Last time I was in NY I found these adorable Fog Linen Work plates at Ochre and couldn’t resist them as gifts for Alex & Tahlia. Designer Yumiko Sekine uses raw linen from Lithuania as a base for the plates then coats them in melamine so they are super durable… and it’s a good thing they are because it turns out that the kids love them just as much as I do. They get used almost nightly and make our dinner table a little bit prettier to sit down to.
Image: Photo taken by Krista Nye Schwartz using Instagram // CLOTH & KIND
I got this email from Carol, a reader and talented designer at Artisanworks, and thought it was important to share…
Hello Krista. Have so enjoyed reading your posts each day. You are enlightening many with your features of outstanding textiles…and kind.
Rather than post publicly, I had some concerns about your feature (and purchase) of the Melamine dinnerware. I took a few to visit the site, and am truly enchanted with her linen goods…such wonderful, natural weaves. The Melamine plates, however, ignited my concerns about toxic chemicals used in the production of goods…goods with which we surround ourselves in our daily lives. We assume the FDA and other institutions will set safe standards, but in reality (and sadly) Corporate bottom-lines, and in this case, chemical companies producing these Melamine concoctions and brews, take precedence, and with persuasive, well funded lobbying efforts.
To freshen-up on the Melamine thing, I started w/Wikipedia, also this site: http://housewares.about.com/od/tableware/a/melaminetablewarerisks.htm, and a few others. My feeling is that use of these plates is a personal decision, but consumers should be advised to avoid the use of microwave, oven, boiling hot foods, and probably the dishwasher, as well as anything acidic. Not worth the risk to me…especially where feeding children is an issue.
Feel free to accept these comments with my intention of fostering good health, safety, and welfare…or to disregard.
Carol Tate