Published by Vanessa Brunner under Accessories, Designers

I just wanted to write a brief post about a product and design group that definitely deserves some attention.

Grain Design was founded in 2007 at the Rhode Island School of Design, by a group of designers with a simple vision for a sustainable future:

While the firm offers many services for clients, in regards to brand strategy, research, development, and design–it also has started its own shop of sustainable products.

My favorite? The Zero Waste bag.

This bag is the essence of minimalism–and really encompasses how sustainability can be best achieved through simplicity, rather than complexity.

images via graindesign.bigcartel.com

Zero Waste is made from a single sheet of #2 plastic. Its pattern was created so that there is zero cutting waste in the manufacturing process (a huge problem in the fashion industry that we often discuss at GBD).

The bag is machine washable, non-toxic, locally and ethically produced. It can also be recycled at any facility that accepts #2 plastics. For convenience, Grain also offers to recycle it themselves, if you mail it to their main office in Washington.

The designers were also smart enough to put a personal twist on this simply stitched accessory, and include a blue, green, or black non-toxic marker with each bag–allowing you to make it completely your own.

Genius.

Check out Grain’s company site, shopping site, and blog for more information on this great company.