When I was little I loved making greeting cards with construction paper, scissors and glue.

Years later I went to Rhode Island School of Design and studied industrial design. Creating bags and accessories combines my art school education with my love of colors and simple graphic designs.

Ever since I can remember I’ve been frugal with supplies--not a scrap of construction paper went to waste--and I’ve always tried to maximize utility from the materials I use. Using material conservatively encourages me to be more creative with what I have.

I also love using fabric that’s been manufactured with recycled content. Of course that means less waste, but there’s also something exciting about using material that has existed before--in its previous life was it a different color? Was it a fabric scrap or a soda bottle?

My philosophy is to design first and then find recycled materials to compliment the design. I don’t want my products to be limited by the availability of recycled material; I’d rather make dynamic products that include recycled content.

I’m always on the lookout for more sustainable components. Let me know if you have any leads.

It’s a thrill to design and sell products that people love to use. I hope Aster+Sage brings you joy too.

Linda