A Look Back on 2006. . .

Oh yeah, baby: Designarchy is wrapping things up and taking a look at what's accomplished this year. Thanks to everyone for hanging in there as I skip the spell checker ;-)

1) Designarchy got certified by four different organizations: Alameda County's Green Business Program, Co-Op America, Green-e and the Urban Sanctuary Program of HSUS. Find out more about what they do and how easy it is to go green!

2) We have donated over $500 to a number of animal organizations that provide care and/or assistance to animal welfare causes: Elephant Sanctuary, SF ROMP, Farm Sanctuary, HSUS, Bonobo Initiative, WWF and Save the Manatees Club. You too can donate your time and/or money to a worthy cause, if you don't already do.

3) We have donated over $2,000 in service hours to Dharma Publishing, Compassionate Cooks and SF ROMP. Checkout the wonderful work that they do for the betterment of people, communities and animal welfare.

4) When our clients specify recycled paper, they receive 10% off the design fees. This year, we have discounted $978.85 for this environmental partnership.

5) We've had 11 new clients this year, in addition to our loyal friends ;-)

. . . and a Look Ahead at 2007

1) DesignarchyNews will have a narrower focus on sustainability issues next year. There are enough resources out there on a number of topics, but very little or hard-to-find information pertaining to print design and industry. There is more than using recycled papers and soy inks—much more. If you use paper, inks and printing *ever* in your work or home, you'll find out why it matters to you and to all of us.

2) Donations to animal organizations might be done differently next year. We might adopt an animal for a whole year instead of spreading the joy.

3) We'd love to continue to provide service hours to Dharma Publishing, Compassionate Cooks and SF ROMP. The Bonobo Initiative is also interested in some help next year.

I Hate Bamboo, I Love Bamboo

Everyone knows that I have unilaterally declared war against my own "Vietnam" in my backyard. I thought I'd hate bamboo forever, but then I saw an online store selling clothes made out of bamboo fibers. Yeah, that's right! It's not the bamboo taking me as a prisoner, torturing me into delirium—I thought it was the craziest idea too, which just meant I had to check it out! I ordered some shirts and undies for me and hubby and I have to say, the fabric is the softest and most comfortable I've ever had. Made out of 70% bamboo fibers and 30% organic cotton, all you want to do at the end of the day is throw that bamboo shirt in the washer so you can wear it again the next day! Bamboo is a sustainable alternative to cotton for a number of reasons: it grows at an incredible speed (really, I just wanna reinforce that...); it pumps more oxygen in the atmosphere than an equivalent stand of trees; it doesn't need pesticides like conventionally grown cotton which is the #1 crop user of insecticides and pesticides; and bamboo groves provide the opportunity to renew themselves eliminating some serious forest management issues associated with even the best practices of paper production.

Anatomy of a Boot

1) Eyelets: recycled metals
2) Tongue + insole: foam seat cushions
3) Lasting board: coffee filters, office file folders, magazines
4) Fabric concoction: 50% hemp, 50% cotton
5) Sole: 40% tire rubber
6) Artificial leather: 20% #1 soda bottles using a water-based process.

Plus: no animal skin, water-based adhesives, employee-friendly factory and reversible shoe box printed with soy inks. And did I forget to mention it is competitively priced and very comfy?

Season's Greetings!

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! I hope everyone gets some rest over the holiday break (sans computer, if possible) and come back refreshed with lots of new resolutions that *really* stick around! Feel free to reply to this newsletter and let me know how you're doing. If I never met you, feel free to write me too and introduce yourself!