corduroy magazine

Recently we were invited by the good folks at Lexus to preview a new eco-luxury suite at the Fairmont Washington DC. With all the talk of “going green” nowadays, the hotel has found a way to appeal to the environmentally-conscious traveler while maintaining a high level of taste and design. The hybrid-living suite was designed by famed eco interior design Kelly LaPlante and promotes sustainability by minimizing the use of natural resources. Linens and coverings are made from organic materials, while select pieces of furniture are sourced from local antique dealers and re-upholstered with a modern flair. All the fixtures in the room utilize compact florescent lightbulbs, which not only last longer, but use less energy in the process.

All natural, biodegradable products were found in the bathroom, while we’re told the mini-bar was stocked with biodynamic wines and organic cheeses (we resisted the urge to crack it open!)

People always seem to think that being “environmentally friendly” means living a bare bones life with few perks and indulgences. But going green doesn’t have to mean sacrificing comfort or style. Lexus and Fairmont are really making the case for “eco-luxury” and we’ve got say, this is something we can really see people getting behind.

We received a package in the mail a few weeks ago from a Montreal-based design firm called TRACT and we immediately fell in love with their products. Founded by Dominique Bouchard, the firm specializes in inventive and original products made entirely out of sustainably-forested paper.

What started as a hobby, has become a way for Bouchard to express herself creatively by tapping into her inner child and creating something that she says, “reinvents the everyday.” From a place mat that can be folded into an origami crane, to a freestanding collapsable vase, TRACT melds functionality with design to re-cast familiar products in a new and exciting light.

We got a chance to visit TRACT’s Montreal office to check out some of their latest creations and to chat with Dominique about her design philosophy.

Corduroy: Tell us how you started TRACT.

Dominique: I started making things just for fun, really just for pleasure, but also to explore new techniques with total freedom. I began making these products as gifts for my clients. They thought they were genius! They told us we needed to sell them, and that’s how TRACT was born.

Everything you make looks so expensive and chic, and yet it’s made entirely out of paper?

I told myself from the beginning that with these projects, I am only going to work with paper. Paper is the most controlled of all materials. It’s recyclable; we know what goes into it. With the advent of certain technologies, paper has taken a backseat, so I wanted to revisit it. Plus, it’s a material I know well.

There is such a visual quality in your products but you say you have trouble classifying the work as “art” in the traditional sense. Can you explain?

I studied graphic design in university and I think of it as applied arts; practical arts. We want to make things that are practical, whereas true art is more personal. 

Are you ever afraid that people will miss the point?

If they don’t see the origami, it doesn’t matter. For me it was just a texture like any other, and we give it meaning. We just wanted to create something playful and functional. If people use it and enjoy it, then we’re happy.

For more information, visit the TRACT website at http://www.contractuelle.ca/tract/e/index_e.html

(with Daniel Barna)