A lot of clients come to Lori Dennis Inc. because they want sustainable design in their homes and our clients know that is a major priority of ours. Whether you prioritize ethical shopping or business practices, or you want furnishings you know are made to last, there are a lot of reasons to shop sustainably. And when you’re always shopping with those priorities in mind, a week of touring the furniture showrooms at High Point Market is quite the whirlwind! You see lots of beautiful furnishings and lighting, fabrics, and rugs. But beyond aesthetics, we want to be sure the products we find for our clients are long-lasting and ethically created. On the Design Bloggers Tour, we were excited to find that many of the vendors sponsoring the tour have wonderful sustainability stories and do-good initiatives. Here are some of our favorites you’ll be seeing popping up in our projects for years to come and what to look for when you’re trying to shop green and clean:
Crypton
It was all about performance fabrics this market! Crypton performance fabrics contain a easily maintained stress-free technology that keeps your upholstery stain-free! Performance fabrics are the key to longevity with upholstery.
I don’t know why you would use anything but Crypton performance fabrics at this point, especially since they’ve expanded their collections to include on-trend neutral sheens in pretty blush and camel colorways we absolutely love! On display in the Thibaut showroom, here were a few of our favorites from their latest collections:
Surya
Surya not only has fabulous rugs, matching poufs, and great accessories and lighting at an affordable price point, they are also greatly devoted to their social mission. They want to be sure their products are manufactured in safe environments and by employees who earn fair wages. Much of their profits are donated to a variety of non-profits benefiting educational and health initiatives in rural India and other regions where Surya manufactures their products. They’re most known for their efforts to end forced child labor in India — a cause we always look to see if companies support who manufacture in at-risk regions.
Some highlights from the latest Surya collections include the Alpine collection in pretty neutrals, which has a lower pile and is machine woven, allowing them to keep the price point lower than similarly-styled hand-knotted rugs. Their hygge collection of soft fringed rugs and poufs had us in the mood for the changing seasons, cooler weather, and curling up by the fireplace.
Stickley
Manufacturing here in the US? That’s a big deal these days! Stickley has been an industry leader in premiere craftsmanship and sustainability since 1900. They make solid wooden forever pieces here in the US, meant to passed down from generation to generation and have an impressive refugee employment program in which they employ from over 38 countries and provide English classes to help families assimilate.
They also belong to the Sustainable Furnishings Council, a marker of devotion to going green! They’ve updated their traditional arts and crafts collections with the aid of their most recent hire, Marissa Brown, design director, who has done an impeccable job bringing iconic Stickley style into the modern age.
Norwalk
Norwalk furniture was a new vendor for us this market and we’re so glad we got to spend the time we did with them! They are also a SFC member and place a huge emphasis on manufacturing without harmful chemicals. That means no flame retardants, polyurethane foam that meets the highest environmental safety standards.
We were also happy to find they manufacture nearly everything here in the United States. Norwalk began making bay buggies in Ohio and has grown into a beautifully deep line with many different looks, all executed perfectly! In particular the Kim Salmela collections have a laid back beachy sophistication that we’re always on the lookout for!
Cisco
Cisco is the coolest kid on the block. We love their California-cool vibe that permeates their brand, from company culture to their products.
They manufacture in Los Angeles and prioritize sustainable materials and manufacturing processes with all of their products. Few brands manage to maintain an on-trend youthful aesthetic and find a way to somehow be timeless at the same time.
