Native Trails Sustainable Sinks
Before reading the following blog, the first thing you need to know is the meaning of “sustainable”. Yep, I went to the dictionary because the only words that came to me was long lasting. Thanks Dictionary.com for helping me find the correct wordage:
sustainable [suh-stey-nuh-buh l] pertaining to a system that maintains its own viability by using techniques that allow for continual reuse
Native Trails was founded in 1996 by an innovative college student, Naomi Neilson Howard. Ms. Howard wanted to utilize sustainable materials to blend contemporary design with age-old traditions. In their 22 year history, Native Trails have partnered with hundreds of artisans from all over the world to create their sinks…true works of art.
Antique Copper
The very first product made were copper bath sinks. Today not only are there bath sinks, but kitchen sinks, prep sinks in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The copper utilized in both bath and kitchen sinks is 100% recycled copper. Taking the knowledge passed down through many generations, Coppersmiths form, hammer and polish each sink. It can take several days with thousands of hammer strikes (by hand) to make the perfect product. Besides the beauty, copper sinks contain antimicrobial properties (great in a kitchen sink!), and easy to clean (hot soapy water, rinse, and dry). Copper is a living finish that will patina with age. What happens if Little Billy squirts ketchup in the sink and doesn’t rinse it out? Within a few days (give or take), the sink will re-patina itself.
Concrete
Four years ago, Native Trails introduced NativeStone. With combining jute (rough fiber made from the stems of a tropical Old World plant…got to love those dictionaries) and concrete, Native Trails produced a strong, durable, and environmentally friendly sink for both bath and kitchen. These sinks are 40% less in weight than a traditional concrete one. Nativestone is coated with a protective sealer making it resistant to scratching and cracking. NativeStone is available in 3 colors: Ash, Slate, and Pearl. Again, easy maintenance…soap and water.
Sustainability seems to be the goal in the production Native Trails’ sinks. Utilization of natural and or recycled material and, YES, long lasting. To quote their Mission, “At Native Trails, we enrich people’s lives and enhance their living spaces by creating inspiring products that combine artisan craftsmanship with natural sustainable materials.”