GREEN DESIGN INDUSTRIES

In Business, May/June, 2004, Vol. 26, No. 3, p. 30

ECOSTYLE

Delia Montgomery

AS WE assembled data, talked with owners of companies that supply products for healthier life-styles while preparing the Chic Eco Directory 2004 Edition, it became apparent that there are many new developments in the green design industries.
The listings in the Directory show there are fragrances without phthalates; cosmetics without parabens; toiletries without lathering agents; colors without synthetics; and animal-based materials acquired without cruelty. Such products are increasingly available this year because more people (and their enterprises) are reevaluating morals and goals. Nature and art are making the right connections for harmonious survival.
SAMPLE LISTINGS FOR 2004
Following is a random selection of listings from this year's Chic Eco Directory. In many cases, companies have listed minimum orders for purchases since they are primarily wholesalers so it is a good idea to contact them. These enterprises provide excellent examples of the changes underway in the commercial marketplace, and also good indicators of what to expect in the future.

Delia Montgomery is an environmental design consultant and personal shopper for homes, bodies and gardens. Questions or comments are welcome. Visit www.ChicEco-com or e-mail Info@ ChicEco-com.

A.J.A. Trading Company
Active sportswear apparel made with natural cotton colors by in-house spinners; High-end quality.
Contact: Albert Ades
8200 Boulevard East
North Bergen, New Jersey 07047
Phone: (201) 662-1986
e-mail: sales@ajafieldgoods.com

Aloha Glass Recycling
Company recycles waste glass into a variety of products, including water filter media, sandblast grit, decorative landscape aggregate.
Contact: T.D. Reed
75 Amala Place,
Kahului, Maui, Hawaii 96732
Phone: (808) 871-8544
e-mail: info@aloha-recycling.com

Alpha Skin Care
Company offers 100 percent pure aromatherapy skin care with no preservatives, synthetic fragrances, etc. for feet, makeup, massage oils, sun screen.
183 Mattock Place
Somerset, New Jersey 08873
Phone (908) 230-7439
e-mail: info@alphaskincare.com

Alvarez Farms
Farms cover 700 organic acres, growing crops that include cotton varieties (pima and acala) plus culinary and medicinal herbs.
Contact: Dosi Alvarez
1049 Mercanitel
La Union, New Mexico 88021
Phone: (505) 874-3170
e-mail: Lazy-A@msn.com

Antique Drapery Rod Co., Inc.
Steel hardware from 100 percent recycled rods; Water-based wood stains and lowest VOC finishes; No carcinogenics in dyeing, warping, weaving of drapes.
Contact: Shawnee Finck
140 Glass Street,
Dallas, Texas 75207
Phone: (214) 653-1733
e-mail: sfinck@antiquedraperyrod.com

Arteco
Artist Stewart Webb calls his sculptures and wearable art made from electronic components and computer hardware “technomontages.”
Contact: Stewart Webb
1285 Blackhawk Road
Darlington, Pennsylvania 16115 Phone: (724) 846-2049
e-mail: stu@arteco.com

Back to Basics Soft Wear, Inc.
Natural fiber clothing (bras, underwear) from organic cotton.
Contact: Sally Webb,
10508 S. Lowell Road
Bahama, North Carolina 27503
Phone: (919) 477-5669
e-mail: backtob@aol.com

Bamboo Hardwoods
Building materials, fencing, flooring and furniture from bamboo.
Contact: Bamboo Hardwoods
510 S. Industrial Way
Seattle, Washington 98108
Phone; (206) 264-2414
e-mail: info@bamboohardwoods.com

Barefoot Cobbler
Footwear, sandals made from hemp.
Contact: Paul Christian,
PO Box 6996,
San Pedro, California 90734
Phone: (707) 781-0847
e-mail: BarefootTherapy@hotmail.com

Bazura.biz
Bags, backpacks, placemats, wallets, etc. made from recycled juice containers by a women's cooperative in the Philippines.
Contact: Larry Duprey, Bazura.biz
PO Box 34554, 1565 Jane,
Toronto, ON Canada M9N 1RO, Phone: (416) 242-9452
e-mail: info@bazura.biz

Bear Creek Soap Works
Cottage industry offers handcrafted herbal soap with hemp seed oil and pure essential oils.
Contact: Lorie Arcand
PO Box 85, Branscomb, California 95417 Phone: (707) 984-8275

Beeswax Candle Works, Inc. Over 130 items featuring beeswax candles, hand dipped, since 1985.
Contact: Christine Barth
33618 Jenkins Road
Cottage Grove, Oregon 97424 Phone: (541) 942-7061
e-mail: beeswax@epud.net

Bessman Farms
Organic wool from registered Shropshires.
Contact: Cecil Bessman,
5395 N. Richmond Road
Pierpont, Ohio 44082
Phone: (440) 858-2420
e-mail: bessman@knownet.net

Blue Lotus Outdoor Blankets Fleece blankets made with EcoSpun, fiber from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles.
Contact: Lorin Troderman
PO Box 134
Soquel, California 95073
Phone: (831) 479-7051
e-mail: info@bluelotusblankets.com

Bright Future Futon Company
Bolster, cushion, pillows, etc. made from buckwheat hulls, kapok, organic cotton.
Contact: Lois Hamamoto,
3120 Central Avenue SE
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106
Phone: (888) 645-4452
e-mail: info@bluelotusyoga.com

Boxer Rebellion
Boxer shorts and underwear made from organic cotton.
Contact: Brenda Van Dorn
500 Central Drive
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23454
Phone: (800) 342-7286
e-mail: boxerrebellion@att.net

Celestial Body
Body care, cleansers, creams, etc. made from jojoba and other oils with no synthetics.
Contact: Ann Harmon
21298 Pleasant Hill Road, Boonville, Missouri 65233
Phone: (800) 882-6858
e-mail: info@celestialbody.com

Chista
Furniture, lamps and tiles made from stone, wood and mother of pearl.
Contact: Alon Langotsky, Chista, 537 Greenwich Street
New York, New York 10013
Phone: (212) 924-0394
e-mail: info@chista.net

ChoiceDek
Deck building materials made from recycled plastic and cedar sawdust.
Contact: ChoiceDek, Box 116
Junction, Texas 76849
Phone: (877) 235-6873
e-mail: sales@choicedek.com

Conscious Clothing
Apparel including heirloom wedding attire from all natural fabrics such as hemp and silk.
Contact: Crystal Miller
PO Box 1143
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504
Phone: (505) 982-7506

coolnotcruel, Inc.
Coats, dresses, jackets, etc. for the urban chic, from alpaca, hemp, organic cotton, etc.
Contact: Sara Cross,
83 State Street, #4,
Brooklyn, New York 11201
Phone: (646) 221-6363
e-mail: sara@coolnotcruel.com

Copperhead Studio
Reuse of discarded materials to form beautiful products, many with a sense of humor.
Contact: Nita Mehnert
19543 Bakersfield Drive
Spring Hill, Florida 34610
Phone: (352) 754-5077
e-mail: copperhd@gate.net

Cricket Hill Garden
Botanicals plus supplier of organically-raised Chinese tree peonies.
Contact: David and Kasha Furman
670 Walnut Hill Road
Thomaston, Connecticut 06787
Phone: (860) 283-1042
e-mail: orders@treepeony.com

And that's only a sampling of the A,B,Cs in the Chic Eco Directory. For details about ordering the Chic Eco Directory, 2004 print edition with CD, priced at $125 call (859) 619-2704; visit www.ChicEco.com, or write ChicEco, 322 Grosvenor Avenue, Lexington, Kentucky 40508.

Copyright 2007, The JG Press, Inc.