Honest and sustainable products – that is what Fair Furniture’s collection stands for. And because Biano believes it is important that sustainable products get a stage, we have asked Joris van Balkom – the founder of Fair Furniture – the ins and outs of everything!
From an early age, Joris had a strong interest in nature and different cultures. Therefore, his decision to study Tropical Forestry & Nature Management at the University of Applied Sciences did not come as a surprise. During his studies he learned about the sustainable use of natural resources. His love for sustainable design was sparked when he first came into contact with the Acapulco chair in Mexico – a comfy chair that was a true style icon in the 1950s. In 2012 Joris quit his job with the aim to breathe new life into the handmade Acapulco chair. Three years later – after a successful kick-off – Fair Furniture’s collection has been expanded with their own sustainable and natural interior collection. We spoke to Joris about all the ins and outs of Fair Furniture, while he is busy working in Bali on the redesign of the Ubud Chair.
The focus within my company is increasingly placed on the use of sustainable technologies, which also applies to the design icons such as the Acapulco chair. Our classic black version of the iconic design is produced in Mexico, in the Iztapalapa district in the east of Mexico City, and it is made of mostly recycled PVC and steel. All residuals during the production are reused in new chairs. The PVC is UV resistant, it contains antioxidants and it is free of phthalates and heavy metals – making the chairs recyclable and sustainable, for years of outdoor use.
