Green Grades

Just a quick note to say thank you to Kelly Laplante of Organic Interior Design in Venice Beach, California, as well as all the folks there who helped compile information for their "Green Grades".

This is a comprehensive review and evaluation of companies providing eco-furnishings. www.thegreengrades.com http://www.organicinteriordesign.com


Oliveira Textiles, Harmony Art, Rubie Green, OEco Textiles, Mod GreenPod and Lulan were included in her listing of those of us who are"thriving" or "ground breaking" leaders in the industry --You go girls!

Everyone is working hard to provide these beautiful textiles to the consumer. Although we are all at different stages of the ecolution of our product, it is so nice to know that we are all still pushing the envelope and growing the movement of toxin free textiles!

I applaude the unbelievable work ethic of OEco Textiles! Patty and Leigh--I sit in awe each time I read about your successes in eliminating the chemicals in your fabrics and juggling all of the players in your production. Truly remarkable! All of our stories are unique and our efforts deserving of much success. The best to all!

Deb Olson
Co-Founder
Oliveira Textiles

Summer In The City

Hello all:
....ok time to 'feed the blog'....yes we've been busy and haven't updated in many weeks...so here's a rundown.....
On Tues Aug 11th, after a rather stormy drive (torrential rain with hail) down 95 South that included all manner of weather except locusts, we arrived in New York. On August 12, 13 and 14 we participated in the S.O.S. event held at the Penn Plaza Pavillion on 7th Avenue in NYC. This was the Show Of Sustainable Sourcing for apparel, home & more. We had a small booth on the ground floor below the 'DIRECTIONS' international textile and surface design show. It was a great networking opportunity and all involved got to learn more about the specific talents of the eco designers, manufacturers and marketing experts who shared our intimate space. (not to mention how much I enjoyed reconnecting with so many dear industry friends and colleagues who were shopping the Directions show and also serrendipitously stopped by our table/exhibit at SOS) Thanks to the SOS team who made the days
fun and fruitful. Hope to see you all again at other events.
We are now completing our new collection of prints and hope to have them ready by late fall. We will be sending a web blast to all of our designer contacts as soon as it arrives.

Last month Deb had the chance to view a workshop/webcast from Washington-The Federal Trade Commission's session on "Green Washing"/Labeling--Here are some of her points of interest:
* The Organic industry has grown 35% between 2001-2007 driven by consumers making a lifestyle choice as well as those with allergy sensitivites.
* There are misleading claims in the industry -- It is the responsibility of the business to know their sourcing chain and to label accurately.
* Bamboo put through the viscose process or regenerated loses the properties of natural bamboo and is commonly referred to as rayon from bamboo and should be labeled as such. Pat Slater from Consumer Reports sited an article "Bamboozel by Rayon". She also states that although an inferior textile is not a hazard to life and limb, higher pricing on these specialty products DOES affect a consumers pocketbook.
*Katheleen Huddy from the GoodHousekeeping Institute says consumers are receptive to green products as long as they perform and don't cost much more
*The footprint of your product must be considered--Lifecycle Assessment. Patagonia leads the way in their "Footpath Chronicles" which currently measures the impact of 10 of their products. These are tracked on their website.
* An organic treatment for flame retardants is not yet available but GOTS permits where required by law.
*If you are using recycled materials--know what you are getting. Is it post industrial or post consumer?
Organic methods of production ARE beneficial and well documented in spite of what some may claim.
*Consumers are starting to recognize some third party certifications on labels. Oeko-Tex, Blue Sign and several others.
*Keep product label simple but clear and refer to your website for additinal information on the product.
*Are soy and milk fibers really green--jury still out?
And much more on Green Building developments-- see transcripts from FTC website.

Enjoy the waning summer days ahead...and try to sneak in a day by the ocean...aaahhh

Deb & Dawn

Ballard Park Benefit and 'Green Drinks'

So, just to update;

We were asked by our friend and colleague, Meaghan O'Neill (author of Ready, Set, Green and one of the founders of Treehugger)if we would consider donating some OT fabrics to a very worthy cause; the preservation of Newport RI's only nature preserve-Ballard Park, so we did in fact, enthusiastically, offer 3 of our pillows made from completely sustainable/organic materials, right down to the recycled, nickle free zippers...and they were very well received. Newport is just gorgeous in the summer--really the quintessential seaside New England town. We also had the chance last week to visit the beautiful Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown, RI for a Green Drinks event where Meaghan gave a passionate speech about the benefits of living green; making even small adjustments in our lives to help move the planet toward a more sustainable future. Check out her book--It's incredibly informative.

As well, we have been busy making pillows and other accessories for The newportmanisons.org cafe and gift shop. If you've never had the opportunity to visit Newport, especially the exquistite homes along Bellview Avenue and Ocean Drive, take a tour..it's well worth it...a bygone era of outrageously gorgeous architecture.

TradeShows and EcoShops

So our Ocean Collection has been navigating it's way up and down the east coast and across the pond as well. Thanks to the wonderful folks at TODL ,our collection was displayed at the IWCE show in Atlanta last month...see our Wavelength /redtide mounted on the TODL Green Display.

Thanks to Nancy Reynolds from The Green Room in Middletown RI, our collection was displayed at the NESEA (Northeast Sustainable Energy Association) show in Boston's World Trade Center last month. And finally, thanks to Lisa Harland our London rep at Harland Organic Furnishings, the collection will now be part of the offerings from a new Design Shop in Chiswick called ECO AGE, founded by Nicola Giuggioli.

Folly Beach Home

We want to thank Barbara B. from South Carolina for sending these photos of our Anemone in the seaweed colorway...she's made some pillows for her seaside home and offered to share them with us--and this is her first attempt at digital photography---we appreciate the follow up Barbara and hope to work with you again as our collection grows!

You were a dream client---

Muito Obrigado (that's thank you very much in Portuguese)

kindest regards,

Dawn & Deb

Resourceful Reclaiming

Ok I just have to mention that my incredibly resourceful partner has convinced a local shipyard to give us all of the plastic used to wrap the pleasure boats so common to this area in the summer.

When these boats are out of the water through the cold weather months, they're 'shrink wrapped' in shipyards all over New England.

She hauled this stuff over to her yard, cleaned it up and we have now reclaimed it as our packaging material of choice....waste not, want not as ye olde pilgrims would say.

Thanks Deb!!!!!!!You are awesome!

Dawn

Springtime in Chicago

So, it's been two weeks since my last post. I don't know how time passes so quickly; but we've been busy and it has. Our Chicago reps at Urban Source sent these photos recently of their display windows. Note OT fabrics in "green". We, here in New England are also thrilled that the weather has finally warmed up. 3 Cheers for Spring!!! And thank you Rose.

On another note, my partner and I just recently took a 2 1/2 hour tour through a local New England Mill just to chat with the Mill Stylist about dyes and machinery, and finshing...and all those exciting, relevant textile issues that we are so consumed by these days. As our colleagues, Harmony, and Michelle know, we are on a quest to find a US mill willing to go 100% GOTS. This was not that mill unfortunately, but with a bit more perseverance we will find one . There are an increasing number of designers just like us looking for a certified mill so if these factories will just be a little more open minded, they would see the potential for business and seriously consider working with us to implement the necessary changes. Stay tuned.
Dawn

Molly's Magic

Just want to say how much we love what Molly Worth at Chairloom has been doing with our fabrics and her re-invented furnishings!!!

Can't wait to show you the new collection Molly!!

Thanks

Dawn

TODL & IWCE

We would like to announce that we have joined the wonderful team at TODL - The Trade Only Design Library ( the online research and specification data base). Please go to http://www.todl.com/ - todlgreen. We are currently listed under Kim's Picks - and should be live on their data base any day.

Kim Gordon is the director of TODL Green and has spent more than 15 years working and training in various aspects of the eco-industry. www.todl.com/kimspicks/#KimsBio We thank the team at TODL for their patience and encouragement.

Look for Oliveira Textiles "Ocean Collection" at the upcoming IWCE show-Green Pavillion.(International Window Coverings Expo) March 26 - 29, Atlanta, Georgia, organized by TODL.

sincerely,

Dawn

Cool Collaboration

We are excited to announce a successful collaboration between OLIVEIRA TEXTILES and CHAIRLOOM: ( http://www.chairloom.com/ ) a wonderful Pennsylvania company run by a talented and resource-full woman, Molly Worth. She is "up-cycling" & modernizing vintage furniture by combining contemporary textiles with eclectic, chairs and sofas..Beautiful!

Our Anemone pattern in redcoral, lovingly upholstered on a unique victorian settee will be debuted in her Pennsylvania shop - Estate Antiques and Chairloom at 725 S. 4th St., Philladelphia. Opening tomorrow night, 2/24/08.(You can contact Molly at 914-484-5498)

Thanks so much.

We'll be there in spirit!!!

Dawn and Deb