Gashtrays is a ceramics line celebrating the glorious curves, folds and flaps of real bodacious bodies. Gashtrays promotes body positivity and embracing what your mama gave you!
These crude pieces challenge the censorship and shaming of the natural body that occurs in society today. By placing this 'obscene' object in every-day life context it's a step towards breaking stigmas around sex and body image.
Treating these subjects as taboo leads to much more than just uncomfortable conversations but results in poor education on the topics, risking women's and men's physical and mental health.
So it's time to lighten up!
By Pink Protest Photos by Alice Aedy
As seen in...
Bespoke crockery set and wall art, 2022
Stocked, London, 2022
Feature article, 2022
Feature article, 2022
Feature article, 2022
Interview, 2022
Feature article, 2022
Stocked, Canada, 2021
Stocked, London, 2021
Book, artwork + feature, 2021
The Pop Up Girls Shop
Hackney Brick Lane, Shoreditch, Dalston, 2019-2022
Mindful Ceramics Workshop
Product launch workshop for Noah, 2021
Bare Dating
Interview, 2021
Sex-Ed + Ceramics Workshop
w/h BBXX, 2021
Clitmas Sculpting Workshop
w/h Killing Kittens, 2020
Babe Sculpting Workshop
w/h Pinky Promise & Rubyyy Jones, 2020
Self Portrait Sculpting Workshop
w/h Pinky Promise, 2020
Pinky Promise Launch Party
Event, 2020
North London Makers' Market
Event, 2020
Gypsy Disco
Event, 2019
Feminist Christmas Market
Event by 100 Women I Know, 2019
Sex Positive Christmas Market
Event by Sex +, 2019
Shado Magazine
Article, 2019
Love Thy Labia Workshop
w/h Venus Libido & Project Period
Ovar It Exhibition,
Protein Studios, 2019
Unwrap Yourself Event,
by FGRLS, 2018
BAME Freedom Festival,
Africa Centre, 2018
Project Period Pop-Up
by Purpose, 2018
‘Girls Wank Too’ Event
by Pink Protest, 2018
Artefact Magazine
Interview, 2018
Kingston Graphics Weekend,
2018
Vagina Monologues
Market Stall, 2018
The River Newspaper,
Interview, 2017
Kingston Design Market
2015, 2016, 2017
Baggy Trousers Magazine,
Interview, 2017
Pink Things Magazine,
Interview, 2017
Hani Lees Dresner (she/her) is the founder and creator of Gashtrays. Originally from Leeds and currently based in North East London, Hani studied Graphic Design at Kingston University, where she learned...fuck all about ceramics!
After creating the first Gashtray for a friend as a joke in 2014, Hani posted the abomination on Instagram and was surprised to receive requests for more.
Eight years on and unpredictably Gashtrays has snowballed into a business, satisfying Hani's love of craft and cheap dirty puns.
Hani wrestles with the concept of 'celebration vs exploitation' of the naked body in her work. She aims to stamp out beauty standards and believes that sex and body positivity are crucial steps towards battling sexual and mental health.
When it comes to design activism, Hani believes that provocation can often be damaging to a cause, as can cause its audience to shut down and become defensive. Hani sees her work as a 'subtle protest', that aims to provoke conversation in a way that is soft-spoken and approachable.
As well as this, Gashtrays has been involved in a number of events helping to raise money and awareness for Period Poverty around the world.
Hani is also a freelance social designer, working with charities such as Amnesty International and Creative Conscience. She is always open for collaboration so please get in touch! View her social design portfolio at the button below.