Let's move away from Planned Obsolescence

Here's my idea: let us minimize waste of resources in furniture creation and see more cost savings over the long term.

How? Move away from products created in the space of planned obsolescence.

Planned Obsolescence is the opposite of long-lived products and usually:
• Includes product made to fail within a specified (short) period of time. Think of Furniture that you buy knowing that it will fall apart in less than 3 years.
• The manufacturer has used inferior quality components which drives product failure, and in turn, the consumer to repurchase or replace said product within a short period (3-5 years).
• This is an "OK" model with rapidly changing technology. However, with certain goods like furniture and home décor, it’s downright misleading, because the real costs related to the product are hidden.

Example: The cheaply made $500 table may be a fraction of the cost of its a well-made, more expensive counterpart.

However, think about replacing that $500 table every seven years (if you’re lucky). When you add up the ten purchases of "that table" over the average 70 year lifetime, the total cost of having the inferior table is $5000!

That doesn't include the cost of shipping, handling, tax, financing charges, disposal, shopping time, etc.

On the other hand, think about buying furniture that lasts a lifetime and as a result, can be passed on to your kids or grand kids, gifted, resold, etc., AND INCREASES IN VALUE OVER TIME!

Above: Contemporary African Home side table in solid laminated wenge.

I always think about my Trinidadian grandparents who were very humble people with very little money. But oh boy did my grandmother love her depression glass collection and her solid antique Victorian high boy. She and my grandfather (innocent bystander) bought those items from their savings when they were newly married. Those pieces are still holding strong in my dad's home nearly 70 years later.

Green Side of Luxury Furniture. Cont'd

Previously, I posted my top-of-mind criteria when it comes to purchasing furniture and the green side of luxury furniture.

Not only should we think about 1) the efficient use of (scarce) materials, but also 2) how much product is created. Do you ever get that sick to your stomach feel when you walk into a shopping center and there is just so much stuff? Custom orders are very good for the environment. We're less likely to make an impulse purchase and less likely to quickly dispose of it, if we take the time to think about what we're ordering.

Some additional criteria for evaluating the Greenness of Luxury Furniture:

3) The Product Longevity of Luxury Furniture. We should seek out products constructed to last more than 2 human lifetimes. That's not so hard, in principle. However, longevity also means the product should be:

• Designed to serve its purpose. Is it functional as well as beautiful?
  

• Aesthetically pleasing over a very long timeline and in different cultural contexts. There are many examples in French, Italian Renaissance, mid-century furniture (which has now made a revival), and African Furniture (such as traditional stools and hand-carved doors) which last for centuries and increase in value over time.
  

Side note: If a product has a shorter life span, then the materials MUST be easily biodegradable and the financial and environmental costs related to acquisition and disposal should be minimal.

And last but not least, I come to my fourth criteria...

4) Price - Is the product price supported by the quality and longevity? The answer should be a definitive YES!

• The expected life expectancy of a product should be positively correlated to its price. (sorry throwback to my finance days).
• Products made to last beyond one’s lifetime will inevitably have a higher price to cover the costs of superior production, material, and design.

A shorter life should be positively tied to a lower price. However, lower price doesn't mean lower cost to the consumer over a long period.
Look for my forthcoming note on planned obsolescence.

The Green Side of Luxury Furniture

In the space of Luxury Home furnishings, I believe that we must offer consumers well designed, long-lasting products that make extremely efficient use of (scarce) materials.

In honor of the official Earth Day, Joe Gaul of GaulSearson asked me to share some thoughts on the Luxury Side of Green. Here are some of what we'll discuss at GaulSearson's showroom in the SF Design center later today. I'll be adding to this series, including responses to our discussion, over the next few days.

The original question was: What is the Luxury side of Green? I think the better question is: What is the Green Side of Luxury? Why does the commitment to superior quality, long-lasting furniture and home decor mean a greener planet?

My response was to develop some criteria for Luxurious & Green Furniture:

1. Use of material - look for the efficient use of scarce material: Veneers, laminated or engineered woods, and other materials which are made to biodegrade with minimal impact to the environment AND minimal likelihood of product failure.

2. Building for demand, aka custom, is oh so green because manufacturers and craftsmen who offer this service don't produce in excess of consumer demand or what the market can sustain.

There is a clear distinction between building for demand and what has become the common trend of flooding the market with product with the purpose of driving down prices. Think volume discounts and dumping practices of some manufacturers.

The questions we should pose in the face of excess supply (even though it's cheap) include:

• What is the source of the resource?
• Is this level of production sustainable?
• What about shipping, disposal, excess waste? What are the long term costs of manufacturing, shipping, storing, and disposing of all that stuff, over and over and over.

Which brings me to my next criteria...Product Longevity and Price. Please See next post.

Taking the Show on the Road

Here's an old concept which is regaining popularity: the trunk show! It's as easy as finding a location, inviting friends, customers, etc and showing up with some eye catching product.

Above left: Hand printed damask napkins, malachite jewelry bowls and wood finishes from the Contemporary African Home 2009 Collection.

Above Right: African quilts, Throws, and modern hand-printed damask tablecloths.

Last week Contemporary African Home was invited to Dana Skinner's home in Marin county. We had a great time presenting our textiles, wall decor, and Dana and her friends enjoyed checking out our wares.

Hand spun cotton

What's not to love about hand-spun unbleached cotton? I can't come up with an answer. Well, maybe that there isn't enough of it out there. Then again, the scarcity is probably due to the time consuming process which requires the diligence of saints.

This natural white throw is made of hand-spun cotton from Cote d'Ivoire. Once spun into thread, 2" wide strips are woven by hand and then tacked onto a natural cotton backing. 100% Natural Comfort. 100% Green. 100% Luxurious.