Months later, as he sat skimming through TV channels, Saola came across a program where an artist was using fire to melt the glass, making it easy to cut and shape into different forms.
This rekindled his glass cutting idea and saw him purchase a glass cutter at Ksh 400 and two meters of sandpaper at Ksh 200.
Armed with the tools and knowledge of the trade, Saola went to Gioto dumpsite and collected empty glass bottles which he was able to cut into whiskey glasses.
“My first client was a club in London estate who bought six glasses,” he narrates.
Some of the items Carlos Saola has created from glass bottles.
What is the process of making a glass?
The process does not take long. First, Saola uses the glass cutter to cut the bottle neck from the rest of the bottle and goes ahead to scrap the stickers off the bottle. He then smoothens the edges with a sand paper.
“This can take me about 25 minutes to come up with a good piece,” the 23-year-old says.
Saola now works with his friend Davis Otieno, a skilled painter, who paints the pieces to add a touch of uniqueness.
He currently supplies glasses to Chili’s club who also give him empty glass bottles.
“My biggest challenge is customers wanting to pay very little for the products since they presume it is easy to make them,” Saola laments.
Despite these challenges, Saola hopes to expand his business and make art pieces from the bottle tops as well.