A Look Inside
Issue 18 Spring 2022
1 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle at Bok
Spring 2022
Remark Glass Remark Glass is a zero-waste certified, woman owned business focused on innovative and creative glass reuse. Danielle Ruttenberg and Rebecca Davies were two of the first individuals to move their business to Bok. Almost 6 years later, we’ve seen their passion for craft and care for the environment grow, from making huge light fixtures and art pieces to preserving wedding bottles for generations to come. Remark Glass is Philadelphia’s first Gold Certified Zero Waste organization, which means they annually produce less than 1% waste in their entire operation. Their team of thirteen starts by cleaning the bottles and scraping off old labels, before cutting off the bottle neck to prepare them for the glassblowing process. They are then glass blown — shaped and molded into a new form: vases,
glassware, plates, bowls, napkin rings, and light fixtures. Remark Glass was selected as a SheEO World 2022 US Venture. SheEO is a global community of radically generous women and non-binary folks working on the World’s To-Do List. The organization exemplifies the fundamental belief that we work best when we work together. Did you know? On average, 70% of post-consumer glass ends up in landfills, mostly due to contamination. You can be a part of the change! Give your bottles and jars a rinse and schedule a glass donation dropoff here: bottleunderground.com/recycle/ .
remarkglass.com sheeo.world/venture-portfolio/ remark-glass @remarkglass Photo Credit // Sarah Miller
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FABSCRAP FABSCRAP reclaims, reuses and recycles pre-consumer fabric waste and helps educate the community on sustainability efforts in the fashion industry. Between their two sorting operations in Philly and Brooklyn, FABSCRAP’s volunteer program allows them to sort thousands of pounds of fabric for reuse. FABSCRAP picks up bags and bags of fabric waste from designers and brands, saving over 350,000 pounds of fabric in 2021 alone. They bring the fabric back to their warehouses at the Brooklyn Army Terminal or here at Bok, where
a team of volunteers removes pins, staples, tape, zippers, and buttons, and sorts the fabric by material type. This material ends up being shredded to create things like insulation, carpet padding, furniture lining, and moving blankets — or is reused by students, artists, crafters, quilters, sewers, and teachers for their projects. Their space at Bok also serves as a sustainable “thrift” retail store where designers, artists, and creators can shop for reclaimed fabrics, yarns, and trim. Did you know? In March, FABSCRAP celebrated a huge milestone: saving 1 million pounds of fabric from landfills! fabscrap.org @fab_scrap
Lobo Mau Lobo Mau is known for “slowfashion” — sustainable, comfortable clothing with bold patterns. Founders and sibling duo Nicole and Jordan Haddad’s commitment to sustainability is foundational to Lobo Mau — and has been since they got their start in 2008. However, even as they do their best to use every inch of fabric in their process, they find that — like every clothing company — they face a waste problem. Some scraps are too small to be used for other pieces, and often, manufacturers throw them away. But Lobo Mau took this as an opportunity to pivot to something new: furniture! Just like that, Cozy Home was born: a thoughtfully designed capsule collection featuring sustainable clothing, zero-waste throw pillows, upcycled furniture, ceramic lamps, and more. This new venture opened up several opportunities to learn and teach others about the possibilities of the fabric lifecycle.
Manufacturers save Lobo Mau’s fabric scraps for them and, with the help of the University of Delaware Research and Discovery Lab, they shred these fabric scraps down even further into “stuffing” called shoddy. In addition to their own leftover fabric, they partner with FABSCRAP to source deadstock fabric to use for the pillow covers. They then screenprint the fabric using organic ink in-studio and assemble! Did you know? The new zerowaste pillows were part of a case study by Jordan (Lobo Mau’s CEO) and Professor Kelly Cobb of the University of Delaware to give students a hands-on way to experiment with pre-consumer waste, down-cycling textiles and creative sustainability.
lobomau.com @lobomauclothing
hidden in blue // Cyanotype
Artist: Cacie Rosario // IG: @crosariophoto
5 BOK BAR
Spring 2022
BOK BAR is back for its seventh season! Spanning 29 weeks, Summer 2022 will feature 120+ events, panels, and menu takeovers by some of Philadelphia’s most unique and creative voices. Through four activation pillars — TASTE, MAKE, SPARK, and MOVE — guests will be invited to enjoy the best Philadelphia has to offer in food, music, fitness, and more.
Menu takeovers
Classes, panels, and
Hands-on collaborations
Everything that moves
makers and artists
fitness to dancing
with local chefs
and workshops with
On deck this year, BOK BAR has exciting events, like monthly drag brunches from the Drag Mafia, drink and draw “classes” with Studio Incamminati, themed trivia nights hosted by Brittany Lynn, a monthly sustainability conversation series hosted by Grid Magazine, and maker events led by businesses based at Bok.
lectures to ignite the mind
you, from DJ sets to
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BOK BAR
This season, BOK BAR expanding from weekly food pop-ups
to monthly chef partnerships, with month-long diverse cuisine takeovers. Here’s what’s coming up in the next few months!
April
Samar Lazzari Up first is food partner Samar Lazzari, who will be
bringing Arab-American cuisine inspired by her family heritage. Her plant-forward dishes with intentionally-
sourced ingredients reflect her experiences in worldclass restaurants and the Arab-American diaspora.
May
Friz Wit x Poi Dog Hawaii and Philly meet on a
cheesesteak when Friz Wit x Poi
June Kalaya Kalaya will be bringing authentic Thai cuisine inspired by Chef Nok Suntaranon’s family recipes. Kalaya was named Esquire’s best restaurant in America in 2020.
Dog collide! We can’t wait!
Issue 18 // Spring 2022 A Look Inside
buildingbok.com @buildingbok
What’s Next Open Studios / First Retail Friday May 6
Wander the building, meet dozens of members of the Bok
community, watch demos, and purchase Bok-made wares and artwork. It’s free, family-friendly, and a perfect date night!
B[L]OK Party June 26 A massive street fair on Mifflin Street with food trucks, arts
and crafts, fire truck demos, and a giant bouncy castle — free and open to the public. Invite your neighbors and friends!
Bok Alumni Day August 21 Whether you graduated in 1942 or 2013, come see how the space has transformed and catch up with old friends!
Produced by scout Designed by Smith & Diction Photos provided by each feature’s social media + Texture Florals