Getting to return to High Point Market, my first trade show experience since “the before times,” was a distinct thrill last week. The North Carolina-based Market’s hustle and bustle alone was a welcome reminder of how electric the energy of the design world can be. But this Market is especially meaningful for me.
I was thrilled to unveil the Salon de la Circularité, my custom vignette for High Point Market’s Sustainability Stories activation at Center Stage.
My design was inspired by nature, particularly the biodiversity of the ocean world that I witnessed while diving in the Indian ocean this summer. The fluidity in water, textures, colors, and marine life inspired me to capture the physicality and emotions of nature, and foster an indoor connection to the outside environment through the color palette and finishes. Materiality and texture are sensory experiences, not simply visual, and my space was a feast for the senses.
Click here to enjoy a virtual walk-through of the space, and learn about the brands and products featured within.
I invited these brands, including Phillips Collection, Mill Collective, Kymo, and Currey and Co because they prioritize circularity, and use certified healthy materials with standard certification. They have transparency through their affiliations and accreditations such as being part of the Sustainable Furnishings Council (for whom I’m a 2-year ambassador), FSC, OEKO-TEX, SAC, C2C, etc. I know I can trust that they are thorough and committed, and not just “greenwashing” because it’s lucrative and trendy.
The centerpiece of Salon de la Circularité was an exclusive collaboration between Cisco Home, Libeco, and Lenzing to create a unique circular sofa and armchair combination that boasts a near zero-waste completion process.
But the pièce de résistance was my own creation. I am incredibly proud to introduce the Laurence Carr x Nature’s Legacy vessel collection: each unique vessel created from my vision, using Cradle to Cradle certified® materials. Stay tuned for more on the full collection, coming early 2022!
I was delighted to join host Susan Inglis, executive director of the SFC, to present the SFC Green Ribbon Awards panel alongside my fellow ambassadors John Douglas Eason, and Anelle Gandelman. Here, we shared our favorite products based on design, sustainability, and ingenuity, and discussed how we would incorporate these and other earth-friendly pieces into our upcoming projects.
As an advocate for bringing the circular economy in the furnishings industry, I was honored to host The Big Shift: Why Circular Design is the Way of the Future, sharing the expert wisdom of Susan Inglis (SFC), Cisco Pinedo (Cisco Home), Kathryn Richardson (Libeco), and Chad Bolick (Unifi).
And lastly, I am excited to share that we’re in production for season two of EarthXTV’s original series Chez Laurence, for which we filmed several informative and inspiring segments at High Point Market. I can’t share too much just yet, but here’s a quick peek “behind the scenes” of me with Sackett Wood, president of Moore & Giles, visiting the showroom at High Point Market, NC to whet your palate!
It was a whirlwind of design, education, advocacy, networking, and filming and I am so proud of the work Laurence Carr, Inc. produced for and at this year’s event.
Special thanks to all of our brand partners:
Cisco Home – @CiscoHome
Libeco – @Libecohome, @libecobelgianlinen
Lenzing – @Ecovero_global, @tencel_global, @tencel_usa
Phillips Collection – @phillipsco
Currey & Co – @curreyandco
Mill Collective – @millcolllective
Haand – @haandmade
Aspen Golann – @aspen_golann
Ovuud – @ovuud
Farrow & Ball – @farrowandball
Kymo – @kymo_floorwear_official
