It’s time for another anthro: in our own words newsletter! This month Anthropologie focuses on their spring windows, which are made from recycled plastic drinking bottles.
From the email:
“Realizing that plastic bottles are pesky environmental nuisances that so many of us discard, our team felt compelled to repurpose them. Our crafty New York City artists first discovered that when cut correctly, bottle tops and bottoms make interesting floral shapers…it turns out that [Short Hills, NJ visual display coordinator] Dana’s vision — grouping multicolored bottle cuts and scraps en masse – inspired our store-wide window concept this spring.”
It’s a cool story to be sure and the email gives a further look at Dana’s creative process. I would have loved it if Anthro dug just a bit deeper. I’ve learned a lot from my friends who work at Anthropologie about their visual display process. While it’s up to the visual display coordinators to come up with the overall concept, I loved learning that everyone on staff is encouraged to participate in the actual construction of store displays. That means that every display you see in store has the mark of many hands on it. I love the communal aspect!
Also, some stores have given away their displays to longtime customers who’ve asked. I heard about one customer who inherited an ostrich from her local Anthropologie after asking very nicely. I’m sure they don’t do this with everything but it’s an awesome gesture to loyal Anthro fans.
Have you seen the new windows and store displays for spring?
I would have loved to taken home an ostrich from my local anthro, but they decided to do a silent auction for the bird and the bear. It's okay, though, my small apartment could not host such a big creature!I did get one of those monster gift card holder thing by asking nicely. I didn't buy a gift card, but they gave me one anyway.
I got to help out with the windows at the new Anthro store I helped set up, and it was soo cool how everyone lended a helping hand! So fun and I really love these windows!
It's nice that Anthro talked about the plastic bottles, but what happens to them after they turn them into flowers for their windows? I think once they are painted they might not be able to be recycled at all. It's the right idea, but probably not the best ad campaign for the green people.
Zengirl – I was wondering the same thing. I like the idea of using recycled plastic, but I shudder to think about what's going to happen with all of those beautiful plastic flowers after the stores change their displays. It would be nice if they could re-use them to make chandeliers or other items that stay in the stores more permanently.
Honestly, I love the clothes at Anthro, but I don't buy their whole "green" initiative. Remember when it was exposed that H&M was destroying perfectly good clothes rather than give them to the homeless/shelters? I have heard from numerous sources that Anthro does the same thing (which while it is very common, does not excuse it).And again, lovely to emphasize reuse in the window display like that, but what happens afterwards? Things need to be thought of as cradle to cradle…not reuse and then throw out.
haha i definitely remember cutting out snowflakes, filling glass balls, punching out shapes etc in my down time working at anthro!