eco-chic design

from waste to modern eco-bowls

Prompted by my discovery of Husque’s Frag bowls at the Museum of Art and Design store in Manhattan and the arrival of nut season I want to applaud Husque for turning industry waste into sleek eco-design. The stunning Husque bowls by designer Marc Harrison are locally produced sustainable design based on Australia’s iconic macadamia nut that’s native to the East Coast of Australia.

All Husque designs are made from discarded macadamia nut shells that are milled into fine particles, melted with a polymer and then formed into organic shapes that recall their origin. The dark brown outside of the designs has a satin sheen and is hand rubbed with macadamia oil while the colorful inside is polished to a mirror gloss finish. I love the contrast of the vibrant almost neon colors of the lining with the dark brown color of the macadamia nut shell. It looks classy yet contemporary at the same time. Most of all I love how Husque turns waste from the macadamia nuts industry into useful yet beautiful objects such as bowls, trays or vases. My personal favorite is still the Frag bowl that makes a great centerpiece and conversation starter on eco-design for any table. Not only do the highly nutritious macadamia nuts have health benefits for humans but they also benefit the health of our eco-system since the macadamia nut trees help prevent soil erosion and are highly sustainable. Did I mention yet that the Husque designs look simply stunning?

a positive outlook on natural beauty

It was refreshing to hear the chief carrot lover Ido Leffler from Yes To Carrots speak about the mission of his company at HBA’s green conference about business and beauty in New York last week. The opening speech for the lecture pointed out the difference between truly natural versus natural inspired beauty products and cautioned that naturalness is not the same as sustainability. 

Most of the Yes To Carrots products are naturally inspired except the Yes To Carrot lip care products that contain all-natural, 95% organic ingredients. The lip butters are paraben, petroleum and phthalate free and USDA certified. All other Yes To products are paraben free and combine organic fruits and vegetables with dead sea minerals. Depending on your skin type you can choose a complete line of skin and hair products from “Yes To Carrots”, “Yes To Tomatoes” or “Yes To Cucumbers”. What I love the most though is the company’s philosophy of celebrating optimism and a “yes to” attitude to life. It’s something our economy can certainly use these days and I appreciate the daily reminder in my bathroom to embrace positivity. Not only is the packaging recyclable with fun contemporary branding but also affordable which is something to smile about. In addition Yes To Carrots donates a portion of their profits to the Yes To Carrots Seed Fund that helps underprivileged communities to develop self-sustaining, organic food sources. Their humanitarian goal is that simple: when you say yes more often, you smile more often.

the perfect mix of solar and style

At the end of summer I usually try to catch every hour of sunlight and the eco-fabulous Noon Solar bags seem like a perfect accessory for that. I discovered them through the book “ecological design” published by TeNeues that’s a great resource for modern eco-friendly designs. In the past I’ve seen many backpacks or laptop bags with integrated solar panels so that I was really intrigued by the Solar Noon bags as a stylish alternative for eco-conscious women. They combine style, technology and eco-friendliness in a contemporary way. The Noon Solar bags look less like a gadget and more like a fashion accessory that happens to make a statement about the environment. The solar panels are strategically placed on the outside to charge a lithium-ion battery pack inside the bag.

My favorite bag is the Cortland made from chrome-free, naturally tanned and dyed, full-grain cowhide leather and sage colored organic hemp/cotton lining interior. It’s not only made of biodegradable materials except the solar panels and hardware but you can easily carry it from summer to fall. I like that the solar panels are on the back so that you can collect solar energy at the park and inside the windows of your office, car or home yet look eco-chic when carrying them. They are a great way to keep your cell phones and iPods powered in sustainable style.

safe playdates for modern eco-kids

As a big fan of bamboo and modern eco-friendly design it was great to see the Kumo Friends organic pillows from Jaya Love's Tekeko at the sustainable display at NYIGF this summer. I’ve always loved the designs, but was surprised how soft these eco-modern pillows were even that I knew that bamboo fiber can be super soft and similar to silk and cashmere. The benefits of the rapidly renewable bamboo fiber are endless since it’s also highly breathable, antimicrobial, hypoallergenic and biodegradable.

But it’s really the fun and whimsical designs that makes these pillows great companions for eco-modern kids and cool home décor for eco-conscious parents. You don’t even need kids as an excuse to keep these eco-fabulous pillows around. The assortment of characters includes professor acorn, eggboy, hedgehog, leafgirl, owlie and raindrop. Every single one makes the perfect green house guest. I love their names as much as the hand-drawn quality of their designs. The colorful pillows are made of organic bamboo and organic cotton, printed with non toxic, waterbased inks and stuffed with a kapok insert. In case you didn’t know what kapok is like myself: it’s a natural vegetable based fiber that’s very sustainable and a great green alternative to down. And last you might rest more peacefully knowing that Jaya Love's Tekeko donates a portion of their sales to Planting Peace that provides sustainable initiatives for the protection of the environment and humanity.

green heirloom furniture

While at the airport in Germany a few weeks ago I picked up the book “Ecological Design” published by TeNeues. It has some great examples of modern eco-friendly designs that range from high-tech to handcrafted within the office, home and transportation space. You can find a lamp made out of reshaped PET bottles, a repurposed airplane trolley, and even a bookshelf made out of discarded large-format books. But since I love contemporary eco-design that feels timeless I’m a big fan of the Isometric Chair by Kalon Studios. Not only does it look elegant, but it’s made out of my favorite rapidly renewable resource bamboo that’s used in a laminated form with non-toxic glue and wood oil. The production process utilizes up-to-date CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) technology to reduce waste and energy consumption. The Isometric Chair is available with or without the three engraving styles honeysuckle, fern, or trumpet. Within the same signature collection I also love the multi-functional 3 Blocks that can be used as stools, tables or footrests and come with or without fern engraving. Kalon Studios is based in Los Angeles, California and Berlin and produces all their non-toxic and sustainable pieces of furniture domestically in the US. All eco-designs are made to order and handcrafted by traditional furniture makers in New England.