Eye Pod
Company president and new mom Lisa Mims co-founded Boston’s Mod Green Pod to show that good design can be good for the earth, too.
Company president and new mom Lisa Mims co-founded Boston’s Mod Green Pod to show that good design can be good for the earth, too. Pillows from her Grand Jubilee collection are shown in Raspberry and Chocolate.
To Lisa and Nancy Mims, green is more than a color. In late 2005, the sisters-in-law set out to design fabrics and wallpapers that merge high design with environmental responsibility. As co-creators of the Mod Green Pod line, they’ve proved this mission possible.
“Nancy and I were both interested in starting a business that had a favorable social impact,” says Lisa. “MGP gives you the ability to have a healthy and stylish home.”
Collaborating remotely, Lisa works out of the company’s South End studio, while Nancy designs from her home in Austin, Texas. They craft 100-percent organic cotton fabrics and vinyl-free wallpapers, using water-based paints and inks. Table-screened by hand in small batches in New England, each piece is distinct—unlike many mass-¬¬produced textiles. “It is truly astonishing how many chemicals are applied to a conventional fabric,” says Lisa. “We take a lot of pride in the fact that our fabrics will not off-gas in your home and are safe for anyone with allergies or sensitive skin.”
Characterized by clean, modern lines and rich colors, the patterns carry such names as Raspberry/Honey and Blueberry/Aqua Fizz. The Jubilee collection, which debuted in spring 2006, was inspired by traditional baroque damask. “We pared down this classic motif into sleek modern lines, hoping to create eye-catching prints that appeal to a broad range of tastes, from traditional to vanguard,” Lisa says.
Now that they’ve made a splash within the design community, Nancy (with experience as a textile artist in fashion) and Lisa (a former consultant for Kate Spade) continue to focus on melding style and environmental sense. “Our dedication to producing sustainable products is highly influenced by the fact that we are both mothers,” says Lisa. “Why expose yourself, your children and the planet to toxicity when you can have fabulous design without welcoming unnecessary chemicals into your home?”