Owen Mortensen

From Utah, hails the artist, the man, the genius, Owen Mortensen. In one of the most affecting artist statements we have ever read, he explains his love of transition from one stage to the next. Of metamorphosis, in fact. With an eye on nature’s beauty expressed throughout its life cycle, he sees things not noticed by just everyone. And then he brings that to us in the form of wall art, sculpture, gifts, and accents. Deceptively simple, this “organic modernism”4 gets more intriguing when you learn that each piece starts as a natural object, but meets genius in the finishing. Genius. There’s that word again.

Paperthinks

The organized life comes in a riot of color to keep it fun here in the world of Paperthinks. If you struggle with organization, struggle no longer. Here you’ll find accessories, file folders, carry alls, totes and more. There is no reason not to enjoy the very idea of organization when tucking things away is this enjoyable. We salute Paperthinks, and their commitment to work from recycled leathers that are “durable, elegant and just happen to be eco-friendly.” Now imagine your next meeting; they’ve all pulled out their black notebooks. But yours… is the loveliest pink imaginable.

Bambuhome

Now here’s a good news story about manufacturing in China. Portland natives moved their business close to the source of their materials and their workers. That makes them local. Better still the products are keepers. Unique design and assembly processes result in “safe and durable products that will last for years and withstand the toughest use case: real life”. Each product has a story to tell. Who knew that cork was antimicrobial? That it stays sanitary with minimal care? To clean it just pop it in the washing machine. (No, not the dishwasher!). BambuHome uses no glues or lacquers to leech into food. Clean, safe, practical; we love these products, especially the graceful cutting boards.

Spring is here. Time to cast off winter’s dark, cold days. Welcoming back the sun, we turn to the beauty of art and gift giving for loved ones with spring birthdays or summer weddings. Beautifuli’s curators have discovered eco-artisans to help decorate your home or give a stylish sustainable gift to someone special.

Esque Studio

The lovely blob bowl, our home page image, is a must-have. And the beauty of this is that we’re not sure exactly how we would use it and don’t really care. On to the colorful aperitif set, which is clearly useful, while its matching cup, a kind of hat, prevents dust and other bits from blowing into it. We are at @EsqueStudio, a working habitat for trend-breaking glass artists, Justin Parker and Andi Kovel. Their blown glass objects are works of art and utility—and that goes even for our beloved blob bowl—but the good news continues in their furnaces. Yes. All designed to produced zero CO2 emissions and run on sustainable wind power credits. Their aim in everything the do: “reduce, reuse, reimagine.”

Pacha Design

One person’s waste is another’s wonder. And a passion for turning one into the other is clear at Pacha Design, where Glenn Rushbrooke and Samantha Robb design and make furniture/accessories on the rugged north coast of Devon. Every piece shows their love of wind-winnowed oak, of the magical ways metal and stone weather as imperfections creep in with time. They are recyclers, reclaimers, willing to climb into dumpsters to find materials. Visiting shipyards, building sites, tumbledown farms—anywhere materials are destined for discarding—Rushbrook and Robb find the makings of one-of-a-kind pieces to grace your home as you move through life together.

TCHO

We can thank @TCHOchocolate for a new way to think about edible gifts. If the bunny drops a couple of bars of “Dark Bright” into your basket expect to ascend directly to heaven. Or you can drop hints about their gift tubs, named variously “Spring Butterfly” and “Spring Magnolia.” Then, munching happily, savor the TCHO story, a mindful partnership with growers and workers to produce great cacao sustainably. Did you know that most cacao farmers have never tasted chocolate made from their beans? In contrast, TCHO makes sure its growers get into tasting “flavor labs” so that they can relate their farming methods to the end product. Translates to “yum” in any language.

by Brenda Nesbitt

Three reasons we appreciate Natalia Allen…

Reason #1: Her genius. The way it shows up in a little black dress. As it did for April Rinne (Director of Water.org) on a five-day retreat in Davos for the World Economic Forum in January. Woven by robots in the USA from a single piece of sustainable high-performance yarn, the dress is a luxurious, seamless wonder that fits like a dream. Clean lines and flexible styling made it the perfect choice for April’s carry-on bag — her only luggage for five days in conference with global influencers like Bill Clinton and Bono.

Reason #2: Her forward thinking. Always on the hunt for ways to revolutionize the manufacturing process she means to create zero waste. And not to fear that manufacturing with robots will put humans out of work, her approach is actually creating new jobs for more highly skilled Americans. Thinking differently right out of design school, Allen presents her backstory as a fiber “engineer” in a Ted-style talk at the CUSP Conference.¹

Innovator, entrepreneur, but every bit the designer, Natalia Allen talks about this year’s capsule collection: “With each style I focused on precision fit, modern form, and luxurious, sustainable fabrics. I believe there are consumers that share my outlook, and I’m thrilled to have an opportunity to help them realize these values in their fashion choices…”²

Reason #3: Her belief in us, the 21st century woman: A mix of smarts and compassion. Of busy lives and uncompromising style. But as an influencer herself, she thinks that, given better choices, we will see tomorrow as she does — a place where all the style in the world can be produced sustainably, if prompted by our purchase power. Sharing that belief, Beautifuli.com salutes Ms. Allen and her company, for moving us all seamlessly into the future with sustainability + innovation.

1 Natalia’s talk @ the CUSP Conference, 2010: http://bit.ly/YuBT8T
2 www.nataliaallen.com

Wouldn’t it be fun to own a piece of jewelry from a limited edition?  That way you could get on a plane, show up at a board meeting or drop your little one off at school and likely never see your necklace around someone else’s neck. And that is because there are only 29 others like it in the world.*


In its celebration of things rare, ethical designer Natalie Frigo’s jewelry makes a statement. Her necklaces, rings and earrings invite us to lean in closer to see the touch of the craftsman’s hand. Inspired by that evidence of the artisan in early metallurgy and ancient objects, Frigo’s work resonates beyond time.

It’s wearable art. To love. To keep. To pass on.

In her Lower East Side studio, Frigo follows in the footsteps of ancient sculptors who used the lost-wax process to make masterpieces. First she sculpts wax into the shape desired. Next she sends it off to be cast: it melts away leaving a cavity—a mold. Into this mold, Frigo’s choice of 100% recycled metal is poured. Once released, the metal shape can be combined with ethically-sourced gemstones,** all personally selected by Frigo. (And each tempting enough to be a post-Valentine’s Treat to Self.)

In graduate school at the Art Institute in Fiber and Material Studies, Natalie was appalled to learn the hard facts of mining gold (it creates tons of waste) and silver (where nearby rivers run with mercury). Now she finds real satisfaction in crafting beauty out of recycled metal. And a purpose to her life: to create “unique heirloom jewelry that treasures the extraordinary beauty in every client.”***

*Many items in her spring collection are produced in limited editions of 30.
** We invite you to open the ABOUT tab on Natalie’s website for a fuller view of her approach to ethical sourcing.
*** ByNatalieFrigo.com

Sandra Canselier and her design partner, Liza Nading, make shoes with a certain modern woman in mind. This woman is sophisticated but practical. She wants something of lasting value, a shoe that’s made with artisanal skill, sustainably-produced materials, and chic that’s more than skin deep. Walking on wedge heels built of solid wood or solid cork, their topsides crafted of vegetable-dyed leather, the Coclico devotée moves effortlessly from day to night, while her shoes gather the gentle patina of life lived well.

Ms. Canselier and Ms. Nading honor the notion of life lived well. At her home in Lincoln, Vermont, Ms. Nading finds inspiration in every season, every flower, every leaf, every track in the snow. Ms. Conselier was raised in Brittany where red poppies dot the landscape, and the sea is never far away. Coming from three generations of shoemakers how could she not run a company that makes footwear to fiercely covet?

And, as we’ve hinted, these shoes offer more than a pretty face. Designed in the U.S., they are fabricated in Spain by fairly-paid artisans working in safe and environmentally-positive spaces. Materials are sourced close to the production plant, i.e., locally. Finished products boast nickel-and lead-free hardware and non-chrome leather lining. Nickel? Chrome? Lead? Yikes! It’s as if Coclico has made shoe purchases worry-free at the very moment we discovered there was something to worry about.

But now… as we dream of poppies waving in the wind (the very coquelicots that inspired Coclico’s name), Beautifuli.com wishes you fresh, new beginnings. May you walk tall. Love your shoes.

1. MyChelle’s Daily Defense Cream SPF17 (all skin types)
Your winter skin could use a moisture boost from beta-glucan, a dab of Hawaiian micro-algae to reduce fine lines and zinc oxide for sun protection. One cream, one application.

2. Organic Glam Luminous Antioxidant Foundation
The new season’s palette of bold neutrals and jewel-bright colors only works with a flawless complexion. Here, mineral pigments correct imperfections in buildable layers while antioxidants help protect skin from pollution and free radicals.

3. Josie Maran’s Argan Eyeshadow Quad
Versatility is key here with a palette that goes from day to night and works as highlighter, liner and shadow—infused with legendary, lightweight, Argan oil gathered from fair-trade women’s collectives in Morocco. No parabens, no artificial fragrance.

4. Organic Glam Mascara
Five years in production—but worth the wait—the ultimate, natural ingredient mascara curls, lengthens and conditions. What’s in it? Organic aloe, beeswax and Vitamins A, E, and C. And what’s not? Artificial colors, preservatives and fragrances.

5. Modern Minerals Blush
Seven gorgeous options key into this season’s palette, whether you choose an earth color, a lovely smoky rose, or one called “Heaven.” No parabens or phlelates. Apply them with Advanced Beauty Tool^® cruelty-free brushes made with no animal hair. (Kinder to allergy sufferers too.)

6. Ilia Tinted Lip Conditioners
As we chew on our lips, thinking great thoughts, let’s think about applying the purest product possible to those same lips. Ilia combines superior color performance with 85% certified organic ingredients that nourish the skin… and help repair them. Colors? Delicious.

7. Scotch Naturals™
Imagine “water” colors for nails. 34 of them in fact. All set to revolutionize what you put on your nails. Our recommendation to rock this season’s palette: Bitter N Twisted, a “brooding black cherry crème.” And now let winter winds blow, no fear…

8. Pop it all in the Alicia Train Case from Ecotools^®
Small enough, deep enough and kind enough, this bag designed by actress, Alicia Silverstone, carries essentials in style. Made with natural hemp and cotton, it has a recycled PET lining, and the hangtag is printed on tree-free stone paper. 

This quote from Oscar de la Renta has set us thinking. If style is within us…how does it get there?

Nestled soul-deep, our style takes shape as it connects each day with the landscape of sounds, aromas, colors, textures, and people around us. It is life lived, collected and treasured in a keepsake box of memories, beliefs and action.

Your style creates moments. Here you are coming down the stairs in that dress as your husband watches in awe. Now, you’re choosing a gift and a smile crosses your face as you anticipate your friend’s joy in receiving it.

Illustration by Gladys Perint Palmer

But back to Mr. de la Renta. Even though his approach to sustainability is —for the moment—a focus on the time-honored skills of dressmaking, we give him credit for prizing well-made fashion, pieces worth keeping. That dovetails nicely with our idea of having fewer things, but all keepers. Is this an idea that works for you? Let us know.

For now, we’ll sign off with this news: Beautifuli.com will launch in early 2013. It will be a warm, relaxing and peaceful place to shop for the most exclusive eco-fashion, beauty, gifts and home products created by the world’s rising stars of chic, sustainable design.

Until then, we’ll share our inspirations and musings about fashion, design, culture, and ways to weave eco-luxury seamlessly throughout your stylish life.

The pleasure in following @LiviaFirth is making new discoveries about sustainable fashion as soon as she does. It’s exciting to watch her use her influence to unearth — not just emerging eco-designers—but a rich cache of information about how they work: sourcing materials wisely, upcycling, and bringing back the true art of fashion creativity.


Livia in Prada, 2012 Met Ball (Photo: British Vogue)

Her Prada gown for this year’s Metropolitan Museum of Art Ball was a Green Carpet Challenge (GCC) first for Livia: “It’s the first time a designer has used so many GCC materials in one single piece…the black paneled gown mixes certified silks, tulle and chiffon with sustainably harvested ostrich feathers and end-of line British-made lace.”

Livia wearing Henrietta Ludgate, S/S 2012 (Photo: Yoox.com)

Thanks to Livia we know more about the work of Jeff Garner of Phophetik and Henrietta Ludgate. Of Ludgate, Livia says: “Henrietta’s designs have very few clothes miles. She is a pioneer of localized production and techniques. They are designed in her Scottish studio and use fabrics processed and woven in the British Isles.”

Prophetik’s, Jeff Garner, fits Livia, 2011 Golden Globes (Source: British Vogue)

For her Golden Globes gown, we see a beauty made of hand-dyed indigo “peace” silk and hemp, all dyed at Phophetik’s own premises in Leipers Fork, Tennessee. Yet another coup for Livia, she’s discovered a man who has revived the art of natural indigo dying.

Livia wears Stella McCartney, 2011 Met Ball (Photo: JustJared.com)

At the 2011 Met Ball, LIvia wore a gown from Stella McCartney. The bodice was embroidered with reclaimed vintage beads salvaged from a no-longer wearable piece. The overlying skirt was made from Abaca fiber, which grows in subequatorial areas with little water.

As she salutes designers who respect the natural world, likewise we salute Livia Firth, for teaching us about the graceful use of celebrity and influence.