"Aerotiques is a labour of love. Founded by Daren Hales and Darren Lewington in 2016, Aerotiques' aim is to bring the art of aviation into your life."
In this episode I got a chance to sit down and chat with one half of the team behind the Aerotique company, Darren Lewington and I was lucky enough to chat about his background in aviation, the flying that he's accomplished and ultimately the story behind the business and how these phenomenal creations are brought to life.
We talk about where some of these aviation parts are sourced, the meticulous polishing required to achieve the mirror shine, the customers who request specific pieces and its clear to see just how passionate Darren is behind the idea.
From their website
"The duo quickly combined their passion for aviation and flair for design and set about sourcing a supply of materials and components to transform into aviation art and practical furniture. The concept isn't entirely new, with 'upcycling' being the buzzword in design at the moment, but Aerotiques seeks to produce unique, bespoke pieces combining the sleek, flowing aerodynamic lines of aircraft components with the highest quality materials to produce a wide range of exceptional quality objects suitable for all budgets and locations
From large, boardroom centrepieces, through functional furniture to simple, aviation-themed gifts, the pair want the end user to enjoy the products as much as they enjoy creating them. Daren H says; "Sourcing, repairing and preparing our pieces is very time consuming. We want that work that goes into them to inspire our clients."
Darren L added; "Almost anything aeronautical will have clean, sleek, aerodynamic lines and our aim is to take those iconic shapes and bring them into our clients' homes and businesses. Saving old aeroplanes, otherwise destined for scrap, means the beauty of flight will live on."
Recycling old aeroplanes is probably one of the most environmentally friendly things you can do. The irony of the fact our pieces come from aircraft - not generally known for their green credentials - is not lost on us. Wherever possible, we try to use recycled packing materials to ship our pieces too and we encourage you to do the same!"
If you’re interested in finding out more about Aerotiques, head over to their website at www.aerotiques.co.uk, or find them on Facebook and Instagram