Java Java Java!

Spent a few days with Jeff and his crew working on the current production run and everything is looking great!!

The amazing thing about our products is that every piece through out the process is handmade. Sure we use a few templates and saws but for the most part the craftsman in the workshop do everything by hand! Pretty cool...



There has been some talk recently about the rampant illegal logging and deforestation here in Indonesia and I want to make sure that the record is 100% clear that we only use Sustainable and approved wood for all Maku products. While there is no longer any certification for wood here in Indo there are proper channels that one can go through to make sure everything is on the up and up. We purchase directly through the Indonesian Ministry of the Interior not a 3rd party broker, we also take it a step further and send our production people to follow the entire procurement process. From selecting and tagging the wood at the plantation, following it to the mill, kiln, and ultimately back to our production facility.

This is really the only way we can make sure everything follows the right channels and ideals that we have set forth for this company. If anybody ever has any questions about this process feel free to contact us and we'll be more than happy to answer them. By the way, all the doors are made with Reclaimed / Recycled woods!

Back to Bali in a few days and then home. The waves are firing in Bali and I can't wait to get my share!

Bali!

Spending a few days in Bali before (and after...) my visit to our production facility in Java. Even though the surf has been pretty meager the past few day (a new swell is forecast to show in the tomorrow with some well overhead waves!) and the travel time to get here is significantly over 24 hours, Bali still remains one of my all time favorite places on this planet. These 3 pictures kind of symbolize Bali to me.

Just Chilling - They have a saying here - Jam Karat - which means "rubber time" in other words no need to hurry and get things done, enjoy life and the day in a beautiful setting!
This kid is the epitome of the kindness you see here. I was walking to check the surf this morning and he was the first of many to wish me Selamat Pagi or a good morning.

Who says you can't find an uncrowded street in the heart of the bustling metropolis of Kuta!

Off to Indo!

Well it's 12 am Wed morning and I'm sitting here in LAX getting ready for the 30+ hour journey south of the equator and back to Bali and then Java. Going to look at the next round of production and make sure everything is on track. Oh yeah, going to get a few waves too... Look for updates over the next couple of weeks when I can find a good internet connection. Until then enjoy!

Some of my favorite pieces from ICFF

Peter Mann Dining Table


Boodalee modern Bedding for Kids!


Mike and Maaike


Peace Industries


Phase design (what up Rezza!)


Geo Dining Table from Council

ICFF Day 3 and 4

Well our first ICFF show has come and gone. We had a terrific response to all of our products from so many different people - Interior Designers, Retail, Hospitality, every sector of the home furnishing business what really excited with our debut collection. Look for lots of media coverage in the coming days and weeks. Be sure to check out the LA Time Home section on Thursday for a story on Left Edge and the brands / designers involved.

I could not have done this show with out the help of some incredible people. First and foremost are Marc and Emmanuel from EM collection. Not only are these guys 2 of the most generous people I have met but they are extremely talented designers and architects. E&M are responsible for putting the entire Left Edge Pavilion together for the show and without a doubt we had the most bangin and happening section in the show!! Thanks for all the efforts guys!!

My booth mate for the show was artist Beth Weintraub. She's super cool, energetic, and I could not think of a better person to hang out with during the show. Oh yeah, her artwork is really cool too!!!! Thanks Beth, good chilling with ya!

Anyway, look for a full wrap up on the show in the coming days, I've got lots of pics from some of the coolest designers California has to offer as well a few personal favorites from the show.

ICFF day 2

WOW WOW! Ok, that might have been a little too predictable lead in for the ICFF day 2 recap but it was another great day in the launch of our collection to the world. We continue to receive accolades and buy in from the design, architect, hospitality, and retail sectors. We also picked up a couple of new dealers in key markets across the country as well as introducing the brand to many of the top architect and design firms of which Maku will hopefully be included in some of their upcoming projects!

It is truly rewarding to be able to bring this brand to market - from concept to finished product (although being the overly anal person I am I still see a number of areas to improve upon in the products) and see the excitement and energy we are creating in this particular area of design is with out a doubt worth all of the 18+ hour days and trails and tribulations of what I hope will grow into a very successful company! We've got a great group of people supporting us and helping out along the way and the fresh perspective on products I have gotten over the last few days really is energizing.

No crappy cell phone pics today but I did take a lot of pictures and will include them all in the ICFF superpost recap after I am back home and have a chance to gather all of my thoughts etc.

ICFF day 1

WOW, what an amazing day! The aisles were full of design enthusiast, retailers, architects, and designers from all walks of life across the world. The energy and vibe that this show exudes is like non other I have attended before. Even better is the feedback and response to our debut collection! Everybody that previewed our pieces conveyed that we have something exciting and special here. Open, easy going, Non Assuming, Fun, Contemporary, Lifestyle, approachable, Beautiful, Sustainable - were just some the words used to describe the new collection.

Here are a few photos from my cell phone (sorry see the post below...) ICFF sponsored a party at MOMA this evening and most of the museum was open to us for perusing. Lots of great stuff from Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, and many other of the most influential fathers of moderism. It was pretty cool to see this collection all under one roof!

By the way, the subway is still the fastest and cheapest way to get around NYC...

ICFF set up

I arrived in NYC on early Thursday morning after a wonderful red eye, no sleep and ready to go! After 14 hours of setup and over 36 with no sleep I decided to get to the hotel and get some rest before finishing set up today (Friday) Took lots of pics but of course like a knucklehead I forgot my usb cord to the camera so I could download them for daily updates. So I resorted to the dreaded cell phone pics. Not the best but the booth is starting to look great and the entire Left Edge group is a very talented and amazing group of people and brands! More to come in the next few days as we launch the brand to the world! By the way, check out the amazing artwork from Beth Weintraub.

ICFF Limited Edition Chair Preview

If you're at ICFF this weekend, you'll be among the first to see the new limited edition Maku lounge chair in person.

These chairs feature unique frangipani carvings under the arms and are part of a very limited run (250 in total). Like all Maku seating and dining elements, these chairs are created from sustainable plantation grown teak.

Details on the piece can be found on the Maku site, but I attached some pics if anyone wants to pull them down.

If you're heading to ICFF this year, definitely stop at the Left Edge pavilion to see Maku and the other great California based companies.

Did a quick photo shoot last weekend to highlight a few pieces with different color cushions as well as in different settings. That and to shoot a new Limited Edition Piece that everybody will find out about in the very near future...

Big thanks to my good friends Cec and Katie for letting us shoot in their backyard. Juxtaposition between contemporary cement forms and traditional materials in contemporary form made for some great shots. Of course I have to mention what a fabulous job Cec did as honorary prop master for the day!

By the way, Cec is the guy behind Brave Art. Check it out!

Equally big thanks go out to Ashley Ettwein Photography, if anybody is looking for a terrific photographer to shoot products, Ashley is your girl. Great job Ash and thanks for all of the help!!!

Vernare

Vernare is our newest retail partner up in West Hollywood and they just had the premier opening featuring Dr. William A. Embodens collection of African Tribal artwork entitled "Sacred Objects of Africa" quite amazing artwork!

But even cooler than the art collection is Daniel and his staff direction within the retail community. With a flourishing interior, landscape and architectural design business already in place it only made sense to create a retail environment for their customers. While that is nothing unique, the approach they are taking to the retail side of the business is quite different in that they are only offering sustainable and green products such as Maku.

To take a bit from the Vernare website "we seek the highest quality designer furniture, sustainable fabrics and wall-coverings, innovative and energy efficient lighting, lush, yet water-wise indoor and outdoor gardens, energizing fountains and more. With every item that we create or search out, we aim to have as little impact to the environment as possible."

What a refreshing view point and I am quite sure they will be successful! Many thanks to Dan and the rest of the Vernare crew for letting Maku be a part of their amazing store!

By the way, Vernare is latin for "Growing Green"!

Maku in HFN Magazine

This is long overdue, but I wanted to show everyone Maku's debut in HFN (Home Furnishings News).





This was actually the first print/trade piece to run about Maku (in April) and I remember being very excited when it came out (and when a retailer called Johnny asking if we'll be at ICFF.

BTW - Just to confirm what was blogged about earlier, Maku will be at ICFF this month. We'll be located at booth #2338 as part of the Left Edge pavilion.

More info on Maku @ ICFF and media hits to come soon!

Check out the installation we just did at Stone Brewing Company in Escondido. Greg, Chris and the rest of the Stone crew do an amazing job. The Bistro and Gardens not only offer incredible food and beers but an amazing setting to enjoy it all.

Maku Premiere at Grounded in Encinitas

That's right, we've gone public with the collection. On Friday April 20th, over 150 VIP's joined us for the debut of our first collection at Grounded Garden Shop in Encinitas. Juli and Rich (the owners of Grounded) have been some of the most gracious, kind, and helpful people I have ever met. Without their support we would never be where we are right now! Everybody should go and buy something from Grounded, check out their site here and if you buy something from the site try and make it a Maku piece...

Like any new start up things have to go wrong every once in a while and this time mother nature was no help. The biggest winter storm to hit So.Cal this year barreled through all day Friday and pretty much drenched the place. But we must have some good karma stashed somewhere, by 4 pm the sun was shinning and it looked like a beautiful evening was in store. Of course it rained again but that didn't stop the fun as we moved under the tents or inside the store. The hero of the night award goes to the wait staff for enduring the rain and holding their ground despite being wet and cold, many thanks Suzanne!!

All in all it was a great night of design and lifestyle appreciation with the furniture taking center stage and silent auction featuring imagery from the Transworld Sightings Gallery to benefit the Surfrider foundation San Diego Chapter. Here are a few pics from the event and thanks to everybody that joined us as well as everybody that helped put the evening together. Chef Pascal from Savory cooked up some incredible eats and the crew from Stone Brewing made sure nobody got thirsty.

And last but not least it was good to see my friend and business partner Mike! I know he had a tought time leaving the islands to come back to crowded and cold San Diego but it was good hanging out!! I'm coming over to Maui next time though!

Here's a few pics from the evening

A little pre Premiere warm up for the crew!


Chilling inside Grounded(sorry, can't figure out how to rotate this image and it's been an 17 hr day..)


Rain rain go away, but it sure looks nice on the table...


Rich, Juli, MJ, and Jdub (had to choose this pic so the trio of baldness didn't blind Juli...)

First Production Container!

Alright! Our first container of production arrived today from Indo and it looks great! Long day yesterday unloading, inventory, and getting product prepped for our VIP premiere on Friday.