Go ahead and Touch:

Touch is a design division of the socially sustainable product development firm of Brazilian-born Zoë Melo. Melo, who has worked as a design consultant since the early 2000s for such well-known companies as Artecnica’s Design with Conscience (see earlier blog). The mission of Touch is to collaborate with emerging designers to create hand-made products-thereby decreasing need and pushing people’s choice away from the mass-produced. The products also have an environmentally conscience approach to materials, whether recycled or produced organically. Some of the designers working with Touch include: Domingos Tórtora, an incredible designer, based in Brazil, who practices a design philosophy deeply rooted in the principles of sustainability and renewable organic cycles. His handmade fiber-based objects are produced in a cooperative in Brazil. They are stunning; Estúdio Manus, based in Sao Paulo, are a Brazilian couple, who take great inspiration from travel, collaborate to produce a quirky yet beautiful line of creamy-white porcelain ceramics which often have a touch of gold; La Feliz, an Argentinian designer who trained in industrial design. His unique lamps, stools and objects are made from a plastic wicker and are individually hand woven in his studio. There is no machine or assembly line; and last but not least, jewelry designer, visual artist and poet Mana Bernardes, www.mana.cx who lives in Rio de Janeiro. Her line of jewelry is contemporary, sleek and simple forms dominate, and materials, which are typically reused materials, can range from gold, plastic, crystal and the simple bobby pin. Mana works with teenagers in Rio through a community based initiative with the Museum in Rio and the European Design Institute of Sao Paulo, teaching them jewelry making techniques and how to reuse materials in a creative way. All in all Touch is a pretty fantastic initiative and I hope that it continues to develop and promote the work of such amazing designers. www.do-not-touch.com Image courtesy of the website.

O-Eco Textiles

O Ecotextiles, www.oecotextiles.com is a luxury brand business that works only with eco
friendly/ environmentally responsible textile companies. Founded by two
sisters, one being Leigh Anne, who got the idea for the company when
she tried to find good fabrics to re-upholster her sofa and came to
realize that though there are innumerable fantastic fabrics, very few
are environmentally aware, and Patti, who has an MBA from MIT and knew
a thing or two about start-up businesses. The textile industry,
particularly with dyeing and bleaching, is a notorious environmental
disaster, which breaks my heart because I love textiles. But the level
of pollutants involved in processing a simple cotton fabric are
numerous and often go unrealized by the average consumer.

There
are several companies who in the last years have begun to produce
fabrics for furniture and interiors as well as fashion, who incorporate
the cradle-to-cradle philosophy of production. On theoecotextile
website they provide detailed descriptions of the fibers used, the
production methods, the amount and type of chemicals used, the
standards they have met for each of the collections they work with.
Many come from South American and the USA. OEcotextiles is represented in several cities in the US and in London for sales. For now online ordering is not available.

design with conscience

Artecnica is a design firm that emphasizes a mix between art and technoogy to, as they say "elevate the value and purpose of everyday objects..." They work with various, international contemporary desginers to produce an interesting line of mostly high-end products. Based in California, they have always had a sustainable approach to design and production, but the most interesting, in my opinion is their project, "Design with Conscience," whereby they pair up a leading designer, say Dutch designers Tord Boontje or Hella Jongerius, with artisans in developing countries, in this case Rio de Janiero and Peru respectively. Working with the non profit Aid to Artisans www.aidtoartisans.org and the British Craft Council, this project creates not only a more affordable product of these designers, more importantly draws out the importance and potential of collaboration, and the links between these two types of designers, artisan and design studio. In addition, these products often have an eco-approach to materials, for example the project between Estudio Campana and artisans from rural Vietnam that uses repurposed scooter tires and natural wicker to produce a unique type of container or the tranSglass line which transforms recycled materials into a beautiful glass-like material that is then crafted by Guatemalen craftsmen into designs by Tord Boontje and Emma Woffenden. It's one of their best selling products. Take a look at their website for more information, www.artecnica.com.

Bio-Dynamic

I am lifting this post from an email I received from Appellation Wine Store, www.appellationnyc.com on 10th Avenue and 20th street in NYC. I have always been interested in Rudolph Steiner and this small statement I found to be worth sharing....(btw, they are talking about a Patianna Mendicino Syrah from 2004 in relation to Steiner)...

...Rudolph Steiner would be proud. But who was Mr. Steiner?

We often mention the creator of Biodynamic farming, only to describe him as a turn of the Century Austrian philosopher, but he had a fascinating résumé. Steiner was a sculptor, a playwright and an architect. Also, the Waldorf pedagogy method that blends artistic with intellectual elements, and emphasizes the role of the imagination in learning, was his idea. Further, Steiner was instrumental in developing Anthroposophic medicine which includes homeopathic principles, physical and artistic therapies intended to support the patient's capacity for self-healing.

One of his final achievements was indeed his lectures on agriculture which led to the basis for Biodynamics. In effect, the ultimate goals of his theories are for farms to become self-sustainable and to engage the non-physical beings and cosmic forces in the vineyard. Producers should generate all materials needed such as compost as well as time activities such as the planting of new vines or the application of dynamic preparations in relation to the movement of the moon and planets to maximize their effect.

We would agree that it could take a bit of “faith” to believe in, but a lot of it is common sense, as Kieran Burke, the owner of Patianna, explains: “The moon has an effect on the tides, so why can't it also have an effect on water in the leaves and sap in the plant?" After discovering Steiner’s teaching, Kieran and his wife Patti Fetzer Kieran, decided to strictly follow this farming philosophy. The estate is certified by Demeter.

They “dynamize” their vineyard with “homemade” compost, spray quartz rock powder on leaves to boost photosynthesis and plant cover crop between rows to stop erosion. Their detailed vineyard regimen results in a deep, powerful Syrah, filled with coffee, chocolate, plum notes. The wine would complement lamb or rich meat dishes perfectly. We believe Biodynamic viticulture produces better grapes which is the best argument in favor of Biodynamic techniques. Better grapes equals better tasting wines. All it takes is a little faith to try the wines.

Shoe PJUX

I am filling in a few days at Plagg, the great little boutique at 41, rue Charlot, which features all Scandinavian designers, the majority of whom practice an eco-friendly approach, and they are having great sales by the way...hint hint to any Parisians reading this and in the mood for shopping...However, wanted to share a new discovery, shoe designers PJUX, who design sustainable shoes using vegetable tanned and chrome-free leathers, wood is solid beech wood which is sourced from sustainable forests in Europe. The designers live and work in Copenhagen but the shoes are made in Spain--which is not only famous for its long history of quality shoe production, but this is where they found an artisan shoemaker who would adhere to their eco-requests. The A/W 07 collection featured short boots (bottines in french; i love that word), heels and flats that have a semi 1940s or 50s feel. Also a line of mens wear is available. Plagg has a great pair of the black leather bottines available..I think the only store in Paris that carries them as well or visit their website www.pjux.com