Meet the Incomparable “Measuring Cups” from Fat Tuesdays
What sparked the idea for Fat Tuesdays — was there a single moment that set it all in motion?
I worked as a recipe developer and food stylist and was cooking a lot and was always searching for cool equipment and it was a struggle. When COVID hit, I had a lot of time on my hands and started to think up creative projects! I originally wanted to create recycled plastic mixing bowls, but this turned out to be too large of a project, so instead started with chopping boards!
What inspired the name Fat Tuesdays, and how does it reflect the energy of your brand?
Honestly, I just wrote down hundreds of names and pieced them together until something stuck. I loved the word “fat” that felt to me like indulgence and “tuesdays” which felt a little mundane and stuck in daily tasks. Both things that are true of the brand.
What iconic designs or brands from the past inspire you most?
I have always been inspired by vintage wares. I love the 1950’s Texas Ware mixing bowls and that’s what really inspired me to start Fat Tuesdays. The brand created a line of “confetti” bowls that were a mix of plastics from their factory and I just loved the look and recycled nature of the product.
What’s one small design detail on the new measuring cups that you’re secretly obsessed with?
That they all sit on their bases! With the big handles, the smaller cups would fall onto their big handles instead of sit upright on their base. The design team, Vert, had to thicken the base of just the ¼ and ⅓ cup to enable them to sit upright on their own. One of those details that can only be caught in prototyping.
What drove the decision to make recycled materials central to Fat Tuesdays’ manufacturing process?
I would never want to contribute more plastic in this world, it is filling our landfill and waterways and using virgin plastics was never and will never be a consideration. We need more people who are brave enough to find use in recycled materials (of all sorts) and experiment with manufacturing to create long-lasting, useful products. I hope Fat Tuesdays helps solve a small part of the plastic problem in the world.
How has your focus on recycled materials pushed you to innovate in product design and manufacturing?
It is not an easy feat. There aren't many people to work with in Australia to help with recycled plastic sourcing and manufacturing. I’m really lucky to work closely with Defy Manufacturing, where we share the brunt of testing and failing. With the cups for example, the recycled plastic we use is light grey. Getting the pigments right for each of the colours took many, many, many rounds of testing. The white cup was a real pain!
What’s been the highlight of creating Fat Tuesdays for you personally and professionally?
I find it a great creative outlet, very hard but also extremely fulfilling. I enjoy the process of building and designing much more than selling the products - something I need to get better at!
When your products are in someone’s hands, what do you hope they notice or feel most?
I love that people hold Fat Tuesday’s products and are shocked by their weight and sturdiness. We often associate plastic as flimsy and cheap. But our products are engineered to feel very premium, and we hope to give a different perspective on the material.
In your experience, what’s the biggest packaging challenge, and what should new product creators know before they start?
I think when you’re creating custom designs and moulds and using recycled plastic, packaging is really the easiest part of it all - well at least Ruban Studio made it very easy! Obviously, there can be long lead times, and you should always allow yourself more time than you think to get it right and to work through samples.
