The new Sustainability Shop in Shop in Melbourne has been fitted out with ancient Tasmanian timbers.
The innovative space – a partnership between Levi’s and David Jones Australia – is paving the way for sustainable fashion in the retail industry and offers consumers a conscious and sustainable way to shop.
The shop has been designed using some of Tasmania’s finest and most sought after timbers supplied by Hydrowood. The once-forgotten resource was uncovered in the Pieman River through one of the world’s first underwater forestry operations after more than a quarter-century.
Sustainably sourced and recovered, this exclusively Australian timber has been carefully crafted by local industrial designer, Jaron Dickson, into custom structures, furniture, shelving and signage for the new shop.
“The new retail concept is a physical representation of our ongoing commitment to craftsmanship, innovation and sustainability,” said Paul Sweet, Managing Director ANZ for Levi Strauss & Co. “We’re placing environmental considerations front and centre of the shopping experience and inviting consumers to shop more consciously.”
“Using Hydrowood is an incredible story of sustainability and a true innovation in resourcefulness”, saidlocal industrial designer, Jaron Dickson. “In order to minimise the environmental impact of the building process, the structures use water-based products for gluing and finishings, with most wood shavings given away in order to minimise any waste. The elements of the space can also either be broken down using the loose tenon structures or simply repurposed as furniture in an office or home which is great.”
The unique space within David Jones will house a number of collections which also incorporate sustainability through either the design or production process.
These include material and technology innovations like cottonised hemp, building a sustainable supply chain with the Worker Wellbeing program, and recyclable hangers made from plastics collected from the world’s five most polluted rivers.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Levi’s on this sustainability initiative,” said Bridget Veals, David Jones, General Manager Womenswear, Footwear and Accessories. “David Jones is committed to considering new ways of doing business to support a transition to the low-carbon and circular economy of the future.
“Working with our brands and investing in programs and activities that optimise our use of energy, increase diversion of waste from landfill and reduce natural resource consumption is part of this commitment and our broader Good Business Journey.”
Hydrowood
Hydrowood is an environmentally-friendly supply of fine Tasmanian timbers. When the Pieman River was dammed to generate hydro-electricity in the 70s, rare species were flooded, remaining a submerged secret for more than a quarter-century. That is until two Tasmanians embarked on arguably Australia’s most ambitious forestry project.
The reward? Buried treasure. Speciality timbers so scarce, the world thought they were forever gone. The buried treasure has been carefully recovered from Lake Pieman under strict environmental guidelines, and is now used to craft furniture, boats and bespoke home features. In salvaging this otherwise wasted resource, Hydrowood is delivering some of the world’s most environmentally friendly (or greenest!) timber.
