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Legendary Organic Cotton Flannel

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Two companies- one east, one west -come together to bring you what we feel to be the coziest side of organic cotton: flannel.

 

Our partnership with Wulfing, a family owned and operated German factory founded in 1885, was no accident. Our design team admired their production of GOTS certified, high quality organic cotton textiles from afar, and seized the opportunity to collaborate for a fall 2013 collection. Though nearly 5,000 miles apart, our design team and Wulfing's skilled weavers worked together to bring you a fabric unlike any other. The new collection combines Coyuchi's classic aesthetic and Wulfing's legendary six-ounce flannel for a look that is livable and softness that is undeniably our coziest, yet. We are in love with each piece -pajamas, robes and sheets- and think you will be, too.   

Above: The Wulfing Staff in Borken, Germany, assembled for the Wulfing’s 125th anniversary in 2010. Currently, the family owned factory has a team of 325.

Above: The creels of yarns arranged and getting ready to be made into warp yarns, which are put onto looms to weave fabrics.

Above: Looms used to weave the flannel. The factory uses industry leading technology for the highest quality weave.

Yarns running from frame rack (above) into the machine making the warp for the looms. The threads running through the machine is called “warp yarns”. The other part of weaving needs are “weft” yarns.

Above: Warp yarns being run through an environmentally friendly potato starched bath to make the yarns strong to withstand pressure in weaving.

 

Above: Large rolls of napped flannel being processed.

Above: Close up of the napping machine, which shows rollers and needles which spin rapidly to open the yarns and create the soft and fluffy feel of the flannel.

Above and below: One of many quality control inspectors analyzing each ream of flannel. The factory holds some of the most strict standards in the textile industry. Read more about what it means to be a GOTS certified factory here.

Organic Cotton Heather Flannel Pajamas- A heathered mix of thick and thin yarns makes the six-ounce flannel exceptionally plush and warm. Styled with a rounded notched collar and patch pocket, the top closes with mother-of-pearl buttons. The pants have drawstring waist and tapered legs finished with a wide attached hem. Each set comes neatly tucked in our cedar-lined wood box, creating an especially thoughtful gift for the holidays. Shop our new Heather Flannel Pajamas, available in men's and women's sizes

Organic Cotton Heather Robe- Six-ounce flannel is woven from a mix of thick and thin yarns for a sublimely soft, plush hand. A kimono collar, and side pockets make this wrap especially cozy. It’s styled for men or women, with double belt-loops so you can adjust the fit. Shop our new Heather Flannel Unisex Robe here.

Organic Cotton Heather Flannel Sheets- As versatile as a solid and loomed of thick and thin yarns organic cotton yarns, our Heather Flannel Sheets are a must for fall and winter. Shop our Heather Flannel Sheet collection here.


Focusing On Less

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Meet Grace Farrell Sheahan: A multi-faceted designer based in Maryland and California with early childhood memories of sculpting with shells found at sea. Her work as an artist can be described as "...an exploration of contrasts-precious and primitive, rough and refined, dainty and dynamic." Grace views jewelry as a tangible narrative that holds memories and elevates daily life by imparting a spirited bravery and beauty to the wearer.

We first came across her e-shop thanks to our Pinterest inspriation board (view it here). To say it was love at first sight is an understatement. With each piece, oohs and ahhs of the materials, the colors, each brought together as if they were created to be one. The juxtaposition of fabric, stone and metal strikes a chord only Grace knows how to tune. Each piece often one-of-a-kind, taking between two to eight hours to complete and shipped in a hand painted cotton canvas pouch. Beneath her mixing, melding and adorning, Grace focuses on designing in accordance with the LESS philosophy: local, ethical, small and sustainable. Holiday wishlist 2013: take us to Graceland. 

What are your favorite mediums to work with?

Textiles, paint, gemstones, and metal.

Where do you feel most connected with nature?

Deep in the woods after it rains or on seaside cliffs watching a fiery sunset slowly meet the horizon.

What inspires you?

Color, street art, ancient artifacts, pottery, plant-life, patterns and textures in nature, and definitely other artists and designers!

Who are some of your favorite designers/artists?

Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Kelly Wearstler, Zandra Rhodes, Ernesto Neto, Kiki Smith, Odilon Redon, Marni, Andy Goldsworthy.

City or country?

A 50/50 bit of both. I value a happy balance of both action and solitude—dense pulsating urbanscapes and soothing green spaces that allow inspiration to unfold.

Which colors do you use most?

Turquoise, sea foam, shell pink, soft peach, cobalt, lavender, black, gold, and bronze.

What do you wish you could do without?

Cell phones and other brain draining/being in the moment blocking gadgetry.

What is your favorite design errand or journey?

I love museum trips and picking out my gemstones---they are so mesmerizing to look at and magical to hold.

If you were reborn as an object, what would it be?

Any of Robert Indiana’s “LOVE” statues. I really dig powerful public art.

What does the term "fast-fashion" mean to you?

A quick fix with questionable and often exploitative origins that will probably be full of holes next month.

 

Favorite design-related words?

Wabi-sabi, asymmetry, and monochromatic.

Which design blog, website, TV show, or magazine would you be lost without?

I love the Wall Street Journal’s style section, Newser, Dezeen, Zenhabits, and The Big Bang Theory for comic relief.

What qualities do you admire in a piece of jewelry?

Craftsmanship with integrity, timelessness, and a piece that feels substantial enough to be armor.

Design rule you like to break?

I always enjoy a good pattern mash-up. Clashing heightens visual enchantment.

Most treasured possession?

My family and friends and the art that they have given me.

 

Visit Graceland Jewelry

How it's made: The Aari Collection

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Crewel Embroidery, or Crewelwork, also known as Aari embroidery, is a decorative form of surface embroidery that traditionally used wool to follow a design outline applied to the fabric. The origin of the word crewel is unknown but is thought to come from an ancient word describing the curl in the staple, the single hair of the wool. The technique dates back over a thousand years.

For fall we combined traditional Crewel with a modern, intricate pattern. We designed it in two of our favorite seasonal colors: festive carmine red and calming royal blue. Crafted of 100% organic cotton and embroidered using a hand-guided machine (see images below), a single duvet takes over sixteen hours to make. Soft to the touch and substantially stylish to the eye, we hope you enjoy what we see as a work of art.

 

Above: Our factory using the hand-guided machine to embroider fabric.

A firm fabric is required to support the weight of the stitching. Special crewel needles with a wide body, large eye and a sharp point are required. The design outlines on paper are pricked with a needle to produce perforations along the lines. Powdered chalk or water-soluble ink is then forced through the holes onto the fabric using a felt pad or stipple brush in order to replicate the design on the material.

 

Kazakh rug chain stitch embroidery, Wikipedia.

Above: Illustration of our North Country Collection. The embroidered frame is placed just slightly over the edges of the bed for a dramatic, sophisticated frame.

 

Above: The North Country Collection, new for Fall.

A Book List for Long Hibernations

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When we aren't living, breathing and bathing in organic cotton, we most certainly enjoy cracking open the spine of a new book; either new to us, or revisiting a favorite title in a new chapter of our own lives. We've collected a list --twenty-one titles to be exact-- of what we are currently reading with one thought in mind: What story will keep us warm through the long winter ahead? Some titles, you may be able to guess who's nightstand it sits on...

Above Photo: Alabama Studio Sewing + Design by Natalie Chanin

 

1. At Home by Bill Bryson- Another great exploration of the things around us from the travel author, humorist, experiential author Bill Bryson as he takes us through a tour of his home outside of London and provides the fascinating history of the everyday objects that fill our home – and the home itself – telling us the story of how they all came to be including why does a fork generally have three prongs, what does it mean to pay for “room and board” and how exactly do you “sleep tight”?

2. Just Kids by Patti Smith- A memoir of a NY artist during the 70’s when NY became a mythical place for all types of artist. A good picture into old school New York!

3. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving – One of John Irving’s best novel. This novel is funny, sad and brilliant in equal measure. Owen—with his strange voice—thinks he’s an instrument of God and has, unfortunately, accidentally killed his best friend’s mother with a baseball. 

4. Because It Is Bitter, and Because It Is My Heart by Joyce Carol Oates – This novel showcases Joyce Carol Oates’ best writing and her ability to stare unflinchingly into humanity’s soul. The lives of a poor white girl named Iris and a black athlete named Verlyn intersect amid a backdrop of racism and violence in the 1960s. 

5. Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh- The story is set prior to the Opium Wars, on the banks of the holy river Ganges and in Calcutta. The author compares the Ganges to the Nile, the lifeline of the Egyptian civilization, attributing the provenance and growth of these civilizations to these selfless, ever-flowing bodies. He portrays the characters as poppy seeds emanating in large numbers from the field to form a sea, where every single seed is uncertain about its future.

6. Into the Forest by Jean Hegland – Two sisters, Nell and Eva, find themselves orphaned and living alone in the forest, struggling to survive the encroaching world.  Set in post- modern society, this story shows the fierce determination and bond of two young women who refuse to surrender to hopelessness.

7. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon – I read this novel to my middle school-aged sons and it has remained one of our favorite books. Christopher Boone, a quirky, autistic 15-year-old boy is accused of killing his neighbor’s poodle and he sets out to find the killer.

8. Wild by Cheryl Strayed –  Cheryl Strayed faces many challenges—both emotional and physical—in her unprepared quest to hike the Pacific Crest Trail after the loss of her mother, a failed marriage and a self-destructive period of heroin use. This inspirational, page-turner demonstrates the determination and generosity of humankind.

9. Night by Elie Wiesel—A very raw and disturbing memoir of Eilie Wiesel’s time at Auschwitz where he lost his entire family.  Despite witnessing the humiliation and horror that these human beings endured and observed, we glimpse the incredible strength of the human spirit.

10. Before They Pass Away by Jimmy Nelson- Photographer Jimmy Nelson uses a 50-year old techincal plate camera to get exceptionally large negatives that feel surreal, overley detailed like a magnifine glass built into the thick, glossy pages. Before They Pass Away is a homage to the world's most indiguous trides and a reminder of the harmony between man and nature that once was. Worth the price, but another option is to visit the interactive and informative website, http://www.beforethey.com/.

11. Yosemite by Glen Denny- Photographer and filmmaker Glen Denny was among a small group of committed climbers who dropped out of the mainstream of work and society to take up residence at Camp 4 in the 1960s. He captured his fellow climbers' personalities and parties, aspirations and preparations, loves and dreams in black-and-white photographs. This majestic visual record of Yosemite in the 60s includes a foreword by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia.

12. Amsterdam by Ian McEwen- Former lovers of recently deceased Molly Lane, Vernon Halliday and Clive Linley, enter into a euthanasia accord. Each man, undone by ego and faltering morals, launches into a fatal game of revenge. 

13. The Tortilla Curtain by TC Boyle —The lives of a wealthy Southern California couple are juxtaposed with the lives of two illegal immigrants from Mexico.  Readers will find compassion and understanding for each couple’s struggles. This is a story that questions the prejudices and assumptions of humanity.

14. Where’d You go, Bernadette by Maria Semple- An enjoyable story told through multiple viewpoints using letters, emails, student and patient reports.  The emails (rants) between Bernadette and a virtual assistant in India she has hired to help her plan a much-dreaded family trip to Antarctica, including finding a doctor to prescribe and a pharmacy to deliver an anti-psychotic RX, are fresh and often veer off into hilarious territory.

15. Seven Types of Ambiguity by Elliot Perlman - I loved the writing in Elliot Perlman's Seven Types of Ambiguity and the unique structure of the novel. Each of the seven narrators are distinct and complicated, deeply flawed yet so interesting and entertaining.

16. Sustainable Fashion & Textiles by Kate Fletcher- Innovative ways of thinking about textiles and garments based on sustainability values and an interconnected approach to design. Arranged in two sections, the first four chapters represent key stages of the lifecycle: material cultivation/extraction, production, use and disposal. The remaining four chapters explore design approaches for altering the scale and nature of consumption, including service design, localism, speed and user involvement.

17. The Responsible Company by Yvon Chouinard and Vincent Stanley-  Yvon Chouinard, founder and owner of Patagonia, and Vincent Stanley, co-editor of its Footprint Chronicles, draw on the their 40 years' experience at Patagonia – and knowledge of current efforts by other companies – to articulate the elements of responsible business for our time. If you read Let My People Go Surfing, this is a must.

18. A Fine Balance by Robinton Mistry – Even when you think the lives of the four characters can’t get worse, they do.  Set in India in the 1970’s during the government imposed sterilization, this story of these unlikely friends and their struggles will get under your skin and not let go. 

19. Alabama Studio Sewing + Design by Natalie Chanin An invaluable reference for any woman who has dreamed of creating her own gorgeous handmade wardrobe. In this follow-up to Alabama Stitch Book and Alabama Studio Style, author Natalie Chanin presents all of the stenciling, hand-stitching, and bead¬ing techniques her company uses to create the award-winning Alabama Chanin line of organic cotton clothing, plus more than 50 variations that lead to infinite design possibilities.

20. And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled HosseiniAn unforgettable novel about finding a lost piece of yourself in someone else.

21. A Dual Inheritance by Joanna Hershon- For readers of Rules of Civility and The Marriage Plot, an engrossing novel of passion, friendship, betrayal, and class—and their reverberations across generations.

 

Have a favorite winter read? Please share!

New Year

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It's often said that the only constant in nature is change.
Season to season, year to year, the world spins through ever-shifting cycles
as it whirls around the sun. So nature has a lot to teach us about adapting,
evolving and thriving through change, and we are eager students.
 
This year at Coyuchi, we've grown like never before.
GOTS certification has acknowledged and deepened our commitment to
earth-friendly practices. New partnerships with some of the world's best
manufacturers have allowed our design inspirations to sprout and bloom.
And customer feedback and terrific press mentions let us know
we're moving in the right direction.
 
But, like nature, we aren't about to stand still now.
The new year will bring more inspiration, more growth and more evolution,
including exciting new product categories we can't wait to tell you all about.
 
Of course, we'll continue to create unique products for bed, bath and baby,
made from natural fibers and infused with nature's beauty.
That's something we can promise will never change. 

Clean Air Plants

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The modern houseplant: No longer an underwhelming rubber plant that takes a part time job to keep alive. Here’s five species that will not only add a natural touch to any room in the house, but will work for you, 24 hours a day, 4 seasons a year, sparing your household's air.

How does a plant improve indoor air quality? Plants are natural air filters producing CO2 and clearing the air of harmful toxins such as volatile organic compounds (found in modern building supplies and furnishings), combustion compounds, and asthma triggers such as mold, dust mites, dander and pollen. Their leaves, roots and stems all take part in filtration. 

No room for indoor pots? Plants are very accomodating. Try out the corner on a desk, the center of a coffee table, window sill or book shelf. Vertical gardens are another way to go about creating gardening space. We love the Hanging Planter by K+R for a ceiling option.

 

Spider Plant – try it if you weren’t blessed with a “green” thumb

 

Image source: plantshavefeelings.blogspot.com

Even if you tend to neglect houseplants, you’ll have a hard time killing this resilient plant. With lots of rich foliage and tiny white flowers, the spider plant battles benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene, a solvent used in the leather, rubber and printing industries.

Snake Plant – try it if you never thought to garden in the bathroom

 

Image source: Wikipedia

Also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, this plant is one of the best for filtering out formaldehyde, which is common in cleaning products, toilet paper, tissues and personal care products. Put one in your bathroom — it’ll thrive with low light and steamy humid conditions while helping filter out air pollutants.

Weeping Fig – try it if you are more advanced or want a growing statement piece

 

A ficus in your living room can help filter out pollutants that typically accompany carpeting and furniture such as formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene. Caring for a ficus can be tricky, but once you get the watering and light conditions right, they will last a long time.

Bamboo palm – try one in the living room

Image source: wkfplants.com

Also known as the reed palm, this small palm thrives in shady indoor spaces and often produces flowers and small berries. It tops the list of plants best for filtering out both benzene and trichloroethylene. They’re also a good choice for placing around furniture that could be off-gassing formaldehyde.

 

Aloe – try it in the kitchen; repot it as a house-warming gift

 

This easy-to-grow, sun-loving succulent helps clear formaldehyde and benzene, which can be a byproduct of chemical-based cleaners, paints and more. Aloe is a smart choice for a sunny kitchen window. Beyond its air-clearing abilities, the gel inside an aloe plant can help heal cuts and burns.

8 Steps Towards A Greener Bedroom

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The bedroom: morning's first encounters, the place we retreat at day's end, the four walls that we trust to recharge our souls and rejuvenate our minds. We at Coyuchi believe the bedroom is a sanctuary. It reflects who we are, what we value, and houses our unique resting needs. An important part of this room is incorporating as much organic product as possible and limiting exposure to less-natural objects (we would rather count sheep then count harmful synthetics). Here is a list of 8 steps towards creating a more organic space. 

1. Upgrade Your Bedding Inserts- 

Before filling our organic inserts, our down is treated with steam twice to kill bacteria and gently washed with a fragrance-free, non-toxic soap to remove bacteria that is incidental to feathers and down. Next, a water-based, non-toxic chemical is used to reduce the static charge that is associated with natural filling. Coyuchi’s duvets are unique with box stitching to keep the fill evenly distributed. Plus, all of our down duvets and pillow inserts are made in the U.S.A.- Michigan to be exact.

 2. Toss out the conventional carpet or rug - Scattered rugs are easier to wash.

3. Reevaluate your energy consumption- Use compact fluorescent lamps. You can lower your lighting bill by converting to energy-efficient low-wattage compact fluorescent lighting and fixtures.

Photo: Lauren Geremia Design

4. Look For Low VOC Paints- VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are solvents that get released into the air as the paint dries. VOCs can cause acute symptoms, including headaches and dizziness. Today low VOC paints come in a variety of great colors. Even better, a great alternative to paint  is natural plaster (a brand we like is American Clay). Their website is also an excellent resource for application tutorials and finding local classes.

5. Go Organic Sheeting (and prepare to never go back)

Our sheets are made of 100% organic cotton and we use only natural fibers, all of which are produced using a nontoxic production process certified to either the OEKO-TEX standard or the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). This means we use none of the toxic dyes, bleaches or finishes used to make conventional textiles. We believe that fibers are best for us when kept closest to their natural state, and sheeting is one of the most important fibers we encounter.

6. Cleanse The Decor 

It's okay to constantly be spring cleaning. Removing unwanted clutter and exccessive objects helps light and air flow more freely. Sometimes the only thing a wall needs is the right shadow play and a small bud vase. If you aren't using it on a weekly basis--golden rule--upcycle or recycle it.

Photo: Axel Vervoordt

7.  Get an Air Purifier- HEPA filtration units remove 99% of all particles the size of 3 microns or larger. This is beneficial for asthma and allergy sufferers, because the HEPA filter traps the fine particles (such as pollen and dust mites) which trigger allergy and asthma symptoms.

8. Let in the light- Draperies and shades commonly have chemical treatments. Swap them out for untreated wood blinds or window treatments made with organic fibers.  To make your window coverings energy efficient, be sure to install shade facing south and/or west to block summer light. In winter, open shades on sunny days to help warm rooms.

Buying Bedding Basics

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How to Choose A Duvet

If you live in an area that experiences four seasons, we recommend having a winter weight duvet insert and a lightweight duvet insert. There is a significant difference between the two, and switching them out seasonally will help you sleep comfortably. Our lightweight duvet offers excellent temperature control. We recommend using it spring through fall, and paired with a blanket for winter. Our winter weight is ideal for homes that undergo longer hibernation and cold climates, or for those that like to sleep toasty.

A tip on sizing: If you are purchasing an insert for a queen size bed, for a fuller, loftier duvet, size up. We recommend a king insert for queen duvets.

How to choose pillows

For full and queen size beds, we recommend 2 standard shams for sleeping. Adding 2 additional euro shams or 2 standard shams gives you a decorating option. For king size beds, we recommend 2 king size shams, 3 standard shams or 3 euro shams.

Tip from our product team: By putting a pillow protector on your sleeping pillow, you will save trips to the dry cleaner and extend the life of your insert.

Why Use A Mattress Protector?

We recommend a mattress protector for an organic foundation to your bed. Our mattress protector is made of 100% organic cotton, 13 oz. flannel from a family-owned German mill founded in 1867. Thick, absorbent flannel protects the mattress without a lot of extra layers and batting. It is designed to be the most natural cover with minimal processing and treatment, our protector is natural in color because it is un-dyed, perfect for even our most sensitive customers. A unique construction of flannel on top and sides with elastic on all sides for a secure fit on the mattress.

Using A Bed Skirt

Bed skirts are a great solution in small spaces for under bed storage. They are also a great solution to covering legs with a headboard. We offer two different styles of bed skirts: The Relaxed Linen bed skirt, for a casual and natural finish, and the Sateen bed skirt, for a sophisticated and classic touch.

How our comforters are made

 

 

 All of our down duvets and pillow inserts are made in the U.S.A. The pure and comforting feathers that fill each of our 100% organic cotton shells travel a whopping one hundred miles down the road from Indiana where they are gathered on a small duck farm.

Coyuchi's duvet insert features end-to-end box stitch construction so that they are stitched closed to prevent shifting of the fill material. Our duvet inserts are stitched edge-to-edge and are finished using double-needle stitching and cording for enhanced durability.

Before filling the inserts, the down is treated with steam twice to kill bacteria and gently washed with a fragrance-free, non-toxic soap to remove bacteria that is incidental to feathers and down. Next, a water-based, non-toxic chemical is used to reduce the static charge that is associated with natural filling. Both the winter weight and lightweight duvets have a 600-fill power for a cozy and comforting sleep.

 

 

 

How our Feather/Down Pillows are made

Our sleeping pillows have a tri-chambered compartmented construction that provides three unique internal chambers for housing the fill material. Our fill is an 80% feather/20% down mix that lends medium-firm support, while the top and bottom edges are filled with soft, pure down. The illustration above shows this unique three-chambered construction. Each of our plump down pillows is encased in a down-proof organic cotton shell to keep feathers from escaping. Like our duvets, the quality and sourcing of the materials is minimal to the earth and vastly beneficial to you, the sound sleeper. 

For tips on how to care for your down inserts, click here.

 


7 Tips For An Organic Bath

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1. Skip The Vinyl Shower Curtain

Conventional shower curtains have volatile organic compounds in them. Breathe easier with sustainable options that don’t require a liner, just toss them in the wash for easy care. We recommend our certified organic cotton shower curtains, made of 100% GOTS certified organic cotton. Another favorite is our versatile Linen Breeze shower curtain, made from Belgium linen grown without toxic pesticides. 

2. Save Water While You Brush

Save up to 3,000 gallons of water a year by simply turning off the tap while brushing your teeth. Or brush your teeth in the shower. An average bath swallows 30 to 50 gallons of water, while a 4-minute shower uses only 20 gallons. 

3. Dry Off With Organic Linens

We believe it’s especially important to choose towels of organic materials, which are free of lingering pesticides that can harm your health (not to mention, harm the earth). We currently offer three unique towel collections that we love to mix and match to create a look special to our home spa.

 

The Air Weight Towel Collection is twill woven for softness and drape, these medium-weight towels (550 grams per square meter) wash easily and dry quickly.

Our Mediterranean Towel Collection is a traditional lightweight turkish towel with a high/low weave for excellent absorption. It is woven from yarn dyed organic cotton and edged in hand-knotted fringe.

The Sumptuous Towel Collection is jacquard woven with wide ribs on one side and a soft grid on the other and finished on either end with a wide band of dyed-to-match linen.

4. Get Clean Naturally

Most soaps, shampoos, and conditioners on the market contain added chemicals to increase lather known as sulfates. Short for sodium lauryl sulfate (and related chemicals), sulfates can strip natural oils from hair and scalp, leaving you with frizz and an itchy scalp, and they’ve also been linked to allergies. Lather up with sulfate-free products made with organic essential oils. A line we recommend is John Masters Organics which only carries sulfate-free products and smell amazing.
 

5. DIY- Salt Scrub

This scrub is heavenily, leaving your skin silky smooth without drying it out. No time to do-it-yourself? We love Fig + Yarrow's apothecary assortment found here.

Lemon and Thyme Salt Scrub

Ingredients:

1 cup kosher salt

1/2 cup pure organic almond oil

the zest of one lemon

2 teaspoons fresh thyme, leaves stripped from the stems

Directions:

Pour the salt into a clean, sterilized container with a tight-fitting lid.

If you're using plain salt, add the lemon zest and thyme.

Pour the almond oil over top and screw the lid on tightly.

To use, just give the jar a stir to mix the oil and salt together, and scrub away in the shower!

The scrub will keep for up to 6 months stored in an airtight container at room temperature. 

6. Fixture Update

Your bathroom is the biggest water hog in your house, accounting for half of all H20 used inside of a home. Protect this precious resource by seeking out faucets, showers, and toilets that carry the Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense label. These environmentally friendly fixtures use about 20 percent less water than average to help you save 7,000 gallons of water annually (enough to wash 6 months’ worth of laundry). 

7. DIY- Bath Cleaner

To make a creamy scrub for cleaning the tub and surrounding tile, mix together 1 2/3-cup baking soda and 1/2-cup castile soap. Add in 1/2-cup water, followed by 2 tablespoons of white vinegar. Pour the mixture into a clean bottle. Shake well and squeeze out onto the tub. Scrub with a sponge or cloth before rinsing with water.



February Recipes

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Some of our favorite seasonal and tasty recipes that say 'I love you.'


Image by Vegetarian Times


Fried Sunchoke Chips with Rosemary Salt

For an easy side dish or appetizer that allows you to get back to entertaining.

You will need:

2 pounds unpeeled sunchokes (also called Jerusalem artichokes), scrubbed

Vegetable oil (for frying)

1 tablespoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary

 

1. Fill large bowl with cold water. Slice sunchokes into thin rounds (about 1/16 inch thick), immediately dropping into bowl of water to prevent browning. Rinse and drain 3 times. Pat very dry with paper towels.

2. Pour enough oil into large deep skillet to reach depth of 1/2 inch. Submerge bulb of deep-fry thermometer into oil; lean top of thermometer against skillet rim. Heat oil to 375°F. Mix 1 tablespoon salt and rosemary in small bowl. Using fingertips, blend well, rubbing salt and rosemary together.

3. Working in batches, fry sunchoke slices until golden brown, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes. Using skimmer, transfer chips to paper towels to drain. Sprinkle chips with some rosemary salt.

4. Mound chips in bowl and serve.


Image by EatLiveRun 

Favorite Salad

Titled after being requested as the favorite salad in many households, this dish holds the key to a kale lover's heart. Note: those that do not typically love brussel sprouts or dark leafy greens, tend to fall in love.

You will need:

2 heads of leafy kale (doing a mix of purple and green gives great color)

1 pound brussel sprouts

1 medium shallot

1/2 cup raw almonds, chopped

2 tbsp Bragg's Liquid Aminos (soy sauce can be substitued here)

1 tbsp apple cider vinigar 

2 lemons

1/2 grated pecorino cheese

4 tbsp honey mustard

4 tbsp olive oil

2 tsp salt

4 tsp black pepper

1. Thinly slice brussel sprouts, or use kitchen aid to shred (should have consitency of a slaw). Place into large serving bowl.

2. Remove kale leafs from spine. Tear into 1 inch pieces. Place into bowl with brussel sprouts.

3. Whisk together juice of lemons, honey mustard, olive oil, apple cider vinager, salt and black pepper.

4. Mince shallot and place into dressing. Let sit for 5 minutes.

5. Pour dressing over brussel sprouts and kale. Important: Massage dressing with greens for 5 minutes. By using your hands to work in the oil and seasonings, the toughness of the kale is broken down.

6. Place 1 tbsp olive oil in pan and heat. When hot, toast almonds. Turn heat off once the almonds begin to brown.

7. Remove almonds from heat. While in skillet, drizzle liquid aminos over the nuts.

8. Combine nuts, salad and pecorino in large bowl and serve. Other added toppings: Crisp black pepper bacon




 
 
Photo by Hircheimer and Hamilton


Caramel Chicken

Sounds sweet but has great acidity: a delicous main for any meat lover.

You will need:

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2½ pounds skin-on, bone-in chicken legs and thighs

Kosher salt

8 garlic cloves, peeled

⅓ cup (packed) light brown sugar

¼ cup (or more) unseasoned rice vinegar

2 slices ¼"-thick slices peeled ginger

1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

¼ cup reduced-sodium soy sauce

2 scallions, thinly sliced

Rice (for serving)

1. Heat oil in a large wide heavy pot over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and, working in 2 batches, cook until golden brown and crisp, 6–8 minutes per side; transfer to a plate. Add garlic to pot and cook, stirring often, until golden, about 2 minutes; transfer to plate with chicken. Pour off fat from pot.

2. Return pot to medium-high heat and add ½ cup water, scraping up browned bits. Add brown sugar; stir to dissolve, then cook, stirring, until mixture thickens and turns a deep amber color, about 4 minutes. Carefully add vinegar (it may bubble up; sugar will crystallize); stir to dissolve sugar.

3. Add ginger, broth, and soy sauce, then add chicken, skin side up, and garlic. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer gently until chicken is cooked through, 20–25 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate.

4. Bring cooking liquid to a boil and cook until thick enough to coat a spoon, about 10 minutes. Return chicken to pot; turn to coat. Top with scallions and serve with rice.


 

Photograph by Todd Coleman


Classic Pork Gyoza

Margot on our product team swears by this recipe. It may look intense but she promises it's easy and fun to get creative with the fillings.

 You will need:

3 cups trimmed and finely chopped green cabbage (about 8 ounces)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cups nira (Japanese green garlic chives), bottom 2 inches trimmed to remove the hard stem, and finely chopped (about 1/3 pound)

1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic (about 2 cloves)

1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger (about 1 ounce ginger, peeled)

2/3 pound ground pork

2 teaspoons soy sauce

4 tablespoons toasted sesame oil

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons sugar

2 tablespoons katakuriko (potato starch), plus extra for dusting

50 round gyoza skins, 3 to 4 inches in diameter

1 tablespoon katakuriko (potato starch) mixed with 3 tablespoons warm water

Soy sauce

Japanese rice vinegar

Rayu

2/3 cup water

1. To prepare the filling, add the cabbage and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a large bowl and thoroughly mix together. Let the cabbage sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. When it’s ready, transfer the cabbage to a clean kitchen towel or large cheesecloth. 

2. Roll up the cloth and wring out the liquid in the cabbage, like you’re wringing dry a wet towel. This is a key step so the gyoza doesn’t become watery. 

3. Wring out as much liquid from the cabbage as possible. Do this in batches if it’s easier.Add the wrung-out cabbage, nira, garlic, ginger, pork, soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of the sesame oil, black pepper, salt, sugar, and katakuriko to a large bowl. 

4. Use your hands to mix the ingredients together for about 2 minutes. 

5. Mash and mush the mixture together, squeezing it through your fingers, so it turns into a sticky filling that will hold together when you spoon it into a dumpling skin.

6. To make the dumplings, prepare a tray by lightly dusting it with katakuriko. Place a gyoza skin in the palm of one hand with the floured side down. (The skins are sold with one side floured.) Dip a finger in the katakuriko mixed with warm water and wet the entire edge of the skin. This water-starch mixture is the “glue” that will hold the skin closed. Add about 1 tablespoon of the filling to the center of the skin. Use the index fingers and thumbs of both hands to fold the skin and pinch it together. 

7. Place the completed gyoza on the tray, fold side up. Repeat until you’ve used up all the filling.

8. To prepare the dipping sauce, combine the soy sauce, vinegar, and rayu. A classic proportion is 4 parts soy sauce to 2 parts vinegar to 1 part rayu. Adjust to your own taste. Pour the dipping sauce into individual small bowls and set aside.

9. To cook the gyoza, preheat a nonstick pan or cast-iron skillet over high heat for about 5 minutes. (We like to use a 12-inch-diameter skillet with a cover to prepare gyoza.)

10. When the skillet is hot, add 1 table-spoon of the sesame oil, making sure the entire surface is coated (you can use a wadded-up paper towel to carefully spread the oil). Begin adding the gyoza, one at a time, in neat rows, with the seam side up. A 12-inch skillet will hold about 20 gyoza.

11. Once all the gyoza are added, fry them for about 10 seconds. Now quickly pour in the water over the gyoza and cover the skillet tightly. Cook over high heat for about 4 minutes. 

12. Uncover the skillet; there should be little or no water remaining. Cook for 1 minute more. Drizzle the remaining 1 tablespoon sesame oil over the gyoza and cook for an additional 1 minute, for about 6 minutes total cooking time. The gyoza should look glossy with the skins cooked through. 

13. Turn off the heat and use a thin fish spatula to transfer the gyoza to a serving plate, this time with the seam side down (you want to show off the beautifully crispy, browned bottoms of the dumplings). 

14. Serve the dumplings steaming hot, with the dipping sauce on the side. Dip in the sauce to eat.Turn off the heat and use a thin fish spatula to transfer the gyoza to a serving plate, this time with the seam side down (you want to show off the beautifully crispy, browned bottoms of the dumplings). 


 

Photo by Ditte Isager


Plum and Mascarpone Pie

Sweet and slightly creamy, this pie is the perfect closure to a meal.

You will need:

1 pie crust, homemade or store-bought (click for homemade crust recipe)

4-5 pounds firm ripe plums (20–25 plums), halved, pitted (with skin)

1 1/2 cups plus 2 Tbsp. sugar

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise

8 ounces mascarpone

1/3 cup crème fraîche

2 tablespoons honey

Whipped cream

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line pie dish with crust; crimp edges. Fully bake pie crust according to recipe or box instructions.

2. Place plums in a large bowl; add 1 1/2 cups sugar and lemon juice. Scrape in seeds from half of vanilla bean; toss to coat. Divide plum mixture between two 13x9x2" glass baking dishes, arranging plums cut side down and overlapping slightly. Roast until juices are bubbling and slightly thickened and plums are tender but not falling apart, 40–60 minutes (cooking time will depend on ripeness of plums). Let cool slightly.

3. Using a slotted spatula, transfer plums to a rimmed baking sheet. Cover loosely with plastic wrap; chill. Pour juices in baking dishes into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer until thickened and reduced to a scant 1/2 cup, 4–5 minutes; set glaze aside.

4. Combine remaining 2 Tbsp. sugar, mascarpone, crème fraîche, and honey in a medium bowl. Scrape in seeds from remaining half vanilla bean. Using an electric mixer, beat on high speed until mixture holds firm peaks (do not overbeat or mascarpone may curdle). DO AHEAD: Plums, glaze, and mascarpone cream can be made 1 day ahead. Cover separately and chill.

5. Spread mascarpone cream evenly over bottom of crust. Arrange some chilled plum halves tightly (but not overlapping) in a single layer over mascarpone mixture. Starting at edges of pie crust, arrange remaining plum halves on top of base layer, overlapping tightly and forming a spiral to cover. Pie should dome slightly in the center.

6. Using a pastry brush, spread some of glaze over plums (if glaze has firmed up, gently reheat, adding 1 Tbsp. water and whisking to blend).

7. Cut pie into slices. Top with whipped cream and drizzle with more plum syrup.

Spring 2014

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For our spring 14 photo shoot, we ventured to St. Helena, California, a quaint town along the rolling golden hills of Napa County. Here in this northern California region, you are surrounded by world renowned vinyards and organic farmers. A short drive from the city feels like you hopped on a plane and landed in Tuscany. The cobblestone home that served as the canvas for our spring collection is hidden by a long driveway of olive trees and crawling vines. A garden graces the outdoor living space and an open air atrium entrance welcomes you. After a nine hour shoot, we felt it was only necessary to set the table for ourselves and dine under the stars. We hope you enjoy this behind the scenes look at the making of spring, including the launch of our first table linen collection. Cheers!

How it's made: Felted Wool

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What is felt?

Felt is a non-woven textile that is produced by matting, condensing and pressing fibers together. Our felt is made of 100% raw sheep wool from Nepal. We choose to use undyed, natural wool to get slight color variation in the finished product.

Photo Above: Raw, uncarded wool.

How felt is made:

It all starts with wool roving: carded lengths of wool are separated into small tufts and layered together. Next, warm soapy water is applied to layers at ninety-degree angles to one another. Repeated agitation and compression causes the fibers to hook together into a single piece of fabric.

Photo below: Workers in the pressing department soap the raw wool.

Once the fibers interlock, the furling process starts. To get the strong properties of felt, the craftsman must roll and press the felt. This process takes skill that is handed down from generation to generation in Nepal. With this agitation process, the fibers become locked tightly to achieve the toughness for which felt is known.

Only certain types of fiber can be felted successfully. Most types of animal fleece, such as that taken from alpaca or Merino sheep, can be put through the wet felting process. These types of fiber are covered in tiny scales, similar to the scales found on a strand of human hair. Wetting and soaping the fleece causes the scales to open, while agitating them causes them to latch onto each other, creating felt. Plant fibers and synthetic fibers will not felt.

Photo above: Nepal workers that craft our felted wool products.

Felting dates back 6000 years. Many cultures have legends as to the origins of feltmaking. Sumerian legend claims that the secret of feltmaking was discovered by Urnamman of Lagash. The story of Saint Clement and Saint Christopher relates that while fleeing from persecution, the men packed their sandals with wool to prevent blisters. At the end of their journey, the movement and sweat had turned the wool into felt socks.

Because wool is naturally water and stain resistent, we find it fitting for the table. We love the visual qualities of raw wool and let the natural fibers shine. A simple blanket stitch is applied around the edges and woven vertically to give a finished, sophisticated finish to our hand crafted pieces.

Above: Coyuchi Stitched Felt Place Mat

Below: Coyuchi Stitched Felt Place Mat mixed with the Grand Lace Napkin and Abstract Embroidered Voile Table Runner.

Orchid: The Color of Spring

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A long winter it has been, some of us still two feet under winter's snow, patiently awaiting a glow, a thaw, a spring. The good news? Our spring collection has arrived, and it's filled to the brim with rich colors that reflect the first bloom of latter spring.

Bright color energizes a room, invites guests in, and refreshes a space with minimal effort. This season we are pleased to introduce our new favorite color (also called the color of the season): Orchid. 

Orchid is adaptable and complementary, sprucing up home decor with its eye-catching hue. The vibrant color livens up neutrals including gray, taupe and ivory. See it front and center in our Simple Stitch Chambray table linens and bedding, or add just a splash of it in our Moon Drops Pillow. Uplifting, bold, elusive, exotic, our orchid collections are simply lovely. 

Want more orchid inspiration? View our pinterest board.

How it's made: The Multi Stripe Towel

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In Turkey, the bath is more than a quick daily routine. It’s an elaborate ritual of relaxation and cleansing with centuries of history. And unlike the hurried morning showers we take in our Western-world homes, it takes place socially, in a large public spaces called hamams, beneath spectacular vaulted ceilings and surrounded by intricate tilework.

Given the importance of bathing in the culture, it’s not surprising that Turkish towels have a rich history, too, along with a reputation for being the best in the world.

Our Multi Stripe Towel is hand woven in Turkey, on a traditional shuttle loom called a karatezgah. Organic cotton warp yarns are threaded through the loom and attached to harnesses controlled by foot treadles. This allows the weaver to raise and lower alternating warp threads, creating a space between them, called the shed. The shuttle, an eye-shaped spool wrapped with yarn, is thrown back and forth, over and over, drawing the weft yarns through the shed as the warp yarns are raised and lowered. Inch by inch a design emerges.

Multiple towels are cut from the wide bolt of fabric that’s created. Then each one is hemmed along the sides and finished at the ends with hand-knotted fringe. A single Coyuchi Multi Stripe Towel takes approximately an hour to make.

The result of all this time, skill and care is an organic cotton towel that’s absorbent yet artful, hardworking yet beautiful – a towel that’s worthy of centuries of bathing tradition.

Yarn Dye

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The basics of yarn dye

 

Yarn dye is a process that begins before the fabric. Each yarn is dyed in batches to a specific color. In our Refined Check Sheets, these colors are Mustard, Orchid and Mid Dusty Aqua. After the yarns are dyed, they are woven. They dye the yarn (usually different colors) before they weave it, as opposed to dying the whole fabric after weaving, or screenprinting as another way to achieve a patten on the fabric.  

How a pattern is created

To get a check, we use a plain weave. You can get much more complicated patterns with special looms/weaves like Dobby and jacquard. Another way to work with dyed yarns is to put one color in the warp and another in the weft, which results in an oxford, chambray or "chambray effect" cross weave.

Our Simple Stitch is an example of this (above). The yards of fabric are always either a stripe--yard in one direction, or plaid--yard in both directions. Our Refined Check is an example of plaid (below).

 

Benefits of yarn dye 

A big difference you may notice in our Refined Check sheet is the pattern is woven right into the fabric so it will appear the same on front and back, and remain the same wash after wash. This is different from a printed sheeting, because the print sits on the surface of the front, so what you see on the back is just bleed through from the front and not the complete print. Prints tend to shift over time in the wash. Yarn dye typically signifies a higher quality and the fabric will look like new longer. 


How it’s made: Rippled Stripe

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At Coyuchi we love quiet details that delight. Serenely simple-looking designs that are amazingly complex up close. Basics that are anything but basic. Case in point: our Rippled Stripe Duvet. Whether in original ivory and black or the new pewter and mustard, its airy pattern suits any season and works brilliantly with pretty much everything in our assortment (and probably in your linen closet, too).

But look closer, and you’ll see that each stripe is woven with extraordinary texture and detail – the thin bands are chains of droplets, and the wider ones form nested ovals, like watery ripples or waves of sound. That remarkably intricate pattern is created by a dobby loom. Invented in the mid-1800s, the dobby loom hasn’t changed much in more than a century and a half. Sure, many of today’s looms are computer controlled and driven by electricity—rather than by the weaver assisted by a draw-boy (from whom the loom got its name), but the basic technology is essentially the same.

On a dobby loom, each warp yarn is threaded through a heddle (a guide wire with a loop) that attaches to a harness. As the harnesses are raised or lowered (whether by foot power or electric motor), the warp threads are, too, creating a space between them for the weft thread to pass through on the shuttle. The dobby head selects the order in which different harnesses will be raised and lowered, to create the desired woven pattern. While a standard treadle loom generally has four harnesses, a dobby loom can have as many as 24, so it has the ability to weave far more complex designs.

Photo Above: Wikipedia

Which brings us back to the Rippled Stripe Duvet. Using a computerized dobby loom, we’re able to create a pattern filled with great texture and fine detail from just four harnesses and three colors of organic cotton yarn. That’s what gives Rippled Stripe its unique combination of effortless versatility and up-close intrigue.

Spring Rituals

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Farmer's Market Find

Not sure what recipe book to crack open after a long winter of squash stew? Rely on your local farmer's market for inspiration. Sometimes going with no plan in mind evokes the greatest meals. For organic farming and sourcing ingredients locally, work with what is in season. One of our favorite spring items on the menu: artichokes. A tip for buying the best artichokes: look for large artichokes that are fully closed (leaves are not open). Quick and easy recipe below.

Easy Floral

Even a few blooms can steal the show when surrounded by table linens in the same colorway. Pair Queen Anne's Lace white and pale green petals with natural linen and a white runner. For an easy, modern look, put stems in glass tubes in the center of your table. For more color, cut stems of lilac or hydrangea and pair with our favorite orchid table linens such as Drifting Stripe Table Runner and Simple Stitch Chambray Tablecloth.

Colors That Say Spring

Give your table a fresh look with layers of sunflower, orchid, and natural linen. We love to mix neutrals such as charcoal and gray with pops of yellow. For a more neutral look that lets your table shine through, lay down our Open Crochet Table Runner for a rustic centerpiece.

Simple Artichokes - serves 4 

Clean and cut artichokes to preference. Place 4 artichokes in salted boiling water. Steam for 30 minutes. Rotate in pot, drizzle the juice of one lemon evenly over artichokes. Steam for additional 15 minutes. Remove from water and let cool. Serve cool with dip.

Mix together the following ingredients for a refreshing dip:

1/2 cup mayo 

2 cloves roasted garlic

1 tbsp ground black pepper

1 tsp sea salt

- Can be made ahead of time and refrigerated 

There's something about Mary Oliver's work that encourages the grounds to bloom, the rain to subside, and the geese to fly north. Here is one of our favorites, correctly titled "Spring." 

Spring

by Mary Oliver

Somewhere
a black bear
has just risen from sleep
and is staring

down the mountain.
All night
in the brisk and shallow restlessness
of early spring

I think of her,
her four black fists
flicking the gravel,
her tongue

like a red fire
touching the grass,
the cold water.
There is only one question:

how to love this world.
I think of her
rising
like a black and leafy ledge

to sharpen her claws against
the silence
of the trees.
Whatever else

my life is
with its poems
and its music
and its glass cities,

it is also this dazzling darkness
coming
down the mountain,
breathing and tasting;

all day I think of her -—
her white teeth,
her wordlessness,
her perfect love.

How it's made: Seersucker

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After an especially tenacious winter, spring is finally in the air, and that means sultry summer nights are on the way. We thought this seemed like a good time for a look at one of our favorite warm-weather fabrics: seersucker.

A light, soft, woven cotton, seersucker is defined by puckered stripes that hold the fabric away from the skin, creating pockets of air that help to keep you cool. That airy feel, along with great texture and style, has made this fabric a summer classic for everything from sundresses and shorts to suits for centuries.

To create seersucker's signature stripes, yarn-dyed threads are wound onto the loom and different tension levels are assigned to the colors. When the shuttle starts to fly, the stripes emerge – some more taut and others less so, thanks to those tension settings – and the loose stripes automatically pucker up between their tighter neighbors. It's called a "slack-tension" weave – which sounds just perfect for summer, doesn't it?

Seersucker came to the West from India during the British Colonial period of the 1800s, and the name was originally kheer aur shakkar, Hindustani for "rice pudding and sugar," a pretty apt description of the texture. In America, Southern gentlemen adopted it for suiting, and then college students started wearing it in the 1920s, cementing the fabric's association with preppy style. 

When our designer Laura Jo decided to bring seersucker into our collection, she wanted to loosen it up a bit – to keep the great, rumpled texture and natural air conditioning, but shed that preppy primness in favor of the relaxed style you love from Coyuchi. So she varied the width of the stripes and had them woven from pure organic cotton in three soft, tonal hues, instead of the usual color-plus-white.

The result is the ultimate seersucker – light and airy, soft and cool, and just as dreamy, laid-back and easy to love as summer itself.

Salt: Elemental, Essential, Delicious

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According to Alize Green's Field Guide to Herbs & Spices, salt is "the only mineral, nonbiological food humans regularly eat." We actually crave it, and there's a good reason for that. In addition to enhancing the flavor and preserving the freshness of our food, the chemical components of salt—chlorine and sodium—are essential nutrients that keep our bodies hydrated and our nerves firing efficiently. Salt is, quite simply, necessary for life.

It seems we humans have understood the importance of salt for millennia. Since at least 6000 BC, people have pulled it from sea and land, from the shores of the Mediterranean to the peaks of the Himalayas. When people clink glasses and toast "to your health" in Italy and Spain, the words they use (Salute! Salud!) come from the Latin for salt.

Throughout history, salt has been used to appease the gods and repel evil spirits, to seal deals and pay debts. It has sparked revolutions, inspired coups, and – as one of the earliest forms of food preservation—it made exploration and trade possible across vast distances around the world. Roman soldiers were paid with money to buy salt (giving us the word salary), and victorious armies sowed it into the ground to prevent vanquished peoples from growing crops. Special roads were built to transport it in Italy and also in Africa, where it was once worth its weight in gold.

Whatever part of the world you trace your early ancestors to, it's safe to say that they would be stunned to find shakers of salt sitting (unguarded!) on restaurant tables, and large boxes of it sold for next to nothing at the grocery stores of today.

And such an astonishing variety! Beyond common table salt, there's a dizzying array of options—flakes and grains and crystals in colors from snowy white to pink to black -- each with its own, unique properties (and passionate devotees). Many are still produced with the same artisanal techniques that have been used for centuries. Here are some of our favorites:

Kosher Salt: A kitchen staple for commercial chefs and home cooks, alike. Beyond the fact that it's approved for Kosher diets, what makes this salt so popular is its versatility. Its big, pyramid-shaped crystals adhere nicely to meat and are easy to pinch and toss into the pot. But they also crush easily between your fingers, for light, even sprinkling. Kosher salt is less processed than table salt and contains no anti-caking agents.

Himalayan Pink Salt: Before the Indo-Australian plate and the Eurasian plate collided and thrust skyward to form the peaks of the Himalayas, they were beneath an ancient sea. Salt harvested from those mountain-top deposits has a soft pink hue – caused by dozens of trace minerals—and a bold flavor that allows you to use less. Himalayan pink salt works well in a grinder, but we also like to sprinkle a few gorgeous whole grains atop hors d'oeuvres or scatter them around plated food right before serving.

Gray Sea Salt/Sel Gris: Since the Middle Ages, people on the Atlantic coast of France have harvested salt by evaporating seawater in shallow pools called salt pans, and using wooden rakes to carefully gather the crystals. Sel gris gets its soft gray color from the mineral deposits at the bottom of the salt pan. Moister and more dense than Kosher salt, sel gris is beloved by chefs as a finishing salt for meats and other hearty foods and even for baking.

Fleur de Sel: The same process that produces sel gris also creates fleur de sel (flower of salt). The difference is that these light, delicate crystals are carefully hand-skimmed from the surface of the salt pan, rather than raked from the bottom. Their mild flavor and snowflake sparkle make these crystals wonderful as a finishing flourish for eggs, salads and desserts (especially chocolate or caramel).

Hawaiian Black: While other colored salts come by their tints naturally, Hawaiian Black salt gets its dramatic hue from the addition of activated charcoal. Drawn from the sea, and evaporated under the Hawaiian sun, it's mineral-rich and gets a slightly smoky note from the charcoal. This salt is best sprinkled on food after it's cooked or on cold dishes, to appreciate the color as well as the flavor.

Smoked Salts: Smoking salt over a wood fire is a method that dates back to the Vikings. Gourmet spice shops offer sea salt smoked with apple, alder, cypress, mesquite, hickory and a range of other woods, each with a unique flavor profile. They add the perfect smoky note to BBQ sauce, chili and other hearty foods, and they're also wonderful sprinkled on popcorn or roasted nuts. A game-changer in guacamole.

Flavored Salt: Flavored salts are nothing new, but American pantries seldom contain any other than the ubiquitous garlic salt. Now, don't get us wrong, we love garlic salt, but we highly recommend branching out. How does smoked onion salt sound? How about salt with lavender or rosemary? Lime salt on the rim of your margarita? We've even seen pinot noir salt (it's purple!) and a deep red salt favored with powdered dried caterpillars (think we'll pass on that one). By far one of the most delicious is tartufo nero salt – infused with the luxurient, umami-rich flavor of black truffles. Just the merest sprinkle upgrades humble French fries, scrambled eggs or popcorn to gourmet status. 

A tip from our designer: Pair food with salt and bring a dish of it to the table as a design element. Two favorites shades: pink and black.

In Praise of the Cotton Kitchen Towel (And Other Ways to Go Green in the Kitchen)

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An unsung hero in the kitchen, the all-cotton dish towel is hardworking, versatile and (if they're Coyuchi kitchen towels) beautiful, too. Here are just some of the ways we like to use them.

You wash, I'll dry: Our kitchen towels are soft and gentle on dishes and glassware. Organic cotton, minimally processed, makes them exceptionally absorbent  and easy on the planet, too. And mopping up water or drying your hands with a re-usable cotton towel instead of paper towels is one of the easiest ways to green your kitchen. It takes 17 trees to make one ton of paper towels, and in the US we throw away some 3,000 tons of them a day…that's 51,000 trees! Every day!

Hey there, hotstuff: A folded kitchen towel makes a handy trivet to protect tabletops from the warmth of serving bowls and platters. And we don’t know a single chef who hasn't used one as an impromptu oven mitt (just be careful around open flames, and remember cotton can scorch and discolor at high temps).

Make a splash: Tuck a towel into your waistband or collar to act as an apron while cooking or baking. Spread one under the mixing bowl to catch drips and splatters as you beat and whisk.

Dough-re-me: Drape a kitchen towel over the top of the bowl when you're proofing dough to keep it from drying out. Line the bread basket with a towel and lap the ends over the top to keep baked goods warm at the table. You can even store a loaf of bread wrapped in a clean, dry cotton towel (instead of plastic) to help keep it fresh.

Serve and protect: Layer kitchen towels between platters, to protect from scuffs and chips as you stack them on the shelf. Fold and drape one over the inner rim of the sink to pad the edge when you're washing something large and unwieldy like a turkey platter or grill grates.

Last but not leaf: Use a cotton towel to dry herbs and salad greens and help keep them fresh and crisp. Just lay the leaves in a single layer on the towel after washing and spinning, then roll the towel up gently and set it in the refrigerator. If you won't be using the greens that day, you may want to place the rolled towel inside a produce bag, but leave top open a bit so moisture can escape.

 

Other ways to go green in the kitchen:

– Use glass containers to store food in the refrigerator instead of disposable plastic.

– Buy unbreakable, reusable dinnerware for kids, parties and outdoor dining instead of using paper plates and plastic cups.

– Buy in bulk to reduce packaging.

– Shop at stores where produce is not wrapped or packed in plastic and styrofoam. Better yet, shop at your local farmers market.

– Stash cloth tote bags in your trunk or bike basket, so you can say no thanks to both paper AND plastic.

– Recycle (and remember, if you aren’t buying products made from recycled material, you're not really recycling).

– Compost peels, trimmings, eggshells, coffee grounds and other food waste.

– Look for earth-friendly cleaning products, and get to know the myriad wonders of white vinegar (it's a surface cleaner, a deodorizer AND a salad dressing!)

– Be a locavore and eat with the seasons. Not only is locally grown, in-season food fresher, more nutritious and better tasting, its short trip from the farm to your fridge means less fuel was used and less pollution generated along the way.

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