Throughout the month of March, some of Merida’s Viewpoint designs (on the left in the photo above) will be hanging in the lobby of the Boston Design Center. Constructed by Patterson Flynn & Martin, a Merida customer with a trade-only showroom in the BDC, the display features vibrant patterns and colors from Trina Turk‘s new fabric collection that have us looking forward to spring…
A group of high school students from Artists for Humanity recently visited Merida’s Boston facility to tour our workroom, learn about natural fibers, and discover what a career in textile design might look like. We’ve been working with this amazing Boston-based organization to support their arts employment and education programs, and to find innovative ways to share materials and inspiration.
During the tour, the kids asked loads of questions that demonstrated their intense curiosity about art and design and the way things are made. AFH’s executive director, Susan Rogerson, made a great point that in today’s world, most of us have no idea how everyday items are created, so this made it all the more special for the kids to see and touch our textiles as they are transformed into finished products.
Happy and Maegan, two of our product designers, also gave the students a presentation about their roles at Merida, how they became designers, and what inspires them to create. The students were really energized by the presentation and all the new products we showed them, but I think we all got excited when we talked about how AFH might use Merida scrap material to create new art. We’re currently working with the AFH team to find inventive ways to use excess material from our Boston workroom, and hope to share more with you as we expand our relationship with AFH!
Economic sustainability can be summed up as the efficient and responsible use of resources (e.g. people, materials, time, etc).
To ensure long-term economic success, a company like Merida chooses its suppliers carefully. Natural fiber cultivation generally occurs in some of the poorest areas of the world where this type of farming may be the only source of income for local residents. However, growing awareness of the environmental effects of synthetic materials and deforestation has led consumers to seek natural and rapidly renewable alternatives in recent years. The resulting increase in demand for fibers like abaca and hemp may help alleviate conditions of poverty in certain areas. This gives us a wonderful opportunity to help generate economic activity for the community and provide a healthier alternative to synthetic floor coverings.
Income from the sisal trade alone contributes to employment opportunities and a higher standard of living for up to 6 million people worldwide. Our partnership with a cooperative farming community in Brazil has demonstrated the positive effects that the sisal trade can have on people’s lives. Check back next week for more about this exciting partnership!
What colors are in store for us in 2009? According to Color Marketing Group, the top choices have been influenced by both our concern for the economy and our optimism about the future.
Color Marketing Group, the leading international non-profit association of color design professionals, has been accurately predicting color trends for more than 45 years. CMG predicts more evolution than revolution in color trends for the coming new season.
Cooled-down, Greyed-out Browns and Greys – Complex neutrals satisfy our urge toward classic colors in an economically challenged time. They also bridge the area between black, which seems harsh, and brown, which doesn’t seem strong enough. According to CMG, look for these and other color trends in 2009
