Series 4. Eco icon no.14
‘Ma Biche‘ upcycled tapestry Deer byFrédéric Morrell

Fresh from the Maison et Objet show in Paris, where French company Frédérique Morrell exhibited their new ‘ slice of life’ – ‘passe murailles’ collection – a series of upcycled needlepoint covered animal icons..which definitely drew the crowds.
Each piece is a one off and is hand made – giving each animal their own unique personality and style.The husband and wife team behind Frédérique Morrell view their mission as saving vintage discarded needlepoint from oblivion by transforming them into new iconic pieces of design preserving the intricate work of the original needlepoint for future generations.They explain:
“‘our products have been carefully re-made using vintage needlework saved from oblivion in the interest of the redemption of the painstaking work involved in their original creation. when wandering around
markets or garage sales we’re often very saddened to see discarded embroidery. we think about the love, time, craftsmanship and patience that went into creating such beautiful things and find it so sad that they end up unwanted and for sale for a few dollars. all of those wonderful tablecloths, doilies and cushions and the skills that are evident in those discarded things are in danger of being lost to future generations.‘
These upcycled, upscale pieces breathe new life into a tradition for handcrafted skills that is fast dying out…and have created a life filled, joyous collection of eco icons that will introduce and preserve the beauty of needlepoint for generations to come.
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Tags: about finding eco, eco, eco objects of desire, frédérique morrell, maison et objet, needlepoint, orianna fielding banks, passe murailles, recycled, sustainable design, tapestry, upcycled needlepoint, vintage
Series 4. Eco Icon No.13
‘Upcycled ‘tile lamps‘ by Lee Broom

British designer Lee Broom has taken vintage disused tiles as the inspiration for his lighting collection. His pieces incorporating a sense of history via the glossy patina of the tile clad lamp bases, melding the contemporary with a sense of cultural heritage. Broom’s vision was to create an original collection that lookes like “as if someone had a little piece of history in their home,”
The lamps are manufactured in two sizes, with white cotton shades and are also available finished in blue tiles and white ( as shown) with a special small run limited edition in red and black available to order. Delightfully simple concept….where less is more textural and more covetable!
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Tags: eco objects of desire, eco design, recycled, off cuts, about finding eco, eco concept, orianna fielding banks, sustainable design, lee broom, recycled tiles, vintage tiles, tile lamp
Series 4. Eco Icon No.10
‘Ila beyond organic‘ skincare range

ila is the Sanskrit word for earth and is the name of the Hindu Goddess of truth, who is associated with flow and refreshment. There is a sacred place in Northern India at the confluence of the Sarasvati and Drishdvati Rivers. The place is known as Ilayaspada or the place of Ila, and it is called the holiest place on the earth in Vedic texts. Absolutely everything in Ila skincare products comes from a plant or mineral – and nothing else. This stems from their faith in the power of nature as the source of real wellbeing.
Founder Denise Leicester has spent a lifetime understanding and exploring the dynamics of healing. She is qualified as a registered nurse, aromatherapist and yoga teacher, and has studied both Eastern and South American healing traditions.
She is passionate about what the ila skincare and spa concepts can offer women, who want an effective and more natural solution to their beauty and health needs, and increasingly men, who also seek help in balancing their lives and rediscovering vitality and true wellbeing. Her skincare range is designed to create a new depth to skin care, nourishing and nurturing beauty in men and women at a deeper and more satisfying level, offering nature’s energy, purity and balance as the timeless solution.
ila’s philosophy is encapsulated in their maxim: Beyond Organic®. ila’s skincare range is completely free from synthetic chemicals and contains a rare level of organic purity which is achieved by sourcing the finest ingredients directly from local producers who cultivate and harvest the raw ingredients in harmony with nature. ila’s artisan skincare products are hand blended in a consciously created environment of peace and purity in the heart of the English countryside, to ensure that the finished holistic products contain all the exquisitely pure energy from nature. In these ways, our products are truly Beyond Organic®.
Ila’s sustainable philosophy carries through to their packaging which is fresh ,bright and dynamic like the range itself and is fully recyclable. A perfect product for the 21st C eco aware woman.
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Tags: eco objects of desire, eco, sustainable, eco design, recycled, about finding eco, orianna fielding banks, recycled packaging, fashion forward, ila, sanskrit, ila skincare, denise leicester, beyond organic, organic skincare range
Series 4. Eco icon no.9
‘ Arbre ‘eco electric tree by Wan-jin Joo, and Hyun-Joung

The ever increasing design possibilities of LED lights have been explored to the max with this ultra modern electric tree from designers Wan-jin Joo, and Hyun-Joung. The Arbre tree is made up of branches made from recycled plastic and featuring white LED lights all throughout each branch. Designed as a totally modular lighting system, each individual light branch piece can be interlocked with the next to create whatever shape you like .
The Eco electric tree is both recycled -made from recycled plastic and eco through its low energy consumption and totally modular can be made into virtually any shape or style that the user wants, this can be tall and thin or short and wide. Each twig has an integral LED’s so there is always going to be an even amount of LED’s no matter how it is put together.
Designers Wan-jin Joo, and Hyun-Joung talk about their design philosopy:
“Since the beginning of the 21st century, environmental friendly design in material and shape has been getting increasingly important. So I made lightning that gives us a feeling just like nature is getting into the house literally by using tree-shape. For light, LEDs are used, while recycled plastic is used for the branch part. Arbre utilizes a module method of lighting. To use this light, the user must put the branch shaped pieces into one another. As the human inspires life into the tree, the tree releases the light through its branches.”
Organic in concept and realisation…..low on energy high on design…a definite ‘finding eco’ icon.
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Tags: about finding eco, arbre led tree, eco concept, eco design, eco objects of desire, environment, Hyun-Joung, led lighting, low enery consumption, modular forms, organic, orianna fielding banks, recycled, recycled plastic, sustainable design, Wan-jin Joo
Series 4. Eco Icon No.7
The ‘cabbage chair ‘by Nendo

The Cabbage Chair is a design concept by Japanese designers Nendo, and is made entirely of waste paper from the pleated fabric industry. Nendo designed the chair for the 21st century man exhibition curated by Issey Miyake, which was launched in 2008 to coincide with the exhibition and now forms part of the collection at MOMA in New York,
“Miyake asked us to make furniture out of the pleated paper that is produced in bulk during the process of making pleated fabric and usually abandoned as an unwanted by-product.Our solution to his challenge transformed a roll of pleated paper into a small chair that appears naturally as you peel away its outside layers, one layer at a time.Resins added during the original paper production process add strength and the ability to remember forms, and the pleats themselves give the chair elasticity and a springy resilience, for an overall effect that looks almost rough, but gives the user a soft, comfortable seating experience.”
Since the production process is so simple, Nendo’s concept explored the possibility that eventually the chair could be shipped as one compact roll for the user to cut open and peel back at home.The chair has no internal structure. It is not finished and it is assembled without nails or screws. The primitive design responds gently to fabrication and distribution costs and environmental concerns.
The inherent intelligence and sincerity of Nendo’s design concept is reflected in their design philosophy:
“Giving people a small ” ! ” moment. There are so many small ” ! ” moments hidden in our everyday. But we don’t recognize them.
and even when we do recognize them,we tend to unconsciously reset our
minds and forget what we’ve seen.
But we believe these small ” ! ” moments are what make our days so
interesting, so rich.
That’s why we want to reconstitute the everyday by collecting and
reshaping them into something that’s easy to understand.
We’d like the people who’ve encountered nendo’s designs to feel these
small ” ! ” moments intuitively.
That’s nendo’s job.”
Definitely a case of less is more….Nendo are feeding our souls without starving the planet…finding eco’s very own philosopy….
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Tags: about finding eco, eco concept, eco objects of desire, issey miyake, moma, nendo, no wastage, orianna fielding banks, pleated paper, recycled, sustainable, sustainable design, the cabbage chair
finding eco for you
Hi there….we’re off on a global search for wonderous new eco icons to share with you in 2010.
Our next post will be on january 7th 2010.
Have a great Christmas and may 2010 bring us all a step closer to our dreams….
finding eco.
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Series 4. Eco Icon No. 5
The sculptural debut footwear collection of Andreia Chaves

Brazillian footwear designer Andreia Chaves has launched her extraordinary debut footwear collection as part of her degree course in Design of Footwear and Accessories.from which she graduates next February in Florence.
Andreia grew up in n the busy metropolis of Sao Paulo, Brazil where she learned to search out u beauty amongst the chaos. Each of the shoes in her launch collection is an individual work of art. Her training in Florence in texture & visual effects, has acted as the catalyst for her fearless experimentation with different materials in the creation of her visionary footwear design collection..
She says, “The fact that I grew up in a chaotic metropolis like Sao Paulo, full of contrasts, being in contact with such diversity and constant exposure to different visual inputs, has inspired me in how I think and conceptualize my shoes. Looking at my work, I can clearly see influence coming from my South American sense of versatility with an element of the European experiences I have lived, thrown into the mix.“
…..no need for conversation with a pair of Andreia’s creations…they really would speak for themselves…. a definate conversation piece……! If this is the level of work that Andreia is producing before graduating…..watch this space…..
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Tags: about finding eco, Andreia Chaves, Brazillian footwear designer, eco concept, eco fashion, eco objects of desire, Florence, orianna fielding banks, Sao Paulo brazil
Series 4. Eco Icon No.4
‘Replex’ dining table by Oormerk
Dutch design studio Oormerk is based in the southern town of Breda in the Netherlands. It was formed by designers Ruud van Hemert and Stijn van Oorschot. The studio has sustainability as its core philosophy and give old abandoned pieces of furniture a re-incarnation by deconstructing and reconstructing them to create iconic pieces of recycled furniture with a strong contemporary aesthetic. The ‘Replex’ table is the perfect example of their upcycled collection…made from old wardrobes and chests of drawers. The ‘Replex’dining table was created from a collection of old furniture pieces. the pieces were disassembled and glued together. this block of wood was then cut into sections and assembled into a table. this process leaves the imperfections of the materials intact creating a very unusual textured surface contained within very graphic lines….
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Tags: about finding eco, architectonic, design, dutch design, eco concept, eco design, eco objects of desire, environment, fsc, furniture, green, netherlands, no wastage, oormerk, orianna fielding banks, recycled, Replex dining table, Ruud van Hemert, Stijn van Oorschot, sustainable, upcycled
Series 4. Eco Icon No.3
Single diamond gold disc earrings by Tracy Matthews

Ruff&Cut are one of a pioneering new generation of jewellery companies working with named designers to produce fashion forward yet environmentally conscious collections of iconic jewellery pieces.
Ruff & Cut purchase their raw materials from socially responsible sources. For transparency, each piece of jewellery is accompanied by a certificate of specific origin.
New York based designer Tracy Matthews was commissioned to produce this elemental, textural and beautiful collection of pieces using 18K recycled gold and sustainable rough cut diamonds.
Ruff & Cut’s sustainable philosophy is born of the vision of its founder Wade Watson. With the launch of this new brand, Watson aims to engender the same passion in the consumer that he has found for upholding socially minded capitalism, by providing the consumer with socially responsible luxury jewellery that supports development in impoverished African mining communities. With years of experience in the diamond business, Watson has successfully created a socially responsible brand that will set the standard for ethical product development He says “.because we believe that, ironically, in this ever more connected world of ours, we are drifting further and further away from the things that once grounded and enriched us—the very things that mark us out as truly special.”
Watson believes that, “like intellect, conscience should be worn lightly.”
Easily achieved with this covetable jewellery collection of eco-icons….
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Tags: 18K recycled gold, about finding eco, eco design, eco fashion, eco objects of desire, environment, jewellery, orianna fielding banks, recycled, Ruff & Cut, socially responsible, socially responsible mining, sustainable, Tracy Matthews
Series 4. Eco Icon No.2
Susan Woo’s S/S 10 eco-chic collection

New York-based designer Susan Woo launched her first collection A/W 09 in February this year, Her debut collection has that rare combination of being eco-chic- elegant, classic and environmentally and socially conscious. Her follow up S/ S 10 collection is inspired by Faye Dunaway’s style in the iconic film, “Bonnie and Clyde. Woo says” The collection embodies power, intelligence, and…..sex appeal, achieved with sharp silhouettes–accentuated with drapery–and beautiful combination of textures. “
As a designer, at only 26, she has an impressive CV having already tenured at Louis Vuitton, Derek Lam and Chanel. She says she decided to launch her own collection when she realized that it was possible to to reconcile her love of fashion with being environmentally conscious.
Woo has a realistic and grounded approach to running her business -”I don’t believe that a sustainable company means that everything needs to be made from organic fabrics,” Woo says. “We are working on our ISO certification (the equivalent of being LEED certified), all of our pieces are produced under fair trade conditions and we operate as a company as environmentally and socially conscious as possible.”
While all of the fabrics used are 100% all-natural and sustainable and includes organic wool, cotton, and cashmere, they are also sourced from companies that have a strong environmental commitment. Woo’s mission is to show the most discerning fashionista that being “environmental” does not necessitate compromising on style, design or quality. Well on the way to reaching eco-icon status…..
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Tags: about finding eco, Bonny and Clyde, Derek, eco fashion, eco objects of desire, eco-chic, fashion forward, Lam chanel, louis vuitton, New York, orianna fielding banks, susan woo, sustainable design
Series 3. Eco Icon No.20
Renzo piano walnut dining table

World renowned architect Renzo Piano who recently designed the acclaimed organically shaped San Francisco Academy of Sciences with its living roof…has collaborated with New York based Hudson Furniture to create this sustainable, covetable walnut dining table with legs referencing the 50′.
Hudson Furniture spromotes and produces sustainable design through it’s own brand and collaborative furniture collections. Their design philosophy is born of a fundamental respect for the natural forms of trees and their inherent grain patterns. Inspired by the well defined organic lines and geometric forms of trees, Hudson Furniture uses traditional joinery techniques and hand rubbed oil finishes to produce its furniture collection..
None of the woods they use are harvested from old growth forests. All the wood slabs that they use are domestically sourced from either salvaged trees or wind/storm damaged trees. The trees have an average life span of 250-300 years. When these trees die, they gradually do so from the crest to the roots.These trees then have to be removed as they might cause damage to nearby houses, other trees or outlying areas.
” We put high regard and value on these trees by turning them into pieces of enduring art instead of leaving them out to decay “, Barlas Baylar, Hudson Furniture Inc. founder and designer.
Hudson Furniture is also New York’s only repository for legally harvested petrified wood. For Hudson Furniture Inc. it was second nature to explore petrified wood as an extension of its already existing collection of organic contemporary designs. Petrified wood, having the visual characteristics of wood but the feel of stone, represents a contemporary fusion of the two original materials into a new compelling organic interior accessory.
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Tags: about finding eco, carbon footprint, eco concept, eco objects of desire, environment, fsc, furniture, green, Hudson furniture inc., old growth forests, orianna fielding banks, Renzo piano, San fransisco academy of Sciences, sustainable, trees, walnut, wood
Series 3. Eco Icon No.18
‘Oval‘ Vessel series by Sarah Thirlwell


Multi faceted designer Sarah Thirlwell mixes recycled and reclaimed materials in order to create this beautiful semi- transluscent collection of vases and vessels. Using such materials as polished FSC graded plywood with bands of recycled yoghurt pot, recycled vending cups, and reclaimed acrylic Sarah produces a range of vessels, jewellery and functional interior products for the domestic and commercial interiors market .
Her mission is to “ challenge the perceptions of traditional craft by celebrating them in a contemporary context.” Harnessing the processes of traditional wood-turning within a simple aesthetic, Sarah has created a unique, covetable and iconic collection of eco vessels….want one now!!
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Series 3. Eco Icon No.17
‘Cork cuff ‘ by Donna Piacenza

Designer Donna Piacenza of Chicago based Studio 1 am ( see Eco.Icon No.15) designed this sculptural jewellery piece made enriely from recycled cork with the packaging forming an integral part of the design. The cork used comes from the wine bottling industry. Discarded corks are ground up and formed into blocks using environmentally-friendly adhesives. then each cuff is cut from a single block of cork, which can then be used to store the jewelry, or simply as a display piece of design inrelief form.
The holistic approach to her concept of including the block of cork as part of the whole piece stems from Piacenza’s regard for jewelry as a continuously interactive object. So often the packaging of a jewellery piece is disregarded and generally discarded . By contrat the Cork Cuff can be displayed in its own block makes it an iconic piece of eco design.
We rarely see cork in products that venture beyond the realm of basic utility, such as bottle stoppers, bulletin boards and flooring, however Studio 1 am’s pioneering and visionary use of cork demonstrates that this renewable, recyclable, and flexible material has multi- use potential when coupled with the visionary designs of the designers at Studio 1 am.
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Series 2.Eco Icon no.19
‘Leaf plates‘ by verTerra

Verterra is the brainchild of environmentalist, Michael Dwork. While doing an internship in India, he encountered a woman pressing water soaked leaves into a make shift waffle iron. She then pulled out the plate and used it to serve food she was selling. It was an epiphany for Dwork and he spent the rest of his summer and his business school years at Columbia University MBA program refining Verterra’s dinnerware.
The plates are made from organically-grown palm tree leaves from India. The fallen leaves, which would traditionally have been burned on the roadside, are collected, sterilized, steamed and pressed into plates. The process uses no chemicals, glues or bonding agents, and over 80% of the water used during the steaming and pressing process is recaptured and recycled. Verterra’s plates are 100% natural and biodegradable!as they are made of 100% renewal and compostable fallen leaves and water, and best of all, do not contain any chemicals, waxes, dyes or harmful toxins.
The Company simply applies steam, heat and pressure to the fallen leaves to create this disposable dinnerware, which will naturally biodegrade in two months. According to the VerTerra, you can throw them into the composter and if you don’t YET have a composter they will decompose in a landfill.
Verterra tableware are fair trade products as well. All products are made in South Asia where their employees receive a fair wage, work in safe conditions and have access to health care.
Definately a product that ticks all the design ,environmental and fairtrade boxes….how inspiring….
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Series 2. Eco Icon No.20
‘Bold‘ sofa by Sanserif Creatius

Designer Ana Yago , two time winner of International Furniture Fair of Valencia (FIM), s renamed Habitat Valencia Forward, has created a multifunctional team of designers interested in redefining spaces and objects, interiors, structures and installations with their core philosophy being sustainable design.
The ‘Bold’ sofa is the latest proposal by Ana Yago and Jose Antonio Gimenez, who have formed Sanserif Creatius, in collaboration with Grupo La Plana, ‘ Bold ‘is a typographical chair developed in corrugated cardboard . This new work forms part of their iconic furniture collection based on letters and punctuation. This ergonomic design that mimics the contours of the letter “b”, is completed with an adjustable cushion that can be stored in a vacuum at the base of the chair. The piece is 100% biodegradable , highlighting the environmentally sustainable creative policy that began seven years ago with Sanserif ’s collaboration with the Group’s Flat and After creating ecological and sustainable alternative to traditional furniture industry.
B is for beautiful……Best eco practices…..Brilliant design….!
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Series 3. Eco Icon No.1
‘Nuno’ Felted Shawl by Vart

Lithuanian born designer Vaida Petreikiené or Vaida P to you and me…..is rocking the world of felt.
Her handmade sculptural designs are as much wearable art as they are a fashion statement. A perfect example being this dramatic charcoal grey scarf which is completely hand-felted using a traditional wet felting technique. Made from 100% Merino wool and embellished with 100% pure silk thread with a silk ponge lining this is a versatile spectacular addition to any wardrobe hat values hand crafted original design. Each of her pieces are unique ,individually made ‘one offs’ , and are made to order through her online store VART.
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Series 3. Eco Icon No.2
‘Honey Comb shelves’ by Unto this last

London based Unto This Last produces beautiful, organic in form and immaculately crafted wood furniture to order. The plywood comes from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified, responsibly managed forests in Latvia and Finland. Everything is cut by an automated machine at the back of the workshop and delivered in a weekly van around London using no packaging to minimise environmental damage.
Instead of shipping and storing furniture, Unto This Last have a stock of sustainably harvested Latvian and Finnish plywood. When an order is placed it is manufactured to order. “This system allows us to offer most of our products in a wide range of sizes with a variety of finishes” ,enabling them to offer a bespoke product range that can be adapted to suit their client’s aesthetic and budget.
Working in this way simplifies logistics and cuts costs” we do without warehousing, transportation or packaging. This is what allows us to offer their products at prices that compete with mass-production, in spite of our reduced scale.”
Now, instead of the massive infrastructure of the larger high volume furniture companies there is a growing network a network of local small companies that can make furniture locally, distribute it locally and keep the labour and investment local. According to the company : “we plan to grow by duplicating our workshop in other locations, for our client’s convenience, and the pleasure of making things differently.”.
With brilliant eco sensitive design coupled with the ’slow design’ and buy local philosophies seem to provide a ‘win’win’ option all round…..!’Eco Must haves in the making……
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Tags: about finding eco, eco fashion, eco objects of desire, fsc certified, honey comb shelves, local business, natural, no wastage, orianna fielding banks, slow design, sustainable, unto this last
Series 3. Eco Icon No.3
‘Colour block lights‘ from the ‘Entrelinhas‘ collection.

This high impact new lighting collection by Brazillian company Componeneti is driven by their quest for sustainable design . Their mission is a constant search for technology and innovation through actions that reduce environmental impact and contribute to people’s quality of life.
They combine technology and a craftsmanship , recognizing in design the true source of creation and innovation for their line of products .
The ‘Entrelinhas’ ( in between the lines in Brazillian) collection, was created by Componenti in partnership with Marton + Marton, who together developed the “Entrelinhas” collection, creating striped effects by combining strips of Methacrylate a totally recycled product .The idea arose during an electrical shortage, in order to disguise the infamously ecologically friendly light bulbs. This project united creativity and innovation from Marton + Marton with the technology of Componenti adding a new three dimensional effect to a previously two dimensional laminate collection of the same name.“Entrelinhas”.
Methacrylate® is a 100% recyclable raw material, which can be developed to expand the products inherent qualities while being formed into contemporary shapes with a qualit and lightness of touch..
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Series 3.Eco Icon No.4
‘Paris‘ petal necklace by Begoña Rentero

Spanish designer Begoña Rentero , originally from Granada grew up in a family that had a profound respect for nature and the environment. These early influences developed into a passion for organic forms, colour and movement inspired by nature.
Begoña later translated this passion into a jewellery collection featuring a series of unique pieces. The colours and organic shapes winter flowers , flora and sea fauna have inspired her latest collection of hand made , exquisitely crafted jewellery.The pieces are made of special paper, fibres of silk cotton etc. that she prepares with a method she has developed to toughen them up for daily use, without compromising their delicate, organic aesthetic. Using only natural dyes her pieces both reflect and respect the environment and as she says ”are so light you have to touch them to know that wearing them”. Definitely worthy of eco icon status…..
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Tags: Begoña rentero, eco jewellery, hand made, hande made, natural dyes, nature, organic forms, orianna fielding banks, paper flowers. environment, unique one off pieces
Series 3. Eco Icon No.5
Miss Rio ‘ Flip flop’ Ottoman by Karin Wittmann Wilsmann

Designer Karin Wittmann Wilsmann has breathed a ’second life’ into post summer redundant flip flops by creating a vibrarant, colorful, fun item with a serious back story. The Miss Rio Ottoman is like an oversized ,fun, pom pom while achieving eco-friendly status being made out of the soft rubber of recycled flip flops.
In addition to keeping industrial leftovers out of landfills, Miss Rio repurposes the soft rubber without any further manufacturing. The raw material is used as is without the need for further processes..
Together with Braziliian company Gueto , Karin Wittmann Wilsmann’s design is manufactured by an organization that provide work for otherwise unemployed craftspeople from the local community. A smart, ecological design, Miss Rio provides comfortable, firm seating and is suitable for outdoor use (although colors may fade if exposed to sunlight for extended periods).
So comfy, fun, eco and fairtrade….looks good and feels good….definitely achieving eco icon status from where I’m sitting…..actually on a Miss Rio…..
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Tags: about finding eco, carbon footprint, eco concept, eco design, eco objects of desire, environment, green, gueto, Karin Wittmann Wilsmann, miss rio ottoman, no wastage, off cuts, orianna fielding banks, recycled, recycled flip flops, sustainable
Series 3. Eco Icon No.6
Olsen Haus A/W 09 footwear collection

At first glance The Olsenhaus footwear collection appears to have all the ‘fashion forward’ design elements that you would expect from a directional , young dynamic design company. What makes Olsenhaus so unusual is that their entire collection is Vegan and 100% eco friendly. Their shoes make a mark in fashion terms without leaving a footprint in environmental terms.
The concept of Olsenhaus is to showcase alternative materials that are clever, sophisticated, fun and on trend, while promoting consciousness through example and education. Their focus firmly remains on what their goods are made of, why, and attention to the impact on the environment, animals and people. In addition, Olsenhaus works to change the face of what a vegan person looks like and work to make a difference, without sacrifices. It is all about style, truth, and the shift in consciousness to a new luxury.
The philosophy of Olsen Haus is anchored in a dedication to the expression of truth in the material world. They are committed to being 100% animal-free / cruelty-free, producing functional goods, with a high standard of ethical social responsibility in animal rights, human rights, and the environment. Products are made of non-animal materials, in sample rooms and factories that are personally checked for ethical practices & environmental impact.
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Tags: about finding eco, cruelty free, eco fashion, eco objects of desire, environment, fashion forward, natural, olsenhaus, orianna fielding banks, vegan, vegan footwear
Series 3. Eco Icon No.7
‘Community‘ eco dresser by Rob Southcott
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Rob Southcott, furniture, product, and interior designer has created Community a furniture piece that is part dresser , part room divider made from “locally produced reclaimed lumber species assembled together in an abstract configuration,” Southcott calls what he does “sculptural-based design that blurs the line between art and design.” The piece has a wonderful randomness about it- like a child trying to pile up a set of building blocks and yet has a very clear inherent design rationale . Community embodies Southcott’s belief in diversity. Like a vertical wooden collage, the furniture unites interesting and individually distinct pieces to make a statement about both harmony and humanity. Each ‘Community’ piece is unique and yet successfully highlights the whole and the parts that make such a composition possible. Definitely a reason to re-clutter……and fill those drawers!

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Series 3. Eco Icon No.11
Floating ‘ Lightbulb‘ by Jeff Lieberman
![[lightBulb.jpg]](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ovJS1Em-6dg/RrxZlj9WNrI/AAAAAAAAMWg/9W4qXVdW3tU/s1600/lightBulb.jpg)
What you are seeing is not an illusion, photoshop manipulation or illustration….it really is a floating wireless lightbulb.
Developed by MIT Robotics expert Jeff Lieberman who also is a photographer, artist and inventor , his floating ‘lightbulb ‘ first wowed the blogshere in 2005. Using the wireless power transfer technology invented by Nikola Tesla in the late 1890’s he developed his first floating lightbulb, which “uses a special bulb, inside which magnets and circuitry are hidden. Using a magnetic hall effect sensor, an electromagnet, and a [modified] PD feedback system, it floats a lightbulb stably in the air, while power is transmitted wirelessly from the base of the sculpture into the bulb. LEDs in the bulb rectify this AC power and convert it to light.”
Now four years later it ha been upgraded .The new version “operates at much higher wireless transfer efficiency and is brighter while consuming less energy and levitates at roughly 2.5″ from the nearest object.
This light bulb really is a levitating yet powered lightbulb. It will float stably in midair and remain on for years without any physical contact, charging, or batteries. Ironically, with the levitation and wireless power circuitry both on, this entire package still consumes less than half the power of an incandescent bulb.
This floating bulb is even more iconic and evocative because it fuses brilliant design with pioneering technology to produce a high impact, low consumption object that can be used daily…….certainly would light up my life….
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Tags: about finding eco, carbon footprint, eco design, eco objects of desire, environment, floating light bulb, Jeff Lieberman, levitating, MIT, Nikola Tesla, orianna fielding banks, sustainable, wireless lightbulb
Series 3. Eco Icon No.12
The ‘Cliclounger‘ by Alexander Pelikan

The CLICLOUNGER was conceived by designer Alexander Pelikan in 2004 when he was researching modernist furniture with its cornerstones being: multiplicity (industrial reproduction), clarity of use and function, absence of decoration and honesty of material. Modernist furniture is exemplified in the crate-furniture of Rietveld which were the first self assembly pieces.
Alexander Pelikan has developed a unique unit of furniture that uses no nuts, bolts or nails to keep it intact. Named ‘Click Furniture’. This modern seating unit presents a simple and elemental design based on interlocking flat packed pieces.
The ‘Cliclounger’ is not just innovative , it also requires creative thinking on part of the users to assemble the furniture, and is finished with sustainable material. Pelikan used TRESPA, an HPL material which is very dense and strong with a durable top-layer, developed for Ahrend and now mainly used for facades of buildings.
Peliker has a very visionary approach to furniture manufacturing . According to him” the future could be fully digital furniture where the customer only buys the file needed for manufacture, steps to the closest milling facility and lets his piece be produced locally on the spot”. In this way ‘immaterialized’ product would cut down a lot on transport- and material costs, and would be very environmentally-conscious and above all it would broaden the freedom of design…
Visonary approach…directional design…..sustainable and sincere……ticking all the boxes for eco-icon status…
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Tags: about finding eco, alexander pelikan, architectonic, cliclounger, eco concept, eco design, eco objects of desire, environment, fsc, furniture, modernist furniture, orianna fielding banks, sustainable
Series 3. Eco Icon No.14
‘UM’ bag by Josh Jakus
Josh Jakus is a designer based in Berkeley, California who is dedicated to exploring the connections between form and function. When people use one of Josh’s products, they experience the way his product was conceived and developed . He achieves this by using materials in their simplest form so their intrinsic qualities show through .
Josh founded his design practice in 2005 as a way of continuing his lifelong interest in the nature of structure, space, and materials. An architect by training with an M.Arch from UC Berkeley, Josh uses his understanding of the built environment and how it is inhabited , in the creation of his designs.
He developed the UM bag collection through two self imposed creative challenges: The first, to make use of the unique properties of 100% industrial pressed wool felt, which is made from approximately 85% factory excess wool and 15% mixed fibers. exploring its density, texture, pliability, and strength. And the second, to transform a flat surface using only the simplest of operations. When unzipped, UMs lay completely flat for dry cleaning, storage, or travel.
This ingenious design is the result of its simplicity , architectonic lines and elemental construction– the bag is nothing more than two layers of a cleverly shaped piece of felt and a zipper.
Definitely no wastage to be found anywhere…with this elemental, recycled, rationalised design with minimal manufacturing process…..eco…practical and covetable….
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Tags: 100% industrial pressed wool felt, about finding eco, architectonic, California, eco concept, eco fashion, eco objects of desire, hand made, josh jakus, natural, no wastage, off cuts, orianna fielding banks, recycled
Series 3.Eco Icon N.15
‘Cortica’chaise Longue by Daniel Michalik


Brooklyn based New Yorker, designer Daniel Michalik, has made this textural, ergonomic, undulating, chaise longue from pure cork (reclaimed waste material from the bottle-stopper industry), non-toxic marine-grade adhesive, and a small amount of polyurethane.
Cork has tremendous potential to perform in ways unlike any other material, as well as being an environmentally responsible material. This piece shows the material’s ability to bend in two directions simultaneously, creating complex three-dimensional forms laminated from a flat sheet. Cork being a renewable material, it is both lightweight and naturally waterproof , and resilient to rot and mould, and therefore can be used indoors or outdoors. The balanced form, along with the pliability of the material allows one to rock gently from side to side with a great degree of stability. The result is a floating sensation , weightless yet totally supported…… presumably could float in a pool……the ultimate eco lilo….don’t try this at home!!
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Tags: about finding eco, cork, Cortica chaise longue, Daniel Michalik, eco concept, eco design, eco objects of desire, environment, furniture, green, natural, no wastage, off cuts, orianna fielding banks, reclaimed waste, recycled, sustainable design














Lisa Salzer , jewellery designer of the celebrated re-worked vintage inspired collection Lulu Frost , created these spectacular pieces for Erin Fetherston’s spring ‘10 collection. Featuring Cleopatra style collars made of elaborate combinations of gold chains and vintage crystals that seem to be also adding a Joan Collins ’Dynasty’ moment into the mix….




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