Last month, we visited the Surface Design Show, an insightful collection of new designers, materials and trends from the ever-changing world of surface design.
As makers continue to strive towards creating environmentally friendly businesses, surface design is acutely aware of its own impact. And textures, colours and administration moves towards earthy representation, recyclable materials and sustainable practices.
What has naturally evolved from this is a developed interest in exactly where our products are coming from and who makes them; buyers want to feel a connection between the products and their makers.
There’s a brilliant range of surface brands on the scene that take pride in the origins of their produce and their contribution to the planet. Let’s take a look at some of the brands making a difference beyond the surface.
Organoid
Organoid is a company that embodies the idea of bringing nature indoors with their biophilic philosophy and products. In all aspects, the company draws upon the positive benefits of nature, recognising how introducing natural surfaces into the home can improve our health by reducing stress, boosting our mood and increasing productivity.
And they take this idea quite literally. Engaging our senses of smell, touch and sight, Organoid create surfaces entirely out of natural materials. Their most popular product, Mountain Wisn Wallpaper, combines various flora from the Alps like edelweiss, daisies and arnica blossoms, carrying with it a natural scent, woody texture and spectacular array of colours. This wallpaper draws on the popular trends of connection and texture by combining mixed surfaces to give the owner a physical connection with its rich natural climate. Plus, short transport links keep the brand’s movements sustainable for a positive climate balance.
The Good Plastic Company
The Good Plastic Company manufacturer surfaces with a commitment to sustainability. They created Polygood, a range of surface plastic panels that can be used to create furniture and architectural pieces. This range is 100% recycled and recyclable, “filling the gap between recycling and business”. By creating panels out of a typically wasted material, the company hopes to generate demand for plastic by making it aesthetically and practically valuable, drawing it away from landfills and oceans as a result.
Emerald Ghost Polygood Panels by The Good Plastic Company
Ultimately, The Good Plastic Company are committed to creating a circular economy by proving how possible it is to create beautiful pieces from locally produced waste, and encouraging it.
Clayworks
Clayworks create healthy walls for healthy living, within a company that uses low energy processes, welcomes local raw materials and has sustainable goals. By blending unfired clays with natural minerals and pigments and using materials sourced from Cornwall, Clayworks have among the most low carbon and healthy wall finishes available.
With a choice of finishes, each available in unique aesthetics of colour, tone and texture, their products encompass nature to the core. Clayworks are embracing and combining the popularity of introducing nature into the home, and the growing love for surfaces that have a history with the rough texture and marks to show for it.
The clay plasters are completely natural, non toxic, low in VOC emissions and only need to be mixed rather than artificially processed. They therefore require very little energy, no water and zero waste to create. Locally produced, easily repaired, compostable and long lasting, Clayworks have created surfaces that are very sustainable and planet friendly.
They also have a clear understanding for how our environment affects our mental health, creating breathable walls with the right acoustics that naturally regulating temperature and humidity for a more comfortable environment both mentally and physically. These surfaces provide genuine and useful attributes to keep our homes functioning for healthy bodies and minds.
Botanica Textiles
Botanica Textiles was built to create fully sustainable, handmade and bespoke textiles. Botanica draws from natural ingredients to promote a circular and sustainable business of textile production in the hopes to reverse the impacts of the ‘fast-textiles’ industry.
Fibres are organic and responsibly sourced, based on extensive research of planet friendly materials, including tracing back to their origins to determine any traces of chemicals and the subsequent impact this environment production could have had.
Dyes are 100% natural, drawing from local flora to create vivid colours that are in keeping with the seasons. In fact, Botanica only use seasonal colour palettes, preferring to follow the path ‘where nature sets the trend’. The colours can therefore never be reproduced exactly, making each colour and textile utterly unique and custom.
Botanica has a zero waste policy, surplace yarn is reused as all dyes are reused and repurposed with the yarns having a dye bath so that every drop is used. As a result, all Botanica products are completely biodegradable.
