Domingos Tótora’s natural fiber creations are some of the most imaginative and inspired designs we’ve seen. Driven by a passion for preservation, Tótora draws inspiration from natural landscapes to create a collection of home decor pieces from natural fibers and pigments. His work embodies sustainable ideals with natural materials, and reflects organic processes and cycles within a fresh, contemporary context. Previously exhibited at Maison & Objet and part of the TOUCH collective, these imaginative designs are one of our favorite sustainable design springtime finds.

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While we’re looking forward to all of New York Design Week this year, there is one event in particular has piqued our interest. We’ve got our eye on TOUCH | NY, a three day design exhibit that will showcase sustainable works made from recycled materials by up and coming Brazilian designers. The TOUCH | NY exhibit begins this Sunday, May 18, in Chelsea, with an opening reception at 7:00 PM. If you are in town, be sure to join us at what is sure to be one of the most interesting highlights from New York Design Week 2008!

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The International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) kicks off today in NYC, and the Inhabitat team is on the scene! We’ve got four Inhabitants at this year’s event poised to scope out the greenest designs among the fresh finds at ICFF 2008. Mike Chino, Ali Kriscenski, Jason Sahler and Jill Fehrenbacher are at ICFF with eyes wide open, ready to get the sustainable scoop and bring the best photos and reports back to Inhabitat. We’ll start coverage today on the most interesting new furniture, lighting, products and presentations from ICFF 2008. Stay tuned to Inhabitat as your source for green design at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair 2008!

Noodle Design Photo Lamps

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It has been almost 20 years since the EPA confirmed the dangers of indoor VOCs (volatile organic chemicals), yet so little has been done to make the air inside our homes and offices and less toxic. Poor ventilation systems, sealed buildings and our use of synthetic products in the home are the main causes of our inner-pollution and, for most of us, these problems can’t be reversed overnight. But with the help of plant therapy, we can combat household VOCs and breathe easier. That is why we are super excited about this excellent Plants for Your Health chart from Good Magazine.

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Spring may have sprung, but we’re still captivated by the lofty lilt of this “Mora” fallen leaf mobile by San Francisco based Brian Schmitt. We’ve been longtime fans of Brian’s work, ever since we first discovered his beautiful eco-friendly Adrift Mobiles back in 2005. His lighter-than-air creations perfectly balance sleek forms with sustainable construction, and he’ll be exhibiting a collection of pendants and mobiles for the first time at this year’s ICFF.

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This month we’re welcoming a brand new builder to the prefab scene as Method Homes launches its first house! The wood clad wonder is currently nearing completion in Seattle, Washington and boasts an array of customizable features backed by a steadfast commitment to sustainable materials and building practices. The “down to earth” prefab’s sleek modern lines and LEED gold aspirations make it the latest modular cabin to catch our eye.

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The kitchen is truly the heart (and soul) of any home so we are always on the look out for future-forward brands that fuse a sleek modern aesthetic together with sustainable materials and advanced technology. To date, European design has led the field, but newcomer Bazzèo by NY Lofts is the first US contender to convincingly woo American homeowners over to the green side. Debuting this year at ICFF, Bazzèo is definitely worth a second look. Even if you’re not in the market for a new kitchen, these mean green sexy cuisines will make you wish you were.

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Every year we get excited about the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF), which hits New York City’s Jacob Javitz Center in the middle of May. For New York design fans, ICFF is always the best way to discover the hottest new furniture and interior designs - and every year we are discovering more and more to write home about in terms of sustainable design. The ICFF gets underway in New York this Saturday, and runs May 17th - 20th. Our intrepid NYC Inhabitat team of Mike, Ali, Abigail and Jill is heading over to Manhattan, fresh from the scene at BKLYN Designs, to carry on coverage of springtime eco furniture design in NYC. Stay tuned! We’ll be at ICFF on Saturday and reporting live all weekend on the freshest, greenest designs from this year’s furniture fair.

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Our perennially eco-chic friends at Ekovaruhuset NY turned us onto these divinely fabulous eco-leather shoes from PJUX. Beautifully crafted in Spain in a small artisan factory, PJUX collections are the result of a Copenhagen-based designer dream team and traditional Spanish leather craftsmanship and artistry. Environmentally responsible, fair trade, and fashioned for true longevity, sustainable style really does not get any better than this. Shoes should be worn, resoled, and passed on to the next generation, in my opinion, and with genuine quality like PJUX, who would want to search any further for a lasting style investment?

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Biomimicry - or designs based on natural systems - is one of the most intriguing methods for designers and engineers to create innovative and efficient solutions to problems. Inspired by forms and functions found in nature, this approach to sustainable design allows for environmentally friendly solutions for energy, waste reduction and a bevy of other design challenges. Using biomimicry as the guiding design principle, the Australian firm BioPower Systems has developed Biowave: an ocean power system that harnesses energy by mimicking the motion of underwater plants in the ocean currents to generate electricity.

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The higher up in the air you go, the faster wind travels - so naturally the further from the ground a wind-turbines gets, the more efficient it can be. Thats why the idea of a flying wind-turbine is a such a win-win (or win-wind) proposition. Combining wind power with floating blimps, Selsam has been hard at work expanding the horizons of alternative energy with a revolutionary new breed of SuperTurbines that promise to take wind power to new heights.

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Indian Railways has traveled many miles of tracks since its introduction in 1853. However, anyone who has traveled on Indian trains is fully aware that the facilities on board are lacking in more ways than one. Unhygienic toilets reeking of human excreta have left many a traveler with an unpleasant experience, and have been an environmental burden as well. But things are starting to change for the better. Indian rails will soon boast eco-friendly toilets, thanks to an initiative from the Honorable Minister of Railways Laloo Prasad Yadav.

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While nothing beats reusable dishware for your festive events, these biodegradable plates from VerTerra are a great alternative to yucky paper or plastic dishes. VerTerra (true to the Earth) plates are made from organically-grown palm tree leaves from India. The fallen leaves, which would traditionally have been burned on the roadside, are collected, sterilized, steamed and pressed into plates. The process uses no chemicals, glues or bonding agents, and over 80% of the water used during the steaming and pressing process is recaptured and recycled. Best of all, VerTerra’s plates are 100% natural and biodegradable!

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We are nuts about Mark Harrison’s Husque homewares made from recycled macadamia nut shells. The inspired form of these fun pieces reflect the material’s origins, and take advantage of an often discarded resource. Harrison developed a special compound that combines the shells with injection molding to create colorful bowls inspired by nature and place. Using nuts, pods and other organic shapes as inspiration, each piece carries with it a natural history of Australia.

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It is one thing to be concerned about a ‘bad hair day’, but imagine wearing smart fashion that alerts you to the threat of a stinky ‘bad air day’. Stephanie Sandstrom’s EPA Dress, currently on view in the San Francisco Exploratorium’s 2nd Skin Exhibition responds to bad air – and that’s not all, it cleverly creates the wrinkles to prove it! Looking crumpled and tired may no longer be an indicator of a late night out, but rather an intelligent way of interpreting your surroundings as well as detecting lurking health hazards. And if that’s not enough to get you totally charged up, consider the Piezing motion-powered dress that redefines future-forward fashion with femme-bot sex appeal.

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