Category — Sustainable Design

Get growing this summer, its easier than 1, 2… 3 kg’s of parsley in an Ooid Bag. Find tips and join the conversation at local food enthusiasts.

Our two favourites are…. whats yours?

Our friend Anthony sent us this in the weekend. What a cool way to cheaply and easily get people moving towards a greener lifestyle. Now that the Greens are out and the new government is anti-Kyoto it is up to us to keep NZ beautiful. We started today trying not to talk about politics but we just can’t help it as we feel passionate about our piece of paradise. Cross your fingers our nations image does not get green washed any further (e.g. 100% Pure), leaving it for future generations to worry about.

To all those people waiting for new billboard bags, they arrived on Friday so get in quick. Some have sold already, they are all one-off and only $29. We will be uploading more next week so keep an eye out in the new category.

Shop with us this week and we will give you a free Christmas card by Kinoo. Part of the Rare Birds Collection (a real private collection of kiwi’s), this “Chrissy” card is part of 6 kiwi greeting cards. Kinoo cards are printed on 100% post consumer recycled stock.

Ooid (sounds like “fluid”) from Dunedin has just released a new range of organic cotton bags. There’s 5 new bags from various designers around the world. And like always they are made from 100% unbleached organic cotton.

Use them for whatever you like… things for the beach, grocery shopping, books for uni or as a fashion accessory.

Paradigm, the designers behind the Salvage Billboard Bags (currently sold out) have been recognised for their commitment to sustainable practise. They won the Northern Region Trailblazer Award (Small and Medium Business) at the 2008 Sustainable Business Awards and a commendation at the National Awards.

The judges commented that ‘they operate in a pioneering nature and have a long standing commitment to public interest and more recently to the adoption of sustainable design’. Lucky for us all there’s more Salvage Billboard Bags coming soon. If you want one, email us, and we’ll let you know as soon as they arrive.

When Good Magazine launched we got pretty excited. For sure everyone had their doubts but this magazine and website has proven to be top quality. If you haven’t got the latest issue grab one because they feature some very cool green fashion including the Ataahua Trilby Hats made in New Zealand from used hessian coffee sacks.

NZ Design company Paradigm and maker of cool engolden yourself brooches and salvage billboard bags is a finalist at this years 2008 National Sustainable Business Awards.

Their graphic design business has been following sustainable business practices long before you could get awards for it. They also produce brooches from perspex off cuts and upcycle rubbished billboards into large shoulder bags.

Nice one Paradigm.

Today we welcome Rata & Ruby from Raglan and their selection of original organic cotton kids t-shirts. Sizes range from 3-9 months to 6 yrs with both boys and girls styles.

The natural environment surrounding Raglan clearly influences Nadine and her designs. Our favourites are the Aroha T-Shirt and Numbers Te Reo T-Shirt pictured above.

Lets your kids go organic this spring…

Peppermint magazine just launched and we have a bunch of free ones to give away. All customers will get one free with orders from today until midnight Friday, September 18th.

Peppermint is New Zealand’s and Australia’s first dedicated eco-fashion magazine. From eco-art competitions to the environmunter report and  how to make a hand bag from your old dress!

So get shopping and score your free hit of eco-fashion this week…

I was lucky enough to attend the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise ’sustainable design for the bottom line’ conference on Monday in Auckland.

one word - mind blowing.

12 sustainable business leaders spoke about their dream of what the world ‘could’ and ’should’ look like if we all decided to take this ’sustainable’ business challenge seriously.

It was obvious by the end of the day that  DESIGN can make a difference and New Zealand could show the world how it’s done.

The only bummer about the day was that only the 400 people at the conference got to hear these great stories. However, I believe over the coming weeks betterbydesign will be releasing online videos of the presentations. In the meantime, click here, read through the list of speakers, follow the links to the individuals websites and do some exploring of your own. I guarantee you will find something that will challenge the way you think.

Mai Farm Naturally has come about from the 100 year centenary of the Mai Family. The organic milk and beef farm is in the Beautiful Pohangina Valley. The festival will comprise of natural and organic stalls, live musicians, fire performers and wandering stilt artists, holistic healers, organic water, organic coffee, natural foods and a childrens zone with story times and activities. The proceeds are going to rebuild a wetland on the property and establish a Trust to help other farmers convert to organics.

Ataahua has just dropped a fresh load of one-of-a-kind hessian bags and hats. We have included an individual photo of each one in stock so you can choose your favourite.

The range is made in New Zealand from upcycling hessian coffee sacks. Just goes to show what great ideas and design can do to what would normally become landfill.

Green gifts for your friends or new eco-accessories for yourself…

Remember this cardboard Robot?

We figured there could only be one company cool enough and creative enough in Lyttelton to construct such a masterpiece. I sent an email to Kingswood skis (of Lyttelton) and they replied:

“Hello Elliot
Yes, it’s ours - made by friend and neighbour artist Oscar Guerrero. Unfortunately, the big guy succumbed to the weather but we’ve got his head lit up in the factory and the little “mini me” survived and even featured in this month’s North & South.
Cheers Kris”

If you haven’t heard of Kingswood, they are hand making what some say are the worlds best ski’s. Using bamboo cores and sustainable ethos, skiing mags everywhere give rave reviews of this design led company.

Here is a pair of Kingswood beauties… maybe they should consider toy robots too.

This was spotted by Kate on a trip to Lyttelton, Christchurch. If this monster cardboard robot is yours….nice work and keep it up. Hopefully this inspires you all to look at and use cardboard differently.