Product Spotlight: Flip Flop Mats

As the weather warms up and you pull out those summer sandals, have you ever thought about how cool it would be to make an entire rug out of the cushioned foam bottoms? I'm glad somebody did!

Flip Flop Mats are made out of brand new, surplus sandal soles that would have otherwise ended up in landfills. It's pre-consumer recycling that closes the loop in the manufacturing process. The result is a colorful floor mat that's tough, water-resistant, and ideally cushioned. So kick off those sandals and try putting your feet on these recycled sandal soles.

ICFF 2006

The International Contemporary Furniture Fair is happening right now, May 20th-23rd, in New York. It's the annual 'candy-store' event for the furniture and interiors trades, featuring booth after booth of innovative design.

Like Matt Gagnon's bench made out of recycled paper, or Patty Johnson's new sustainable design collaboration with Mabeo Furniture. These are just two of the many green modern designers we'll be keeping an eye on.

ICFF also saw the limited advance release of Design Like You Give A Damn, the new book on architectural responses to humanitarian crisis by Cameron Sinclair, founder of Architecture for Humanity. Talk about changing the world... this non-profit organization is such a visionary hero.

Keep reading designTURF in the coming weeks for our discoveries from ICFF!

Eco city guides

Since summer is approaching quickly, you are probably in the midst of making plans for a vacation. Maybe you just want to explore your area more and find some new hideouts? As the green movement keeps growing, "green guides" for cities in the USA, Canada, and international cities/countries are becoming available in bookstores and in website form.

NYC has 2 different exceptional resources - The Big Green Apple: Your Guide to Eco-Friendly Living in New York City & Green Apple Map. A group of eco-lovers in LA recently launched the Greenopia site. The country of Ireland has the Sustainable Ireland site with information for all across this beautiful country. London is known to be highly interested in eco-transformation, just like NYC. There is a great book called Veggie & Organic London - it's a must for anyone visiting or living there.

Don't know where you are headed yet? Make sure to check out the Green Map System site. There are locations all over the world participating in this project; just looking through the site gives me oodles of ideas for trips!

Is there a site we forget? Already know where you are going but need more eco-info for the area? Leave a comment and let us know; we're always here to help.

Eco-DIY part 03

It's time to take DIY to the next level. So far, we have told you the basics of the DIY world, as well as great online sites & clothing-related books to check out. Up next, it's time to tackle your home! Yet again, we have done all the legwork to help you find the best crafty books around. Here's our latest collection, organized by activity. If you have any other suggestions for great books or sites, leave a comment and let us know :)

Knitting!
* Knitter's Lib: Learn to Knit, Crochet, And Free Yourself from Pattern Dependency
* Mindful Knitting: Inviting Contemplative Practice to the Craft
* Compassionate Knitting: Finding Basic Goodness in the Work of Our Hands
* Odd Ball Knitting: Creative Ideas for Leftover Yarn

Sewing/Crafts!
* Sew Subversive: Down and Dirty DIY for the Fabulous Fashionista
* Super Crafty: Over 75 Amazing How-to Projects!
* Bazaar Bizarre: Not Your Granny's Crafts!

The Home!
* Handmade Modern: Mid-Century Inspired Projects for Your Home
* ReadyMade: How to Make [Almost] Everything: A Do-It-Yourself Primer
* The Starving Artist's Way: Easy Projects for Low-Budget Living
* Get Crafty: Hip Home Ec

Gardening!
* You Grow Girl: The Groundbreaking Guide to Gardening

Does this all give you the sight of empty forests and wallets? Then head to your local library! If they don't have what you are looking for, ask if they are willing to add it to their collection.

What's next in Eco-DIY part 04? You'll just have to wait & be surprised ;)

[Image courtesy of flickr.com user wisecraft]

Bamboo: Not Just for Pandas

When searching for sustainable, strong furniture options, there's one magic word: bamboo. Bamboo is stronger than most hard woods (including red oak and maple!), and is a highly renewable resource. Bamboo is a grass, with a harvest cycle of three to five years, versus 15-20 for most hard woods. The useful part of bamboo is cut off without killing the root, and it can be harvested many times without damaging the root system. Bamboo is typically grown without pesticides or chemicals, is 100% biodegradeable, and naturally regenerative. By purchasing bamboo, you are helping to reduce timber consumption, protect forests, and bring income to rural economies in several parts of the world.

Its cute, too!

In addition to traditional, molded bamboo pieces that use complete stalks, bamboo can be cut vertically, layered and pressed into super-strong boards. Artists like Maria Yee (www.mariayee.com) layer and bondstrips into bamboo timber, which is pliable and strong. This results in tables, media pieces, etc, with beautiful bamboo markings and the strength of steel.

Maybe Pandas are smarter than we knew....

Sting sings.

As if there weren't enough reasons to love musician Sting, here's one more.

Did you know that Sting and his wife Trudie Styler founded the Rainforest Foundation in 1989 to protect the rights of indigenous populations around the world? This Friday, May 19th is their big Rainforest Foundation Fund Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall, featuring big names: Sting, Sheryl Crow, Billy Joel, and James Taylor. This year's concert theme is Woodstock.

Afterwards there will be a gala at New York's Pierre Hotel with a Silent and Live Auction. Hundreds of VIP guests from the entertainment, environmental, fashion & financial industries are expected.
The event is dedicated to showcasing emerging companies that are inspired through nature. We're so excited that re:modern was invited to be one of the responsible companies featured! Donated items for the fundraiser include sustainably stylish glam, like this hand-crocheted, recycled aluminum bag by Escama. We hope this star-studded event raises lots of money for the Rainforest Foundation.

Green Roofs

Green roofs are like gardening on steroids (not that we support that sort of thing). Ranging from a simple roof garden to a collection of blanketing, self-sustaining greenery, this is the ultimate in eco-roofing. A number of corporations are starting to catch on about the economic, social, and environmental benefits of green roof infrastructure, but how can you make it happen on your own home. There are two major books that have been published about green roofs & they are more than worth reading:

+ Green Roofs: Ecological Design And Construction by the Earth Pledge Foundation
+ Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls by Nigel Dunnett & Noel Kingsbury

The Green Roofs for Healthy Cities organization helps to advocate the green roof movement by connection companies and individuals with those that can help with the transformation. They also conduct Green Roof Design 101 which is an "introductory training course on green roof infrastructure design presents many of the tools and techniques needed to meet your green roof project objectives on schedule, to specification, and within budget".

Also capitalizing on this trend is GreenGrid Roofs, which is, in essence, a full kit that helps turn your roof into the envy of all in town. With an easy, modular style, finding the design and layout that is just right for your space couldn't be easier.

Organic gardening

My mom is one active woman with a number of diverse interests. Even with all that, one of the first things I think of when I think of her is gardening - a hobby that she adores but rarely has the time to spend doing it. As an eco-lover, I can't help but think what fun she would have with an organic garden, let alone how much better the food would taste. Though we won't be able to spend this Mother's Day working in the garden, I plan to get her some great reading material on the subject.

Searching on Amazon.com, you will find over 700 results for "organic gardening" - that's a lot to go through! Loving to do research, I've gone through and found some of the best tolms for you to buy (or rent from your local library) to create the garden that nature intended:

+ Organic Gardening
+ Organic Gardening for Dummies
+ Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening
+ Organic Gardening for the 21st Century: A Complete Guide to Growing Vegetables, Fruits, Herbs and Flowers
+ Rodale Organic Gardening Solutions: Over 500 Answers to Real Life Questions from Backyard Gardeners

Also, check out Rodale's Organic Gardening magazine for new info every month.

[Image courtesy of flickr.com user maryspics]

The Perfect Gift

Unsure of how to celebrate Mother’s Day this year? Fearful that another year of flowers or chocolate may just put you on Santa’s "naughty" list? Did you know that in a recent national survey, 8 out of 10 adults said they would prefer to receive a gift card than any other kind of gift? If any or all of these apply to you, then make your mother’s day and give her a Re:Modern Gift Certificate. This card will be her passport to design with integrity, and will surely put a smile on her face. And whose Mom doesn’t deserve to be happy on her special day?

Happy Mother's Day!

Build Your Dream House

When you’re finally ready to build your dream house, make sure it’s not a nightmare for the environment. Choosing salvaged or sustainable wood for your house is a great way to lessen your impact on our woodlands. Similarly, installing solar panels or otherwise turning to solar energy to power your house is a great way to conserve energy and keep your bills down while you’re at it. To furnish your house, scour flea markets, vintage and charity shops for one-of-a-kind finds. Or, buy new but buy wisely. The Jigsaw Bookcase is a top quality, environmentally friendly design that will make all your friends jealous. Finally, when it comes to decorating your outdoor areas, consider crumbled sea shells or chipping old rock to create gravel for your driveway. For more information on building green, check out the Green Building Initiative.

Delano's sustainable luxury

For many, the idea of eco-friendly clothing lends itself to itchy, unflattering hemp dresses. Many companies are out there trying to buck that trend, thankfully. A few brands in particular are targeting the upper crust of society who easily have the money to pay for "sustainable luxury" goods.

This past winter, the Delano Collection released its first piece of sustainable clothing - the Ramona Coat. Made from 100% Organic Wool shell & 100% Bamboo lining, a price of $425 seems relatively reasonable, no matter your budget. Clothing, like furniture, should be an investment that is well thoughtout.

In the past month, Delano launched more of it eco-luxury goods, including a tee, two tank tops, a blazer, and three recycled glass vases. The market for sustainable and eco-friendly clothing is growing rapidly and it is wonderful to see more companies get the hint :)

Beautiful Buds for the Bride

It’s Springtime, so with the same certainty that we WILL get allergies, we can be assured that we WILL be attending a wedding in the upcoming weeks. With all the waste that goes into a modern wedding (from the ceremony booklets to the wrapping paper to the CFCs in all that hairspray), why not stand out for being the guest with elegance and environmental foresight? Give the blushing bride a beautiful bud vase (or two!) hand-thrown and glazed by San Francisco artist Joanna Mendicino. Be sure to order early though, as each piece is custom made. Choose some organic gift wrap and a funky notecard and you’re all set. Bring on the chicken dance!

Camping conundrom

Tis the season to get outdoors and enjoy the beauty of nature. One of the best ways to do so is to go camping - sleeping out under the stars just does something to a good ole city dweller. There are only two things that annoy me about camping: bugs and darkness.

With all of the creams and sprays out there to help protect us from those creepy crawlers, bugs are easily taken care of. Whether you are sleeping in your own back yard, at a camp site, or in the middle of a National Park, it's likely that "nature will call" in the middle of the night. I can't count how many times I've bumped into backpacks, trees, and unknown fuzzy oddities while trying to make it to a toilet.

Thankfully, that is all over with the nifty Candeloo. Instead of having to burn oil from a lighted lamp or drag around a heavy camping lantern, just take along a Candeloo from its charging base at home and you can have just enough light anytime that you need it. There is no open electrical outlets either, so no worries about possible shocks for you or any younger explorers. Last but not least, the funky shape and colors remind me that camping is still about having fun, no matter how many bug bites you go home with.

Worthwhile wallets

For the past three months, my boyfriend has been driving me nuts, reminded me just how much he needs a new wallet. Since we started dating almost 2 years ago, he has gotten very interested in animal rights and environmental practices. To keep this going, I told him that he should get a vegan or recycled wallet.

I've shown him a lot of different sites and brands online, but he still only seems mildly interested. While working this morning, I realized that I haven't yet shown him the unique creations from Gecko Traders. Great style, each one is different, and, best of all, after buying one, you still have money left to put IN your wallet.

Luxury on a Budget: Texture in Unexpected Places

Ah, yes... how do you achieve a fabulous space when you're on a budget? At re:modern, we tackle that issue everyday. Luxury is not about having more. It's about doing more with with what you have. Look for furnishings that give you high impact and added texture, especially in unexpected places. Sculptural Wall Tiles by mio is a great example. Made from recycled paperboard, they are essentially 3-dimensional wallpaper that doubles as a piece of artwork. Each tile is modular so you can customized the configuration to your space. They can be mounted either permanently or temporarily (so for apartment dwellers, there's never any doubt whether you'll receive your rental deposit back when moving out). These tiles are the ultimate luxury on a budget item, starting at just $28 for a box of 12.

Shop Till You Drop

Shopping can be confusing, and I don't mean because of all the mental math involved in sale prices. I mean that if you're trying to spend your dollars ethically it can seem like there is no hope ounravelingng the strings of big business. How are you supposed to know if a corporate conglomerate has recently bought out your favorite independent label? How can you tell if your money is being used to fund sweatshops? Can you even find products without someone's name stamped all over them? And above all, will you have to spend twice as much for half the design if you do find a brand that fits with your conscience?

NO!

Visit Co-Op America's Responsible Shopper site today to find your one-stop shop for information on businesses across the company. And don't spend another dollar until you do!

Wearable Works of Art

Remember those lazy summer days when all you needed to worry about was getting your daisy chain bracelet just so? Does your mother have a lovely macaroni necklace in her jewelry box, courtesy of your industrious imagination? Did you ever look at a safety pin and think “I could make a KILLER earring out of that?” If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you need to think about rekindling your jewelry making skills! Today, companies around the world are looking at every day items and turning them into wearable works of art. From soda tabs to toothbrushes, almost any item can be recycled into jewelry if you’re willing to mold and model. For those of us with the passion but possibly not the skills, Ryan Kundrat is one step ahead of us. Any of his funky designs will be hotter than the thermometer this summer, so grab a pair of his Hoopla earrings now and stand out from the crowd!

Travel Tip: Pack A Green Carry On

Go green, and don't even worry about making it match your travel outfit! Instead, make sure you’ve only stowed environmentally friendly bags in the overhead compartment. 1% of the total sales from Patagonia are put towards preserving and restoring the environment, so go ahead and splurge on their Freightliner wheeled case. Try packing some of their Organic Cotton or PCR (post consumer recycled) clothes inside. Carry your suits in Artisan Gear’s Essential Suit Bag, made of hemp with an inner lining of 85% reclaimed soda bottles. Carry your passport and guidebooks in any of the recycled inner tube bags from Alchemy Goods , or a messenger bag made from recycled tires by Vulcana. Happy trails!

Mom's the word.

Mother's Day is this May 14th. Here are our top re:modern picks for stylish + sustainable moms, all in stock and under $50:

:: Recycled aluminum cosmetic case
:: Organic bamboo salad bowl
:: EcoWave Tote Bag
:: Transglass vases
:: Hoopla bangle bracelet

Oh, and if you indicate a gift message, your order can be shipped direct to mom with a free handwritten notecard. Now you know she'll love that!

Casa Natura

Founded 37 years ago in São Paulo as a therapeutic cosmetic store by Luiz Sebrae, Natura develops beauty products utilizing sustainably sourced raw materials from Brazil. Natura's ranking among the 35 biggest cosmetic brands in the world is a clear reflection of the ethical market — a segment composed of loyal consumers dedicated to natural food, drinks, and personal care products. According to Datamonitor, the market is predicted to increase in the US and Europe from 89 million consumers in 2004 to 173 million in 2009.

Natura's executives are responding to this market demand by expanding their reach beyond Brazil. In 2004, the label opened a flagship store in Paris called "Casa Natura." The store — designed by architect Arthur Casas — takes you on a sensorial trip into Brazil's distinctive scents and tropical environment. Natura's major line, Natura Ekos, is comprised of fragrances and personal care products that reflect a commitment to eco-friendly sourcing and a respect for Brazil's indigenous population and its heritage. The line features unique floral scents found in Brazilian forests, such as guaraná, Brazilian nut, andiroba, cupuaçu, pitanga, passion flower, and buriti. The Ekos line is produced under sustainable extraction rules controlled by Imaflora, an NGO based in São Paulo. The products are biodegradable, and sold in bottles and packaging made of recycled material.

In addition to the sustainability concept, Natura is commited to quality relationships. According to its founder, this concept is the basis of its door-to-door system of direct sales that today employs 519,000 "Natura consultants" worldwide and incorporates a heavy social value into the brand. This small army demonstrated its power last year, when Natura mobilized its consultants to encourage their communities to join an educational program sponsored by the government. The campaign brought 65,000 dropouts back into the school system.

From Flavia Mendonça's story in JC Report. Click to launch full story.

Eco-DIY part 02

Now that we've introduced you to the greatness that is DIY, how do you get started? Don't worry, we're here to help with that as well. The web and your local bookstore are full of ideas; so many that you might not even know where to start!

Online, there is no shortage of ideas or fellow DIY'ers to share your vision with. When it comes to community websites, I happily recommend the following: SuperNaturale, Get Crafty, & Craftster. You'll have no problem finding ideas for a project, supply resources, as well as others who share the joy of doing it yourself. If you are the knitting type, another site worth clicking to is Knitty - with a new "issue" each season, there is no shortage of unique ideas on what to make, no matter your skill level.

Do you find it hard to tear yourself (and your credit card) away from the bookstore? The market for crafty books is huge, which means there is a plethora of great tomes to choose from. From the creators of the Craftster website comes The Craftster Guide to Nifty, Thrifty, and Kitschy Crafts: Fifty Fabulous Projects from the Fifties and Sixties; what better place to get inspiration from than an era where being crafty was commonplace?

How about putting a little creativity into your wardrobe? These 3 books will give you all the ideas you need:
1) Generation T : 108 Ways to Transform a T-Shirt by Megan Nicolay
2) Second-time Cool: The Art of Chopping Up a Sweater by Anna-Stina Linden Ivarsson, Katarina Brieditis, Katarina Evans, Anna-stina Linden Ivarsson
3) Tease : Inspired T-shirt Transformations by Superstars of Art, Craft, and Design by Sarah Sockit

*** Coming up in Eco-DIY part 3 - DIY books about gardening, sewing, knitting, your home, and more! ***

Creating Multifunctional Rooms

Considering real estate prices and tight rental apartments these days, getting more out of your furnishings has become a modern necessity. Whether it's multi-functional, stackable, or collapsible, well-designed furniture has become a solution to small spaces that don't compromise lifestyles. Luckily, there are stylish home furnishings, just for these situations.



Take Squat, for example. Designed by Duane Smith, this versatile furniture module can be used as a bench, table, or shelving. Pair them with Flop (a cushion that folds up like a book), and you've got instant seating for guests.

There's also Christopher Douglas's Knock-Down Drag-Out furniture line, made especially for easy room transformations and renters who move frequently. Or re:modern's Jigsaw Collection of modular office furniture. There's just something really smart about furniture designed to go with you, and grow with you. I like to think of this as furniture for the future, as well as for the non-committed.

Wired's May 2006 issue

May 2006 seems to be the month of green in major media. Well-known magazines Wired and Vanity Fair both published "green" issues of their popular pubs. Is this a sign of things to come? I hope so!

The focus of Wired's green issue is 19 pages towards the back of the magazine, consisting of 5 focused articles, as well as some nifty sidebars. The cover story, featuring former vice-president Al Gore, is intriguingly and openly written. This is a new side of Gore we have not seen before, & I'd love to see more of it.

Of interest to most of our readers, the final eco-related article is called "Rise of the Neo-Greens". The intro to the article states "Solar panels on the roof. Hybrid car in the garage. Organic-cotton clothes in the closet. Today's eco-radicals are voting with their dollars." Brands such as Stewart + Brown (one of my all-time favorites), Toyota, Edun, and Whole Foods are mentioned in the article. The author even interviewed fellow eco-blogger Graham Hill of TreeHugger fame, who said some very upfront and honest things to say.

All in all, this is a wonderful issue of Wired that helps to bring to light the current situation of our planet, as well as what we need to do from a logical, business, and technological perspective to help change our destructive ways. Head to your newsstand and get a copy, then let us know what you think of the issue.

Recycling via RAFT

RAFT is a modern matchmaker between education and the local business community. Short for Resource Area for Teaching, this bay area non-profit organization responds to dwindling school budgets, while diverting raw materials that would otherwise end up in landfills. Its an idea whose time has come.

Each month, over 10,000 cubic feet of reusable items donated by businesses are diverted away from city landfills via this program. Everything from craft supplies, to office equipment, to manufacturing discards can be purchased for very low cost in their San Jose warehouse, open to teachers and non-profits only.

There's even a Green Room, where teachers can prep arts, science, math, and technology projects and get help from volunteer experts. We hope to see this hands-on model expand to other communities soon because it's such a great idea.

To find out more, visit www.raft.net