ABOUT
Vancouver, Canada based 18KARAT is a design, import and retail company specializing in contemporary interior design accessories and furniture. Our products are sold to retail stores, interior designers and architects throughout North America and the world. From handmade objects inspired by nature, to minimalist furniture made from elemental materials, our mandate is to balance functionality with beauty.
We create places that are peaceful and an antidote to the hype and over-stimulation of our daily lives. We have a reverence for the wonder of nature and it shows in our products and presentations. We believe in sensual, natural and comfortable places that are not ostentatious, and we believe that everyone–from the most humble to the most wealthy–should live with thoughtful, respectful and beautiful things.
WE ADVOCATE A LESS-IS-MORE PHILOSOPHY FOR THE USE OF OUR PRODUCTS.
We design and import most products for longevity, and do not advocate disposability. We show our products in uncluttered rooms, purposefully placed and recommend a reductionist attitude, which we believe is also very stylish.
WE SUPPORT CRAFTS THAT HAVE A LIKELIHOOD OF BEING LOST.
We design new and buy existing products that use traditional handmade methods. Instead of trying to automate processes, we use the traditional knowledge of the local people and turn their ethnic handicraft into contemporary, desirable products.
WE TELL YOU STORIES ABOUT THE PRODUCTS WE SELL.
We tell you about how our products are made, where they come from, who made them and why. We believe that if you know about the provenance of an object, you will have a greater appreciation for what you are buying.
WE NEED TO KNOW THE PEOPLE THAT PRODUCE OUR PRODUCTS.
We travel regularly to most of the places where we do business. We visit the villages and factories and get to know the people, their environment and their social issues and we look for opportunities where our orders can make a positive difference. We want to know their moral and ethical standing, see their limitations and challenges first-hand. Twenty years later, we can unequivocally know that our production has improved the quality of life for many people.
IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REFUSE TO WORK WITH UNETHICAL COMPANIES.
There are many ways that our production can be compromised, so we employ well-educated and experienced people to inspect the factories regularly. We do not allow or accept bribes, nor do we ask that of our suppliers. We choose to stop working with factories that have unethical practices and look for other sources.
WE WORK WITH OUR MANUFACTURERS TO IMPROVE THEIR METHODS AND PRACTICES.
We create new ideas, learn, teach and encourage the use of improved materials and techniques. Whenever we can help a manufacturer improve their practices, it becomes a better product for 18KARAT and an improvement for their workshop, their employees and/or their environment.
WE HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT WHERE OUR PRODUCTS ARE PRODUCED.
We always look for the opportunity to use natural materials that are easily renewable, or where extraction will help the local environment. We use elemental materials that bring us a renewed appreciation for the natural world, focusing on wood, metal, stone, clay, glass, natural fibre fabrics, plant materials.
WE HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR OWN NORTH AMERICAN ENVIRONMENT.
We are not perfect but we are continually looking for ways to be less wasteful, to repurpose and reuse wasted materials. We recycle, are conscious of our energy consumption and reduce whenever it makes sense.
WE THINK ABOUT OUR IMPACT AND ACT MEANINGFULLY.
We know that our company is a reflection of who we are individually. When we take responsibility for our actions, it reverberates to all our employees, to our suppliers, our manufacturers, craftspeople and customers. We don’t follow blindly, instead we create our own path based on simple, honest principles.
