ED. note: Our new theme for Fridays, as you can see, is eCouture. Under this heading we will feature eco-friendly clothing and accessories. Enjoy!
They are stylish, chic and made from…recycled seatbelts! I recently spoke with Lindsey Stice at Harveys to get an inside look at these bags that should be a part of your wardrobe. They make other fun and stylish seatbelt products as well…read on!
Ann Alexander Leggett: How long have Harveys seatbeltbags been on the market?
Lindsey Stice: Harveys Original Seatbeltbags have been styling the arms of fashionistas around the globe for the past 12 years. In March of 1997, while installing seatbelts into their 1950 Buick, husband and wife Dana and Melanie Harvey had the idea to make Melanie a matching handbag from the leftover materials. Everyone loved hers so much, they decided to make more. Today, Harveys Original Seatbeltbags are sold in over 300 domestic department stores and high-end boutiques, as well as distributed in 25 countries.
AAL: What was the inspiration for making bags out of recycled seat belts?
LS: Every year millions of yards of seatbelt is tossed into our landfills because they don’t satisfy automotive standards. Well, they satisfy Harveys…
AAL: How many styles are available?
LS: Meet Treecycle. A collection of seatbeltbags made from reclaimed seatbelts, organic hemp and water-based inks. The Treecycle collection is available in 12 stylish silhouettes.
AAL:I understand that Harvey’s has limited editions and special editions from time to time and they are always extremely popular. What are some of the limited editions designs that you’ve done?
LS: Our Limited Edition Seatbeltbags premiered back in 2004. Since, we have produced over 20 different limited edition Seatbeltbags, with only 250 of each bag being produced. Our most popular LTD was Paint By Numbers back in 2006. Paint by Numbers LTDs have been spotted on eBay selling for over $1200.00 since its sell-out in 2006.
AAL: In addition to seatbeltbags, what other products does Harveys produce?
LS: In addition to handbags, Harveys Original Seatbeltbags produces wallets, coin purses, diaper bags, fanny-packs, key chains, travel bags, belts, laptop sleeves, checkbook covers, and portfolios. All Harveys seatbelt products are handcrafted in Santa Ana, CA and are “guaranteed tough.”
AAL: Where do you get all of your seat belts?
Our Treecycle belts are a collection of discarded materials auto manufacturers cannot use due to safety or quality flaws. Rather than sitting in our over-capacitated landfills, Harveys purchases the “rejected” webbing to produce beautiful eco-friendly Treecycle Seatbeltbags.
I recently had the opportunity to chat with Beth Doane, the owner and founder of Andira. She spoke about the company’s origin, goals and plans for the future. It’s an amazing company with products for a good cause.
Ann Alexander Leggett: First things first…I love the name Andira. What does it mean? Where does it come from?
Beth Doane: Andira is actually the name of a Brazilian tree species that has purple flowers. I was looking for a name that was both beautiful and unique and when I found this name I just feel in love. At the time I had no idea that it would reflect so precisely what I was going to do with my company. I knew that the Andira tree had been used for centuries by indigenous people for its medicinal properties and that due to logging and deforestation, the species has been vastly devastated-but I didn’t know at the time that I would be so thoroughly involved in saving trees like the Andira and working with indigenous people in tropical ecosystems directly. It has truly been an amazing journey.
Beth Doane, owner and founder of Andira
AAL: Explain the philosophy behind Andira
BD: Andira has evolved so much since I first started the company. Overall it is my goal to create global change by educating consumers on critical issues using industries such as fashion, and collections such as Rain Tees.
When I first started Andira I was simply doing import and distribution of mainly European brands to the US market. Unfortunately it was not really fulfilling and it kept getting more difficult as our currency continued to dip compared to the Euro as well.
Through my experiences and launching my own brand from the ground up I realized just how much I could offer to other designers and companies that wanted to launch their brands while keeping the process as eco conscious as possible. Friends of friends starting asking for my advice or help on their collections and it has just grown over time to the point where now we offer consulting, design, distribution and even marketing advice to brands, designers and even large corporations. Every Andira collection we design, import or help to produce is made using fair labor practices, and contains no animal parts or products. I have always supported animal rights and unforutnely animals are so often treated inhumanely for the fashion and beauty industries. It’s seriously atrocious and my research into this subject has really affected me. We also offer a “Rescue an Animal Program” through our charity Merazonia which rescues trafficked and abused Amazonian animals as its estimated that more than 12 million a year are taken from their homes and killed for their fur or sold to collectors annually. Its just ridiculous to me and like so many similar issues I feel it can be curbed dramatically through simply educating consumers.
AAL: What prompted you or what was the catalyst for you to start this company?
BD: I had lived overseas for a year after I graduated from college and while in countries such as Italy, France and Greece I fell in love with the artistic nature of European fashion, lifestyle and culture. I wanted to bring that artistry to the USA. I found a brand I was particularly in love with and started Andira to import, distribute and market it to the USA.
AAL: What products/styles are currently in the Andira line?
BD: Rain Tees is the first collection I designed and launched personally and its growing so fast its been truly amazing for us. We began Rain Tees with just tee shirts and are expanding to a larger line of totes, sweats and accessories. I also work with a brand from Barcelona called Demano which are an amazing line of recycled handbags known for their attention to detail and superior quality to other recycled lines. I also currently have 4 main clients that I am helping launch their respective brands. I have a client doing a line of luxury organic linens and a client with a gorgeous collection of baby clothes where everyone that sees them says “oh my god I love it”. That’s when I know we have a great product on our hands! Its just so fun to help others bring their dreams to life and make a difference while doing so.
AAL: What’s the inspiration for the designs on your T’s?
BD: With the Rain Tee collection I wanted to show consumers what was happening in the Amazon in a way that would truly make them stop to listen— and what better way to do that then through the eyes of a child? I wanted the children to be part of reforesting their homeland as well since someday this earth will be theirs and its crucial that they understand just how powerful they are and what they can accomplish.
AAL: Tell us about what goes into or what DOESN’T go into manufacturing your products
BD: I am huge on fair labor. I want everything that has Andira associated with it in any way to be made fairly and in strictly monitored and safe working conditions. I encourage all my clients to keep their manufacturing in the USA if its possible and oftentimes they find that its truly cost effective as well, depending on the product. If not made in the USA I am very careful with where I produce. With Rain Tees for example, I had them made right near the Amazon in Peru at family owned and operated factories where workers are paid 25% above average wagers. Trade between the USA and Peru is free as well so both countries benefit from a fair exchange. I also don’t use animal products in any of my lines and I love educating consumers and clients on what to look for when searching for the right manufacturing facility for their brands.
AAL: What’s next for Andira? Any new products we can look forward to?
BD: Our line of Rain Tee totes is going to be fantastic! Just like Rain Tees, each tote will have a story and a message behind it that we can each take out into the world and every tote will feature the artwork and thoughts of children living with Amazon deforestation. Keep checking andiraintl.com and raintees.com as well for new lines and products that we are working with.
This is something everyone should see. Celebrate Earth Week and take the time to watch The Story of Stuff. This 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled video will change the way you view the world and the “stuff” in it. Focusing on the United States, it looks closely at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. All the stuff in our lives, from the extraction of the resources to make it, through its production, sale, use and disposal, affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view and unknown to the public. The Story of Stuff also exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues and calls for all of us to create a more sustainable and just world.
Click on the link in this post, check out the website–which is full of amazing information–and watch the video. It is a must-see. It’ll teach you something. It’ll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.
It’s no mistake that AQUAOVO looked to the egg for inspiration in designing OVOPUR, its water filter that is revolutionizing drinking water quality in urban areas. According to Manuel Desrochers, the designer behind the sleek, eco-friendly filter, the life-giving egg shape, combined with the thermal properties of porcelain, preserves and revitalizes something available to us all: basic tap water. Here marks the end of your traditional, unattractive water cooler. This water filtration system will spark real conversation.
“The unique shape of our water filtration unit did not result from sheer serendipity,” says Desrochers.“Inspired by the work of water research pioneers, its shape eases the circulation and regeneration of water. Its overall look is one of abundance, purity, and its appealing curves and use of fine materials like porcelain, glass and metal bear witness to our commitment to aesthetics and quality.”
Basically, with no right angles the filter’s shape allows the water to flow freely and naturally. The resulting temperature differences and normal flow ensures biotic movement that prevents stagnation and the risk of bacteria with one great end result: water that is just plain good for you.
But then Desrochers has always been interested in water and the environmental issues surrounding water, so the development of OVOPUR was right up his alley.It’s the perfect combination of eco-awareness and aesthetics that makes the system both attractive and functional, not to mention eco-friendly. All AQUAOVO products, right down to the packaging, are made from sustainable, renewable or recyclable materials. The unit uses no electricity and depends on gravity alone to filter and revitalize up to 11 liters of water in the main reservoir. The process to revitalize your water is simple.Fill the upper reservoir to start the trickle of water through the filter cartridge into the main reservoir below.A magnetic gauge continuously monitors the water level.Turn the handle and fill up your glass.
“The AQUAOVO experience has the added benefit of eliminating the consumption of bottled water, an industry that pollutes the environment through its use of more than 150,000 metric tons of plastic per year and the substantial greenhouse gas emissions it generates in shipping the product to market,” says Noemie Desrochers, AQUAOVO’s marketing director. “Our choice of materials, our commitment to sustainable development, and our reusable filter cartridges have allowed us to set new environmental standards to meet customer requirements. We are unconditionally committed to ethics, social responsibility and the environment.”
It goes without saying that OVOPUR’s arrival on the water filtration scene has proven to be a booming success. Already the winner of several prestigious design awards, the filter even made an appearance at The Harvard Graduate School of Design’s Ecological Urbanism conference and in the accompanying exhibit that will run through May 17, 2009. And just a few weeks after arriving in New York, the product received a positive review in the February 19, 2009 issue of theNew York Times.
From innovative design comes revitalized tap water; it’s the best of both worlds. Drink up!
“The journey of our product is as beautiful as the product itself.”
Enrico Bressan and Tahmineh Javanbakht
Enchant, inspire and transform, that’s the vision formulated by Artecnica’s art directors Enrico Bressan and Tahmineh Javanbakht to elevate the purpose of everyday objects. Based in Los Angeles, Artecnica is a design and manufacturing company that collaborates with celebrated international designers to express this vision through an innovative line of products. The result is a unique collection of design objects such as tables, lamps, clocks, and other home accessories made with eco-friendly materials and manufacturing methods.
Founded in 2002 and based on humanitarian and environmentally friendly principles, their award-winning DESIGN WITH CONSCIENCE program takes things one step farther, pairing leading international designers with artisan communities in need. DESIGN WITH CONSCIENCE offers an alternative economic reality to artisans in oppressed areas, resulting in hand-crafted and one-of-a-kind designs that are not only visually stunning but also economically, socially, and environmentally conscious. The line includes bowls made of re-used tires and natural wicker manufactured by artisans in Vietnam, a ceramic collection handcrafted in the primary coca leaf-growing region of Peru and much more. It’s re-use meets resource, with fine design thrown into the mix.
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Enrico Bressan, one of Artecnica’s founders about the details of their DESIGN WITH CONSCIENCE program.
Ann Alexander Leggett: How did you come up the idea for DESIGN WITH CONSCIENCE (DWC)?
Enrico Bressan: The idea for DWC came from our backgrounds and the activities in our lives as we developed Artecnica. We have been very involved with a variety of designers and architects who have been interested in green, environmental, and sustainability issues. We wondered, how can design be an active protagonist? So the concept really came from our conscience; hence the name. We all believe so strongly in these issues that it just felt right to incorporate them into our business. We thought, if it can work in our company, perhaps other businesses will see the value and start similar programs to support artisan communities in need. And that is, in fact, happening.
AAL: How many countries have been involved with the DWC program to date?
EB: Six. Guatemala, Peru, Brazil, Columbia, South Africa, and Vietnam.
AAL: How do DWC products differ from the products in Artecnica’s main line?
EB: The DWC program includes products designed by international designers that are made by artisan communities around the world. We find communities that have a hard time getting into the market. As a result, the program then becomes a humanitarian project. Recyclability and social responsibility are key components of the program. Another wonderful aspect is that some of the products take on an ethnic feel. For instance, in the TaTu pieces which are handwoven in South Africa, you can see iconic African shapes. DWC follows pretty rigid guidelines, but we are moving more and more towards incorporating those principles into Artecnica’s other lines.
AAL: How extensive is the interaction between designer and artisan in the DWC program?
EB: Many of the designers travel to the countries and work directly with the artisans manufacturing their product. As a result, the designers are often influenced by the artisans with whom they are working. The product’s design can often change based on input from the artisans. It’s an enriching process for all.
Beads & Pieces designed by Hella Jongerius, made by artisans in Peru for Artecnica.
AAL: Has DWC been a challenging process? If so, how?
EB: It’s been a difficult program…some issues were hard to handle when we started. We had to do some convincing. We had to convince our retailers and customers to follow this line. They had concerns such as, will the products cost more? But we had the designers, design schools, and media as our allies. The media was on board because it was good news, it was an up and coming progressive idea. However, the program requires many people in order to succeed such as designers, manufacturers, artisans, and liaisons between the two groups because the artisans, for example, may not be skilled at the logistical side of manufacturing, like the sheer volume of paperwork. That can be difficult. The pricing component is challenging as well. Not all of the products have been commercially viable, and some lines have only had two or three reorders. But some have been very successful such as the transGlass, which is priced competitively. Some of the other products tend to be more up-market, but they do well too. Making all the products sustainable over a long period of time from a commercial standpoint is a work in progress. But in the end this is the case for most products in the market.
AAL: I love your quote, “the journey of our product is as beautiful as the product itself,” because it so beautifully describes the DWC program. In addition to all of the positive attributes of the program&nda**** sheer global reach, its mission to invigorate commerce and involve artisans in need around the world, its humanitarian and environmental consciousness issues–I would imagine the program has evolved to become so much more than what you had envisioned. I assume it has taken on a life of its own in many respects, as well as touched lives in ways you never expected. Can you talk a little about that, and tell me one of your favorite stories about the program?
EB: Everyone involved in the program has been affected on so many levels. We are affected in a technical sense, a professional sense, and a manufacturing sense. But more important, there are the emotional and personal components that are so meaningful such as getting to know one another’s cultures and problems, and as a result of those we constantly strive to make the program better. The tide is in our favor now and we are very pleased to see that more and more companies are working with designers whose pieces are being manufactured by artisan communities in need. We just helped bring the concept into reality, and we have more products being developed as we speak.
One of my favorite stories was when we were in Guatemala working on the transGlass product. We went down to the artisan site to improve the manufacturing technique because the artisans had no experience. We all felt frustrated and the process was very slow, yet we were determined to stay optimistic. After four days of work and training we thought, are we ever going to get there? Then, on the last day, the lead artisan started to get it and he was making glass pieces that weren’t breaking. He looked at us with these incredulous eyes and said, “It can be done!” It was amazing. From that point forward everything fell into place. Sometimes the artisans lack confidence and they don’t feel that they have the necessary skills. Sometimes they feel very humbled.
The program has a life of its own because I think every product we have done has its own interesting and tragic moments. The DWC program will stay in the memories of every designer and artisan involved. It will survive in the history of Artecnica as one of our most difficult projects, but also one of the most meaningful.
They are stylish, chic and made from…recycled seatbelts! I recently spoke with Lindsey Stice at Harveys to get an inside look at these bags that should be a part of your wardrobe. They make other fun and stylish seatbelt products as well…read on!
