What is the story behind ECOVIVRE ?
Having been always involved in Design and in humanitarian work for very long now, realising a project where my skills could be used was one of my objectives. Helping those I could reach, however in a small humble way. What better way than to bringing changes to our lifestyles and daily things we use in the home in an environmentally and sustainable way ?
It all started growing up in a home where crisp white bed linen was always present, I enjoyed the sheer comforting feel of them. Passion for textiles was passed on from my mother who infused me with her knowledge as I grew up. I could tell about a fabric’s make by touching it and smelling it… well, not all, but quite a few of them. This used to amuse my friends. On a holiday trip to Brittany, browsing the market for vintage linen, I realised that they were almost getting so rare and extinct that a genuine piece was hard to find. Most of them were fakes with synthetic laces stitched to them, ‘making’ them look vintage. Very few people, I realised can make the difference between genuine and look alike linen ! May we remember, that Brittany is famous for its hand made laces and embroidery.
I decided to then, go on a trail of disappearing vintage embroidery across Europe after collecting pieces in auctions and vintage shops. I soon had a good collection and researched more on the embroidery styles existing in Europe. And those disappearing or disappeared ! Hence, I decided to trace the few embroiderers left and produce some bed linen with new designs based on the classical ones. This wonderful journey led to the creation of ‘Cotton Blanc’, our previous brand.
We had a successful collection of uniquely crafted pieces which sold overnight ! Next, came the decision of continuing in the same thing or re-think. We continued with a second collection with a wider Spanish and French flavour for their historically rich past. It yielded into a wonderful collection we called ‘ Fleurs des Pres’ which means flowers from the meadows. In fact, all our designs embodied delicate blooms of the shy meadow flowers as they exist in their natural habitat. Doing exclusively white embroidery on white cotton and linen, this time we brought a blush of pastel colours to give a little frivolity to the collection. Again, we were lucky and thankful to our customers for their wonderful response.
We did not use any marketing but gentle word by mouth whispers …
‘Cotton Blanc’ decided to go green, thus giving a different dimension to its hard researched products while being eco-friendly.
Thus ‘Ecovivre‘ was born.
Designs are researched from ancient French, Italian, Spanish and Asian rare and disappearing embroidery stitches and carefully crafted in pure organic cotton
Ecovivre offers fine quality bed linen and home accessories in 100% certified Organic cotton. Strict ethical guidelines re followed with no harm done to either human, animal or the environment. Operating on a small scale, high quality, attention to detail and quality finish are ensured to all the products.
Why are we different ?
The Bed linen is in superior 100% combed certified organic cotton high thread count percale for maximum comfort, luxury and durability.
Sustainable Development
Chapter 8 of Agenda 21 calls on countries to adopt national strategies for sustainable development (NSDS) that should build upon and harmonize the various sectoral economic, social and environmental policies and plans that are operating in the country.
In addition, integrating the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes is one of the targets contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration to reach the goal of environmental sustainability.
With this goal in mind, ECOVIVRE strives to support poor communities in the developing world and carry out capacity building initiatives to yield to positive results. Spring- Summer’s collection are crafted by women from Lucknow, in Uttar Pradesh, India. A small enclosed community, descendents of a long lineage of court embroiderers of the Mughal Empire perfecting their craft as far as from the 3rd century.
How do we achieve such brilliant whites without chemicals ?
True purity and sustainability are our core beliefs.
The natural color of the cotton in its raw washed state, which we call Naturel also referred as “Calico”, is cooked ! Yes, cooked on slow embers for 16 hours in a concoction consisting of natural herbs. A secret preserved by the court washers and still preserved to date. after which, the cotton is washed and ‘beaten’ to become soft, thus losing all its textured present in its natural state. According to our research results, no bed linen producers cotton of such natural purity to achieve such whiteness. As most chemically bleach their linen sheets to a very white color. Ours – NOT !
We ensure that a safe eco-clean organic product delivered to you for a safe use by you and your loved ones.
