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Veronica Webb Cans It for DIFFA

Trashcans are generic necessities in life. But add to them Veronica Webb’s creativity and dedication, and that simple vessel for unwanted goods becomes a brilliant design meant to inspire change and bring good to the community.

Posted in: Charity

In this slideshow: Veronica Webb

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“When I first started out in fashion and first got to New York, the AIDS epidemic had just started,” says Veronica. “I would literally be working with people, and from one week to the next they would get sick and just die. This is before people really knew what was going on.

"So when I got a call from DIFFA (Design Industry Foundation Fights AIDS)—which is something I care so much about, the fight against HIV and AIDS—asking me to design a trashcan…” Well you get the point. The model teamed up with Danish company Vipp to create garbage cans à la Veronica.

Veronica worked with interior designer Mary-Kate Davis to create an African-inspired piece. “The No. 1 issue facing people of color right now is actually AIDS. So I looked at this tall, thin can, and I thought: African neck rings, the kind that are used to elongate the neck. Then we started to riff on the idea from there,” explains Veronica.

The final product turned out to be a photo shoot with Nigel Barker, complete with body paint and necklaces all over, wrapping her arms, neck, and ankles. “I want it to look strong and healthy and beautiful. Keith Haring is going to be a big influence.”

Ten days later the newest bin was born. Looking at the construction from above, it’s like an intricately decorated mask, with single rings all down the base.

Veronica even went a step further and used the bin’s inspiration to create an image of herself. “I was trying to figure out if I had an exotic photo of myself somewhere in Africa or something, which I actually don’t have. So we just decided to do a body painting thing, with ring necklaces.

Both her trash bin and photograph will be on display in the windows at Design Within Reach’s flagship Soho store leading up to the auction on October 28.