Back to Basics is a call for attention to water, a resource that has historically been taken for granted due to its abundance. Water is vital for all forms of life on Earth. Clean water is essential for humans and other life forms, although nearly one billion people lack access to safe drinking water. And while it covers nearly 71% of Earth's surface, lack of access to water is rapidly becoming a crisis that will continue to spread and affect our entire planet. Water conservation, as well as a draw toward the tranquil and universal nature of water, was in the forefront of Brentano Design Director Iris Wang's mind while developing Brentano's spring 2012 collection.
With 7 additions to the
Brentano Green label,
Back to Basics showcases Brentano's expertise with producing beautiful,
eco-friendly textiles that expand the boundaries of what is possible in
green design. The distinguished patterns
Watson and
Holmes get their menswear-inspired colors from a fiber-dyeing process that conserves 70% more water than piece-dyed wools.
Nomad is also an eco-friendly wool that is
fiber-dyed. In addition, the mill that weaves the versatile
upholstery has its own onsite water treatment system to capture and reuse water.
Also part of the
Brentano Green fabric label, the trio
Mistral,
Ostro, and
Sirocco are named for seasonal winds that flow across the Mediterranean Sea into the surrounding country. By extracting
flax fibers through a
field-retting process, these textiles offer an alternative to water-polluting stream-retting that is commonly used.
Retting is the natural process that dissolves the unusable parts from the usable fibers of plants which are later spun into yarn. Woven from 100% Belgian linen, all three are free from dye chemicals; instead, their color comes from the natural fiber or from bleaching with safe substances.
For 2012, Brentano amps up their
outdoor textile offerings with
Al Fresco and
Plein Air, a pair of rattan-inspired
upholsteries, and
Zinnia, an updated take on the Brentano classic
Dahlia. All three can stand up to the elements while offering an array of fresh colors.
The collection is rounded out with luxurious residential textiles such as
Current, a well-priced and refined textural pattern;
Instinct, a clever, sophisticated take on animal print; and
Arcadia, a pattern with a relaxed stripe and an "upscale-primitive" feel that is ideal for residential interiors that want to look casual and elegant.
Back to Basics embraces water, the most basic building block of life, in several ways. Whether it's by utilizing advanced green technologies to produce
environmentally-friendly textiles, turning to manufacturers with proven water conservation practices, or by featuring natural and simple patterns in pastoral colors, all 17 textiles ask that we consider what is vital to good design.
Please apply for an online account to check prices and request samples.
log in applictaion »