A Crisp Idea

Crispina Fuschia Inc. was started by Crispina FFrench in 1987 while she was at the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston when she began making ragamuffins (little critter stuffed animals) from old sweaters.

Today, Crispina Fuschia Inc. has expended their range to make a wide selection pillows, shams, coverlets, blankets, and rugs from recycled sweaters. This summer they have begun to move their new studio (well it is an old church) in Pittsfield, MA.

MIT’s Energy Research Council

More MIT news. (Guess you can tell where we went to school now.)

Pres. Hockfield has declared war on the Earth.  Or rather, she’s launched the school’s Energy Research Council, which in a Manhattan Project-style effort, aims to develop new technologies to address many of the World’s problems.

Wired News covers a range of research projects, ranging from solar cells made from spinach to algae-based biofuels.

The whole thing is co-chaired by ex-DoE Undersecretary and MIT Prof. Ernie Moniz.

Best Product Design of 2006 Awards

BusinessWeek has coverage of the Best Product Design of 2006 Awards. For the first time, this year ISDA presented awards in “ecodesign”, something we hotly follow here at ecoaesthete.

Two office chairs (Zody and Celle[right]), a pair of Mion water shoes designed for Timberland, and a digital carpet-sampling system that did away with the fabric won.

Most notably, Jurors weren’t happy with the low number of entries. “The design community is not knowledgeable in this,” said jury Chair Conley. “Architecture is better.”

Retro Inspired Greenlight

Greenlight makes light fixtures from old traffic light glass, diverting them from landfills! What a need concept and a very groovy design. Too bad each is over $100.00! Jeepers!

While a fan of their reuse of these pieces of waste, I still hold that the best place to get a great trendy lamp is from your local thrift shop. My sister and I have found many a great working vintage lamp from Goodwill.  If you are a Boston native, check out the Goodwill in Davis Square (near Tufts University), I have never had trouble finding something suitable, alterable, or in absolute perfect condition!

Carpet-Burns

Carpet-Burns is a company based from Derby (UK) that takes recycled (polypropylene) carpet and burns it — like an iron — to form these excellent plastic tiles with the carpet pattern intact. While they started making tea trays, magazine racks, and clutches (left), the company’s strength lies in material design, so they now focus on 1×1ft. tiles and large 4×2.5ft. panels that can form great waterproof floors both interally/externally. They also take one-off commissions (a groovy sink being done recently) and merchandising items like coasters and folders.

We cannot wait until Kelly Atkins and her Carpet-Burns begin to list stockist on their site!!!

Vivavi! Expensivo!

Vivavi! sells sustainable furniture for the future, and many items are very well designed. While I can admire the simple elegant designs, I can’t say I’ll be rushing right out at these prices…

The reader will know by now that we at ecoaesthete think that sustainability should also mean affordability.

 One of their designers I’m rather a fan of is Carlos Salgado and Bart Betttencourt who create eco-friendly furniture from discarded wood scraps. Check out their collection on Vivavi!, including their uncommon dinning room table above at left.

Asian Solar Lamp

Damian O'Sullivan has created a lamp after my own heart, or at least my obsession with all things Asian and all things Green. This Asian inspired hanging lamp, made from small solar panels and LEDs, is hung outside during the day so that it can emit light at night — inside or out. MoCo Loco has profiled it here. I just wish I new where these were going on sale!

Cobblestone Lined Online Market Place

Ruby Lane, online market, strives to emmulate what you might fine on a stroll through cobblestone streets. It specializes in quality antiques, collectibles, Fine Art, jewelry and handcrafted items. Many items are on the expensive side, but they do have features that allow you to weed out by price if you are an eco-fashionista on a budget, this is a great place to support craftspersons or purchase antiques and other reused items.

The Bakelite Bits Shop is one of my favourites; according to their profile, they make “New Fashioned Fun from Vintage Plastics, Sterling Silver and Brass!” They have even been previewed in Vogue! I am keen on the necklace at left — hint, hint.

Branch: Sustainable Design

Branch, a San Francisco-based design store, is pressing back the boundaries of creative design with some frankly amazing products, albeit at a pretty hefty price, something that may not lay easily with those with a more socialist viewpoint of environmentalism (although Branch does have a 'manifesto').