I was very excited to happen upon this Designboom’s feature article on the Israeli design student art exchange and training program in Chinese bamboo production and craft. Back when I first posted about it, I could only find photos of three bamboo toys. Now we can all drool at the super cool Metropolis cityscape set by Israeli design student Michal Zohar (above) or the hipster-meets-scooter by Israeli design student Etay Amir (below) and plenty of other toys – which I’ll put up on flickr – show how cool bamboo is for kids and parents alike.
Now, environmentally, the benefits of bamboo as a material are plenty and it seems that as the material of the moment, bamboo is also enjoying the spotlight of modern design. Keeping Israeli designers on the forefront of eco-conscious design – and strengthening the Israel-China design connection – is Daniel Fintzi who is working on some products for Bambu Home. “Bambu provides design solutions made from renewable materials that excite and delight people about sustainable alternatives for modern living”. They’re work ethic is astonishing too: it just keeps getting better. They only use bamboo that is sustainably harvested and free of fertilizers or pesticides, ie. from organic sources and treatment. They employ fair trade practices for artisans, workers and production. All products are reusable and/or biodegradable. They donate a percentage of the profits to environmental causes. And the list goes on! Plus, and this is important too, Bambu home accessories are beautifully modern yet handmade with a touch of classic. Check out the Veneerware utensils and plates by Bambu below. Now that’s the kind of Made in China I’d want to fill my house with. Looking forward to seeing what Daniel will be designing for them.
{Crossposted to Green Prophet}
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