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3D Printed Vases That Give New Life to Old Bottles

Milan-based designer Libero Rutilo, of DesignLibero, has found a way to give PET bottles a second chance at life. Combining 3D printing technology with upcycling, Libero Rutilo created a series of vases that are only made up of the external shell. That way, your half liter bottles can slip inside to hold the water.

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Once you slide the empty bottle in, you screw it into the shell like a cap to make it more secure. The 3D printed structure immediately takes a boring bottle and turns it into a vase.

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The collection features four designs, each of which is a mesh-like pattern.

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iSinuous has a wavy pattern made up of fluid curves.

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iKnitted speaks for itself with its knitted pattern.

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iLace has a crochet-like pattern giving it a classic look.

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iSpider is the most organic with a biomorphic pattern.

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Photos by Claudio Morelli.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.