Native Trails, leader in artisan-crafted, eco-conscious furnishings and fixtures for high-end kitchen and bath design, as well as home-decor products, is proud to introduce NativeStone concrete sinks at its inaugural exhibit at the Architectural Digest Home Design Show. Constructed using an innovative mixture of jute fiber and cement, Native Trails’ NativeStone sinks weigh approximately 40 per cent less than sinks made using standard concrete.
This exciting new collection of contemporary artisan sinks will be shown for the first time on the East Coast at booth #279 in the reFRESH pavilion at the Architectural Digest Home Design Show taking place Mar. 20-23 at Pier 94 in New York. The NativeStone collection includes kitchen, bar/prep and lavatory sinks – including a new addition of trough sinks for the bath. As with all of Native Trails’ products, NativeStone sinks incorporate sustainable, eco-conscious materials and artisan crafted methods. Each sink is handmade by artisans using a multi-stage process resulting in a beautiful, durable product for the kitchen or bath that is stain, scratch, and crack resistant.
“It’s been an exciting process to develop our NativeStone line with this new, innovative material,” says Naomi Neilson Howard, founder and CEO of Native Trails. “Our handmade, 100-per-cent recycled copper products put Native Trails on the map, and launching our new NativeStone sink collection is an exciting, natural progression – they are made by true artisans from natural, sustainable materials, and there is really nothing like this being done. When you see one of these contemporary styled sinks, one would never guess that eco-friendly jute fibre fills much of the space within their walls – making them lighter and stronger. And they are extremely resistant to staining – practically stain proof.”
NativeStone capitalizes on the inherent durability and resilience of jute, a vegetable fibre traditionally used for making rope, twine and heavy-duty packaging. When mixed with cement, jute helps to produce an extraordinarily strong material with high tensile strength, while creating a dramatically lighter product. Furthermore, the jute used in each NativeStone sink is grown locally, near the artisans’ workshops – which ties in perfectly to Native Trails’ eco-friendly initiative to support local communities. Jute is a renewable resource, as it grows in tropical, wet climates and does not rely on fertilizer to grow. In addition, jute is also 100-per-cent biodegradable and recyclable.
The process of forming the NativeStone sinks is a multi-day, intensive undertaking. The artisans build their forms to Native Trails’ specifications and design, then hand fill the forms with an exclusive blend of raw materials and leave it to dry for 24 hours. Once taken out of the mold, the newly formed sink cures for five more days before the hand polishing phase and sealing process begins.
Each sink is sealed using a cutting edge nanosealer, which penetrates the concrete on a molecular level to create a protective, yet integrated barrier against stains and scratching. The sealer is hand applied in a multi-step process, creating an impenetrable coating that is scratch resistant and impervious to water, oils, acids and food. The final coat enhances the natural beauty of the concrete blend, while adding even more strength and durability.
NativeStone by Native Trails offers a modern yet earthy, expressive and versatile option for the kitchen and bath and is available in three sleek finishes: Ash, a light, natural grey with beautiful mottling that works perfectly in many designs; Slate, a rich, dark grey for a deep pop of colour; and Pearl, a luminescent cream that can blend in or stand out depending on the colour palette.
ABOUT NATIVE TRAILS
Native Trails, a privately owned business based in San Luis Obispo, California, has produced high-quality, artisan-crafted kitchen and bath fixtures and home decor since 1996. Naomi Neilson Howard, Native Trails’ founder and CEO, established the company to pair the stunning copper craftsmanship she discovered in her travels through Mexico with contemporary design and sustainable business practices. The company’s artisan creations are showcased in more than 1,300 showrooms in the U.S. and Canada.
For more information, visit http://www.nativetrails.net/