THE SUMMER MARKET: AUG 4 – 7, 2024, JAVITS CENTER

WHITE PLAINS, NY, August 7, 2015… From 30 finalists in three categories, three exhibitors — Trio of Yew Wood Hand-Turned Bowls by Phil Gautreau Wood Design, LLC; Vintage Heirloom Rugs and Pillows by Shupaca; and Bamboo Straws by Bambu — were named winners of the 12th semi-annual Eco Choice Awards in the Most Sellable, Most Sensitive Use of Materials and Most Innovative categories, respectively. Award-winning products will be showcased within the SustainAbility: design for a better world® display at the summer 2015 edition of NY NOW®, the Market for Home, Lifestyle + Gift, to be held August 15-19, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

“The popularity of the Eco Choice Awards in general, and the increasingly stiff competition for top honors in particular, reflects the ongoing vitality of eco-friendly and socially-responsible products and production processes,” said Scott Kramer, NY NOW show director and vice president. “NY NOW is delighted to be a leader in the industry’s commitment to green products and business practices through these awards.”

In the first phase, ten finalists in each of the three categories were chosen from a pool of close to 120 contenders for the green product competition, which is co-sponsored by NY NOW and GREENRetailer magazine. From the 30 finalists, three winners were selected by online voting. Winners and finalists in each of the three categories will be featured in the Fall issue of GIFT SHOP magazine.

The winners and finalists of the summer 2015 Eco Choice Awards are:

WINNER: Most Innovative: Bambu (Portland, OR) for its Bamboo Straws, USDA certified organic and re-usable straws, which are made by nature, hand selected to be the right diameter then cleaned, sanded and finished with an organic food-safe oil.
FINALIST: ESCLUSSO Ltd (Chicago, IL) for its Reclaimed Bamboo and Plywood Candle Holders.
FINALIST: FunnyFish Inc. (Seoul, Republic of Korea) for its Craft Lights.

WINNER: Most Sensitive Use of Materials: Shupaca (San Diego, CA) for its Vintage Heirloom Rugs and Pillows, passed down through generations in indigenous Quechua families, these Heirloom vintage rugs/blankets (now converted to pillows) are one-of-a-kind art pieces used as keepsakes in the Peruvian Highlands.
FINALIST: Sprout Enterprise (Brooklyn, NY) for its Tonlé Takeo Scarf – Tribal Denim.
FINALIST: The Underground Chic (New York, NY) for its Embossed Faux Suede Tote Bag.

WINNER: Most Sellable: Phil Gautreau Wood Design, LLC (New York, NY) for its Trio of Hand-Turned Yew Wood Bowls, vessels sourced from Brooklyn Botanic Gardens Yew Wood and hand-turned in his studio in nearby Gowanus.
FINALIST: Azizi Life (Audubon, PA) for its Traditional Peace Basket.
FINALIST: Look At Me Designs (Plainville, MA) for its Texting Mittens.

Now in its sixth year, the Eco Choice Awards program attracted 258 entries across NY NOW’s three collections – HOME, LIFESTYLE and HANDMADE. The program’s strict qualifying standards were revised in early 2015 to recognize the increasing importance of eco-friendly production practices, with additional qualifications including products that are manufactured or constructed with only recycled, recyclable and/or sustainable materials and an emphasis on socially responsible and fair trade business practices.

Within NY NOW’s SustainAblity: design for a better world® exhibit, curated by Ilene Shaw of Shaw + Co! Productions, each product will be displayed along with details about provenance and production process. These “back-stories” will detail the green elements of the production process, including the use of renewable or alternative sources of energy in production, including wind, sun, and alternative fuels.

The summer 2015 edition of NY NOW, the Market for Home, Lifestyle + Gift, will run Saturday, August 15, through Wednesday, August 19, 2015, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. NY NOW’s three comprehensive collections – HOME, LIFESTYLE and HANDMADE, as well as NEW! exhibitors – encompass 100,000 products in myriad product categories. Attendees from all 50 states and around the world are expected. Information and registration is available online at www.nynow.com.

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NOTE: Winner and finalist product images available upon request to SandyLee@CathySteelAssociates.com.