5 New Eco-Style Favorites
American designers share their best eco-innovations, from trays inspired by topographical maps to place mats made from leftover industrial felt.
Photo © Antonis Achilleos
1. Golden Bowls
Susan Dwyer of Chicago's Up in the Air Somewhere hand-molds clay and recycled paper into food-safe bowls and vases. She enhances the organic shapes of some pieces by covering them with ethereal gold leaf.
Photo © James Ransom
2. Bamboo Trays
Diane Ruengsorn of Domestic Aesthetic in Brooklyn, New York, creates contoured tabletop pieces—such as a topography-inspired sushi tray—from sustainable woods like bamboo. She's now working with a sawmill collective in Mozambique to produce stunning wooden platters from fallen trees.
Photo © Antonis Achilleos
3. Felt Mats
California designer and felt fanatic Josh Jakus, renowned for his woolly handbags and wine carriers, recently launched Fuz, a line of playful tabletop items made from excess industrial felt and recycled rubber. Each Hug set has four place mats—two with "boy" napkin-ring cutouts and two with "girls."
Photo © Dan Martensen
4. Reusable Bags
Emily Sugihara of Brooklyn- and California-based Baggu is known for the range of vibrant colors and patterns on her nylon shopping totes. New to her collection: sturdy Duck Bags made from durable recycled canvas.
Photo © Antonis Achilleos
5. Calico Napkins
In Portland, Oregon, Plover Organic designers Marisa Kula Mercer, Sheila Mulvihill and Julia Wilbur produce luxurious table and bed linens from 100 percent certified-organic and fair-trade cotton. The patterns are block-printed by hand with low-impact dyes.
