Eco~nfusion

In the eco-fashion world, it's become a bit of a quest to discover the new "it" item in sustainable style. Hemp is passe but bamboo is smokin' hot. After all, it reproduces faster than Angelina Jolie and when mixed with lycra it can make any garment feel like your PJs. Organic cotton has simply become mainstream (and it's about time).

In the accessories division, the lines have become so blurred between recycled, reclaimed, repurposed, fair trade, eco-friendly, greener-than-green...I reluctantly admit that at times I find myself almost virtually incapable of thinking critically about sustainability anymore.

I was shopping in Portland, Oregon recently and passed a store front displaying a bedroom set which made my heart immediately leap up and pay attention. My eyes were literally watering. Rough barn wood that was so perfectly worn and mismatched yet so masterfully put together.....my body turned at will and marched in.

The label on the furniture line read "Eco-Furniture" and at once it seemed too good to be true! I inquired about the history of the pieces, the supply chain, the origin of the raw materials, the design process, manufacturing...and the saleswoman eagerly shared information about this "Eco-Furniture" line. I learned that the wood was, in fact, reclaimed from old barns in Brazil (oi! one of my favorite countries on earth....was meant to be!!!) then shipped to America where a team of designers set to work on the plans for the perfect bedroom set. From there it was sent to Indonesia where it was meticulously crafted by...well...we weren't quite certain whom...and then sent back again to America where the drawers were lined with...well...we weren't quite sure with what...and placed in this very window where I stood outside waiting for it....like a long lost lover.

The price tag flirted with me with it's "Eco-Furniture" prelude to the $7,500.00 retail price. My heart and brain were in conflict as I tried to quickly calculate the fuel used for shipping from Brazil to America to Indonesia and back again, the questionable labor in the manufacturing process and the ingredients used to treat the furniture......but it was "reclaimed" barn wood afterall.....and therefore pronounced "GREEN!"

I'm confused. And I find myself going back to the basics for reference. I came home from Portland and by chance met a woodworker who specializes in handcrafting all non-toxic furniture from dead-fall around the Marin/Sonoma area. He collects it in his old rusty truck, drives it back to his shop and magically turns it into the most incredibly beautiful, rustic, local furniture you can imagine. We sat on a sawhorse and discussed my ideas for the design. We shared an apple. We talked about costs...his business...my business...his children. We connected as two human beings face to face, who share a common concern for the planet and transparency in our actions.

To me, this feels organic. This feels "green." Somehow I think my new furniture will have more meaning to me this way. I like this version of "green."
Bronwen