iphone cases – EcoSalon

Lustables: Artisan Father’s Day Gifts From MAKR Carry Goods

K. Emily Bond — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 20:05:19 +0000

Don’t panic: your excuse for being late is, “artisan takes time, dad.”

It’s a bit late for Father’s Day shopping now, but let’s just pretend that it isn’t. If you haven’t picked out that perfect something yet, meet MAKR’s wallets, eyewear sleeves and iPhone cases (if dad is hip like that). Florida-based company MAKR is known for producing quality carry goods sourced from U.S. materials, including fallen trees whenever possible.

They run a tight design and production line taking an idea from a drawing in a sketchbook to a CAD model to a hand-made prototype, all within the same MAKR Design Studio. Prototyping might take several months, they explain, “with each revision being more structurally and aesthetically sound than the last.”

The company production ethos is as follows:

“Most MAKR designs would not be possible if MAKR did not control each and every aspect of production. Patterns are often laser-cut in-house and most small goods are still hand-sewn in the MAKR Design Studio. All other goods are made locally, which allows for the strictest manufacturing oversight. Oftentimes, complicated patterns require that MAKR develop a new manufacturing process which is frequently imparted to craftsmen by MAKR Founder and Design Director Jason Gregory. Once complete, each piece is inspected by the MAKR team before being packaged and shipped directly from the studio.”

This year, give the gift of quality and impart the love of artisan. Your pops deserves it. The products featured here range from $60-$95 on MAKR.com.

Look for Lustables at EcoSalon and submit your favorite to tips@ecosalon.com

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Lustables: Recycled iPhone Case

K. Emily Bond — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 13:22:31 +0000

An iPhone case and wallet made from recycled plastic bottles.

For consumers wary of cocooning their precious iPhones in bamboo, TRTLBOT has a perfectly sustainable solution: an iPhone case plus ID/credit card holder crafted from recycled plastic bottles.

Made in the USA (designed in Los Angeles, sourced from Indiana and manufactured in Santa Ana, Calif.), it is compatible with all 4 and 4S models. It can hold up to three credit cards, though its open-backed design might make it more suitable for storing gym membership cards versus flashing your AMEX.

Available at TRTLBOT for $29.95.

Look for Lustables daily at EcoSalon. 100% gorgeous green finds, and never sponsored. Submit your favorite to tips@ecosalon.com

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Top 11 Hottest Topics of 2010 from EcoSalon

Kim Derby — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 22:14:29 +0000

If you are well acquainted with EcoSalon, you know we don’t shy away from controversial issues. In fact, we welcome them. Rarely is there one right answer, and remaining open-minded in the face of difficult discussions is what EcoSalon strives to achieve.

And 2010 was no exception. It was indeed a stellar year for serious and many-sided environmental discussions. We hope you enjoyed the controversy, I mean year, as much as we did!

Here’s our greatest hits list for 2010:

GINK (Green Inclinations, No Kids) – Want to help the environment? Stop procreating. Turns out, going childless is the greenest choice of all. GINK describes women who decide not to have kids for any number of reasons, but mainly they consider the childless choice a huge gain for the environment. And furthermore, did you know that women can find peace, contentment and even happiness sans baby? Amazing!

Gulf Series – The BP Oil spill last April was tragic and terrifying to witness from afar, but when one of our writers traveled to the Gulf of Mexico and reported back, we got much more than we bargained for, including the devastating details of the aftermath and cleanup.

Gyre Series – Plastic pollution is collecting in the earth’s waters. It’s a catastrophic problem and one that we followed first hand (well, almost) while sailing the South Atlantic Gyre. Actually, Stiv Wilson, one of our editors, went on the adventure and yes, he lived to tell us all about it. In fact, the saga continues.

Politics versus Science – It was a big year for politics and science, with solar panels reappearing on the White House, emails leaking with twisted facts and figures, and a newly elected Republican Congress and the resurgence of climate change denial. One battle after another. We faced the Global Warming deniers and naysayers but in the end it seems, Americans still trust science. Phew!

Fur? Leather? Vegan? Oh yes! – Debate and controversy ran rampant in the fashion arena this year, and no one came out wrong. The fur versus leather discussion continued, while vegans consistently said no to anything animal. But if anything artificial and man-made only adds to the mess we’re in, why not wear fur? So many questions, all sorts of answers. In the end it comes down to personal preference and hopefully, an earnest attempt to pay attention to the planet.

Gender & Sexism – 2010 was also a big year for the ladies, or wait – is it gals or women or dames? It was a big year, as in, we’re still not making as much, still being asked why we’re not married and having babies, and still can’t be both smart and pretty. Further complicating the matter, green itself has been accused of sexism! How’s that for progress, eh?

Apple – One of the most anticipated events of the year was the launch of the iPad. We also saw a plethora of eco-friendly iPhone covers, and others made of rosewood, plants and bamboo. But no matter how green our gadgets, will we always wonder whether we can live without them? Yep, probably.

Food Revolution – 2010 saw schools saying adios to junk food (and Sara Palin getting mad about it), urbanites saying yes to farming, and more discussion about the problem that is the global food system. In other news – the concept of being a foodie rose in our consciousness this year, as people became increasingly fascinated with culinary culture and great cuisine. From food carts to all things pork to urban wineries, the foodie has arrived – your table is ready!

Electric Cars – It was a year to remember for the electric car. With the new EPA fuel efficiency labels meaning business, car manufacturers did the same. It seems everyone who’s anyone had an entry into the electric lineup – Mercedes and BMW, the Nissan Leaf (which was already sold out in the U.S. by July) and the Chevy Volt. And it appears we’ll be seeing more charging stations in the next year as well. Good thing!

Gorgeous Green Living – 2010 was full of talk about prefab, small spaces and McMansions, but EcoSalon saw a subtler, deeper theme at play: how green, vintage and good taste combine to make gorgeous living. We immersed ourselves in all areas of art and design and garnered loads of green lessons from what we found. We researched and scoured the web to bring you design insights, ideas and inspiration. Because in these not-so-stable times – when we can control our spaces, our immediate surroundings, but not much else – a visceral dose of art and color and gorgeous is oh-so-wonderful.

and last, but definitely not least…

We decided that Green Needs to Grow Up – It cannot be coddled nor supported uncritically. We owe it to ourselves and our future generations to insist upon good standards and good products in green. So when things like deodorant and amusement parks announce they are green all over, we investigate. We’re tired of greenwashing and false advertising, and you should be, too.

Images: Deepwater Horizon Response, kevindooley, Stiv Wilson, NASA Goddard Photo and Video, jessjamesjake, xjyxjy, Robert Scoble, bokchoi-snowpea, Lisa Cohen (via Living Inside), CoCreatr.

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iPhone Wraps: Always More to Cover

Scott Adelson — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 20:55:53 +0000

Yet more news from the what’s-on-your-smartphone front: For those of you who moved lightening quick on the iPhone4, Trunket‘s got you covered with some salvaged American Rosewood.

These grainy veneers come in six colors, ranging from “sea blue” to “blood red” to “jet black.” The overlays are “designed to sustain years of wear and tear and should acquire a natural, aged patina over time.” The stains are fade resistant and, here’s the part I kind of like, to “rejuvenate your overlay and keep it looking fresh for years to come,” you’re encouraged to do some “occasional buffing.” Nice.

Putting it on is simple: Wipe the phone clean with a provided alcohol pad, make sure the phone is dry and doesn’t have goop or dirt on it, remove the protective film from the back of the Trunket and just stick it on. Although it’s removable, they don’t encourage a bunch of on again, off again action. But, then, who ever does?

Each Trunket cover is made from real wood and is pretty much a “rescue.” “We acquired a large inventory of aged veneers from a luxury car customization company that was in the process of winding down its operations as the owners decided to retire,” explains Trunket co-founder Jay Chowdhury. He notes, too that his process has “kept sustainability in mind in the selection of treatments, finishes and packaging materials.”

The company, by the way, is a member of the Arbor Day Foundation, and will allocate $1 from each sale towards the goal of replanting 50 trees per month in areas of need starting October.

So put this option in your what’s-an-iPhone-to-wear pocket, along with this one and this one and, oh, yes, all of these and “¦

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A New Purpose For the Ole Bamboo

Scott Adelson — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:11:16 +0000

We’re all becoming increasingly aware of the horrendous footprint left behind by the technology we use every day. Consider the ubiquitous plastic casing surrounding the ubiquitous iPhone. Pretty, maybe – is yours pink? Electric blue? – and practical, too. But how many of them are out there? And where do these things come from, anyway? Where do they go? There can be no good answers to these questions.

So here’s a new approach: Portland-based design collective Grove is offering a unique and environmentally conscious way to protect and dress up the Apple of your eye – in bamboo.

Bamboo use is on the upswing for a couple of reasons. First, its strength and dimensional stability makes it ideal for a variety of uses that other forms of wood aren’t suited for. It also elegantly takes on a natural oil wax finish (used by Grove) as opposed to industry-standard plastic clear coats, making the material look and feel warm and, well, woody.

Most important, though, is that Bamboo is actually a grass and is the fastest growing plant in the world. It can be harvested for use in as little as four years, thus its increased use reduces our reliance on timber forests. Says Grove: “We are just starting to tap the potential of bamboo as a contemporary building material. ”

All that good stuff aside, these cases are just plain cool. Well, not so plain, really. Choose from one of the collective’s artist designs or upload art of your choice to customize your own. Prices start at around $70.

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