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Materials EARTHENWARE Earthenware is a type of clay body that is low fired at 1300°F ‐ 2152°F. Less durable than stoneware and porcelain, earthenware pieces tend to have thicker walls to add strength.

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Materials Hemp Cultivated for thousands of years on almost every continent, Hemp is a type of “bast fiber”, one of many natural fibers derived from plant stems such as jute and flax. Hemp fabric is made from the strands of fiber that make up the stalk of the hemp plant. These fibers are separated from the bark through a process called “retting”, then spun together to produce a continuous thread that can be woven into a fabric that has many natural advantages. It keeps you warm in winter, cool in summer, and even protects from UV rays. Grown without pesticides or herbicides and able to flourish with small amounts of water (cotton requires 4 times the water to grow) Hemp is naturally resistant to mold, mildew, bacteria, pests, and moths. It’s also 8 times stronger than linen, and thanks to its botanical properties, hemp improves the soil by regenerating the dirt with nutrients and nitrogen. A carbon negative “super plant”, hemp also helps clean up toxins, heavy metals, and other pollutants through a process called phytoremediation. Hemp was even planted at Chernobyl to reduce soil toxicity.

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Materials Organic Cotton Organic cotton is made of natural fibers that are grown without the use of fertilizers and toxic pesticides. While organic cotton grows slower than the non-organic variety, it is safer for your skin. It is flexible, breathable, absorbent, strong, and soft. It is also 100% sustainable, completely biodegradable, and non GMO. Growing organic cotton conserves global energy and sustains the health of soils and ecosystems. Farmers nourish and replenish the soil after each harvest, and instead of using toxic pesticides they introduce the natural enemies of insects (other insects) to deter pests. Organic cotton is often dyed with environmentally friendly water-based inks or pigments, rather than toxic alternatives. Several independent certification organizations set standards for organic cotton production and make sure that farms growing organic cotton meet those standards. A common standard is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program (NOP), which certifies farms that grow cotton organically. GOTS Global Organic Textile Standard certification is another.

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Materials Organic Linen Organic linen is made from the fiber of the flax plant, an abundant raw material that makes linen inherently sustainable. Flax grows quickly with small amounts of water, especially compared to conventional cotton cultivation, and takes just 100 days from planting until harvest. And because flax isn’t troubled by insects, the crop can be grown without toxic pesticides and fertilizers. In addition to preventing harmful chemicals from entering the home, groundwater, food supply, and environment, organic linen has many unique properties. Surprisingly durable and highly resistant to damage from abrasion, it feels cool in the heat and warm in the cold. It is famously long lasting (dyed flax fibers were found in a prehistoric cave in Georgia at the crossroads of Europe and Asia), as well as anti-bacterial and biodegradable. And linen is the rare material that gets better and more beautifully textured with time, making it the definitive heirloom fabric.

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Materials Organic Wool Originating from animals including merino sheep, alpaca, camel, angora, and vicuna, wool has many remarkable properties. One of the most breathable fibers, wool easily absorbs and releases moisture thereby always maintaining a perfect balance. It is 100% biodegradable, decomposing in the soil and releasing nutrients back to the earth. Its inherent structure makes it flame resistant, hence the fiber’s popularity in public spaces like hospitals and hotels. And because animals are shorn annually, wool is a completely renewable fiber that is easily sustained using organic methods. Chemical free from farm to finished product, organic wool comes from sheep grazed on land that is free of pesticides and fertilizers. This wool is cleaned using biodegradable cleansing agents, rather than traditional dyes and chlorine-based treatments, then carded and spun at an organic mill. Organic wool production prevents harmful chemicals from entering the home, groundwater, food supply, and environment, thereby protecting the health of farmworkers and their families. It also supports sustainable farming practices by serving as a secondary source of income for farmers raising sheep for meat or dairy products. Wool is the most recycled and reused fiber. Some products will carry the GOTS label, a third party standard that is recognized worldwide for organic fiber certification.

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Materials Porcelain Porcelain is made from a clay body that contains large amounts of fine white minerals called kaolin. Despite its distinctive translucency, porcelain is the strongest of the clay bodies. High fired at temperatures in the range of 2192-2552 F, it is also chip resistant and impervious to liquids. Porcelain when fully vitrified is impervious to liquids even when left unglazed.

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Materials Stoneware Stoneware refers to a type of clay body that is high fired at 2012°F to 2372°F. More durable than earthenware and terracotta, stoneware is non-porous and has a stone-like texture, making it ideal for functional dinnerware, pots, and planters.

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Materials TERRACOTTA, TERRA COTTA, TERRA-COTTA Derived from the Latin Terra cocta, Terracotta is a type of earthenware that is low fired at 1832-2012 F. The high iron content in terracotta clay gives it a rich orange/pink hue when fired. Terracotta is durable and porous, making it ideal for planters and pots; water penetrates into the clay body and enhances root growth.

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Materials VEGETABLE TANNED LEATHER Vegetable tanning is a traditional method of tanning animal hides that dates back to the Stone Age. Animal hides are made of a substance called collagen, the skin’s main structural protein, and in order to prevent hides from breaking down and naturally decomposing, these proteins must be stabilized. Humans have long recognized the antioxidant capabilities of natural tannins to make animal skins resistant to decay and have sourced these tannins from tree bark such as oak, chestnut, mimosa, as well as other plant tissues like leaves, twigs, fruits, and roots. This ancient method of tanning leather is a time-consuming process in which skilled craftsmen soak hides in large baths of concentrated tannins (or “teas”) for several months. Vegetable tanned leathers have many advantages; they are thick and hard-wearing with a natural feel and ‘earthy’ smell and deliver a softness and patina with use and age. Most importantly, all materials used to make vegetable tanned leather are safe and biodegradable.