Sustainable design, which balances environmental, social, economic and aesthetic concerns, has the potential to transform everyday life and is already reshaping the fields of architecture and product design. Beyond Green explores how this design philosophy resonates with an emerging generation of international artists who combine a fresh aesthetic sensibility with a constructively critical approach to the production, dissemination and display of art. While "green" architecture has been widely explored, this is one of the first exhibitions to focus exclusively on sustainability in art and design. These artists—working in cities such as Chicago, Copenhagen, London, New York, San Francisco, San Juan and Vienna—use sustainable design strategies for metaphoric, practical, critical or even playful ends. Beyond Green includes existing works, commissions and previously presented work that has been “recycled,” spotlighting ways in which artists are building paths to new forms of practice. The holistic approach of sustainability seeks to transform the ways people make, use and dispose of the stuff of everyday life. (via madmuseum.org) Until May 7th.

I encourage the use of materials that have the least devastating impact on the environment and it's people. I don't use stones like diamonds or tanzanite because they are not well regulated and the sale of these stoneshas been proven to aid terrorist organizations. I only work with stones whose cultivation does not promote unfair labor practices. I use stones that are mined in the United States by people and dealers I've come to know and trust. I do a lot of my own stone cutting from rock mined in the 40's, 50's and 60's. I also recycle many stones from old or vintage pieces and the fossils in my work are only acquired from privately owned land.

The little gold I do use is mostly for accents on the silver pieces. The gold is all refined using old jewelry from my mother and from clients that want gold in their pieces. Gold mining is a very dirty industry. It is associated with human rights abuses and environmental devastation in third world countries. There is enough "old" gold out there to recycle.

I try to make good choices with my stones, to understand where they comefrom and whose lives they may impact. I will continue to explore even more conscious and sustainable options for my jewelry materials. I am always open to learning new and better approaches.

Nature is Linda’s muse. It is the core of the materials she uses and the designs that she creates. From sasawashi, a linen-like fabric made from Japanese leaf rich with anti-allergen and anti-bacterial properties, to bamboo pointelle, a butter-soft, highly sustainable fabric, Linda works tirelessly to find and develop the highest quality, most ecologically sound textiles. Organic cotton, reclaimed antique lace, lenpur (wood pulp), soya and bamboo: the list is ever-growing and changing. (via Linda Loudermilk)

We believe in the honest and responsible use of resources, and in the expression of material and structure as an integral part of what we make. Our debut product line is a collection of felt accessories harvested from and inspired by industrial cast-offs. All are conceived and produced in such a way that all material is utilized and nothing is wasted. (via f+ bp)

The fur from Sheep and Lamb is incredibly warm, hardwearing, practical and acceptable to wear in today's anti-fur society, as it is a by-product of an animal that is also a food source.There has been much confusion over the identification of the many varieties of sheep and lamb fur treatments and breeds. Generally speaking, Persian Lamb, Broadtail Lamb, and Persian-Broadtail Lamb are of the same species of Karakul Lamb, which is native to Central Asia. (via vintagefashionguild)