The material
Where the sea becomes material
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Crafted through innovation. Inspired by nature. Designed for meaningful spaces.
44%of Thailand's coastal aquaculture output is green mussel
70%of this shell waste used to go straight to landfill
50,000+tonnes of mussel shell waste in Thailand each year
The crisis behind our beginning
A neglected crisis along the Thai coastline
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44% of all coastal fish and shellfish farming output in Thailand comes from green mussels. Of the shells left over, only about 30% were reused, and only for low-value things such as fertiliser or fill for land. The other 70% used to go straight to landfill, where it smelled, spread disease and caused problems for people on the coast.
In total, more than 50,000 tonnes of shell waste pile up along the Thai coastline each year. AVALON Artisan Gallery began as a direct response to this figure.
A handcrafted material from upcycled shell
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A handcrafted material made from upcycled green mussel shells. It brings together sustainability, craft and modern design. Every surface shows natural mineral textures, and small imperfections are part of its character.
Where it is used Decorative wall panels, sculptural surfaces, interior objects, furniture accents, art collectibles, and sculptural lighting.
Mother-of-pearl, sealed in glass
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MyraGem comes from the nacre (the shiny mother-of-pearl layer) inside the mussel shell. The studio separates it from the rest of the shell (calcium carbonate) with its own process. It is then coloured with eco-friendly dyes and sealed inside a small glass ball, about 8 to 9 mm across, made of borosilicate (heat-resistant) glass.
The process, from waste to wonder
4 steps, all done by people
- 01
Raw material preparation
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Mussel shells are collected from the Chonburi community enterprise, cleaned, sorted, and graded by size.
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02 Material processing
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The shiny inner layer (nacre) is separated from the rest of the shell (calcium carbonate) with the studio's own process.
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03 Colour development
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Colours are planned and refined with digital tools to match each collection.
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04 Finishing and testing
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Each surface is hand-finished by an artisan, then tested for strength and durability. Every piece carries an Impact Card recording its material source, the maker, and the hours invested.
Research and support
Who stands behind the material
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Manee Mongkhol Gems runs the whole cycle. Kasetsart University supports the research. The National Innovation Agency, TED Fund and Social Innovation programmes also back the work.
Questions about the material
How is MyraGem different from MyraShell?
MyraGem is the shiny inner layer of the shell (nacre). It is separated from the rest of the shell, dyed, and sealed in a small glass ball about 8 to 9 mm across. MyraShell is the composite used for objects and surfaces.
Does the colour fade?
The colour is added during production and goes all the way through the material. The method is inspired by structural colour technology, which resists fading.
See the material in use
MyraGem is set into every piece of the Sea Soul collection. MyraShell becomes objects and surfaces.
From Waste to Wonder