WHERE DOES EMBLA FIND INSPIRATION?
The real answer is…everywhere! Nordic design is as much a state of mind as a place, material or style. Owner Michelle’s recent travels to Norway, Denmark and Iceland provided even more inspiration. Stay tuned for a collection based on her visit to the Vikingskiphuset in Oslo, Norway.
NORDIC DESIGN
The Nordic countries include Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Finland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. The Scandinavian countries refer only to Denmark, Norway and Sweden. These countries share some of the harshest climates in the world due to their northerly locations. The same harshness also allows for unparalleled beauty in unspoiled landscapes and regular access to such wonders of nature as the aurora borealis. Given the Nordic countries’ geographic location where the winter sun can be a very rare and fleeting event, a focus on bringing light and warmth into the home environment is very important.
WHY VINTAGE?
Vintage is the original sustainable practice. By choosing to acquire quality vintage pieces, you can avoid the use of resources to manufacture and ship new products along with the cost of disposing of old pieces. Many of the pieces in Embla Nordic Inspirations Ltd’s Nordic Vintage Collection are hand-poured or hand-crafted glass. Vintage pieces were made at a time when mass-production was not common. The smaller processing runs and involvement of craftspeople in the manufacturing process result in a higher quality of product, particularly in home décor and furniture items. Low-volume manufacturing processes could use higher quality materials and often included custom tinting of glass pieces.
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
Embla Nordic Inspirations Ltd. is focused on sustainable design in its Tilbehor accessories collection which turns vintage wool sweaters and other garments into fashionable, quality pieces that transcend the original garment’s usefulness. This process diverts textiles that would otherwise end up into a landfill or incinerator, saving the energy and the cost of disposing of old pieces,plus avoids the cost and effort of creating new materials. Embla focuses on 100% recycled wool in creating its purses, bags, totes and home décor items such as pillows. Why wool? Wool in and of itself is a sustainable material as it is gathered in a humane way from sheep.
