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Materials

Industrial Plastics is Alive and Well. Sort of.

By Allan Chochinov - July 17, 2006

For those in NYC, the loss of the beloved/dreaded Industrial Plastics on Canal Street was, perhaps, the final nail in the coffin for what used to be a mecca of surplus plastic, metal, rubber and all matter industrial for design students the tri-state area over. The street is now populated with knock-off emporia and car stereo shops (with, no-doubt, knock-off closets in the back), so it's on to the web we go.

industrialplasticsnyc.com is their new home for acrylic rod, styrene sheets and the like, but don't get too excited; they're not rocking the e-commerce yet. (Witness the following: "If you are looking to make a purchase, we require you use our credit card authorization form. Just download the PDF file and fill in the form with as much detail as possible. Then fax it to the number on the top of the form. Your credit card info will be kept in a secure place and is not shared with any other parties."

Sad.

Materials

Allan Chochinov

Allan Chochinov is a partner of Core77, a New York-based design network serving a global community of designers and design enthusiasts, and Chair of the new MFA in Products of Design graduate program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Allan lectures around the world and at professional conferences including IDSA, AIGA and IxDA, has been a guest critic at various design schools in including Yale University, IIT, Carnegie Mellon, Ravensbourne, RMIT, University of Minnesota, Emily Carr, and RISD. He has moderated and led workshops and symposia at the Aspen Design Conference, the Rockefeller Center at Bellagio, Compost Modern, and Winterhouse, and is a frequent design competition juror. Prior to Core77, his work in product design focused on the medical, surgical, and diagnostic fields, as well as on consumer products and workplace systems. He has been named on numerous design and utility patents and has received awards from The Art Directors Club, I.D. Magazine, Communication Arts, and The One Club.

2 Comments

Mike

12 years ago

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I was delighted to see they are still around. Thanks for the post. I have been shopping at Industrial Plastics for many years like so many New Yorkers. EVERYBODY KNOWS that if you can't find it anywhere--Industrial always has it. I called the store # 212-226-2010--it is the same # as before. They still do everything they did before plus a whole bunch of new stuff.
And for the previous post about the small acrylic "party boxes"--they still carry them.....
I asked...
As far as downloading the form, they have always had that policy even when the store was there. They told me that they will be offering e-commerce in the future but for now, it is the same as it has always been---And for me that is fine because I can still shop with them and get all the supplies and plastic goods I need. I am glad they are back--Industrial Plastics you have been MISSED!!!

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kanal street student

13 years ago

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I remember going there during some of my time in college at Pratt. What a place... It is funny how little places in the world become to be so widely known. Everyone in any art school in NYC went there at some point for something. Funny to see it on core, but couldn't be more fitting. Farewell to canal street plastics... I haven't had a need for an Acrylic tube or sheet since college anyway. ha just looked at their site, I remember that even party substances (if you know what i mean) even came in those little acrylic boxes, what else could they be used for anyway... you call a messager service and get your little green plastic box, and a party was inside... oh now what will they do, order them online...ha
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