Tropicana Mar-Apr 2018 #117 Edge of Excitement

JEFFREY YANG AND JOEY WOO
TAKING CARE OF YOUR ART OF TREE
FURNITURE
Art of Tree pieces require very little
maintenance and have a half-year
warranty against cracking. Founder and
Creative Director Jeffrey Yang suggests
resurfacing once every three to five years
and avoiding the following to ensure the
longevity of any piece purchased.
1. AVOID THE ELEMENTS
“ Most natural products, timber
especially, are more suited to being used
indoors. Exposure to UV rays from
sunlight can affect the coating and cause
the colour to fade and lose its lustre.”
2. BE CAREFUL WITH SHARP OBJECTS
“Anything that compromises the coating,
such as sharp objects used with force can
cause a deep scratch that penetrates the
wood. If this happens and you spill wine
or curry onto the table, it could seep
through and stain.”
3. AVOID EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURES
“Art of Tree pieces have been tested
against hot water up to 100°C. Anything
hotter, such as a pan straight off the
stove, is going to burn the coating.”
4. DONT USE CORROSIVE CLEANERS
“ When cleaning the table, avoid things
that could damage the coating like
thinner, which is often used when
painting or removing nail polish. “Water
and detergent are fine.”
Jeffrey nodded in the direction of an elegant chocolate
coloured slab. “It came from Taiping Lake Gardens,” he recalled
“August 23, 2012. It was in the papers, caused by a storm. [The
salvaged tree] was kept with Majlis Perbandaran Taiping for
three and a half years before they decided to sell it.” He spoke of
the slabs with the familiarity of a friend. But tracing the precise
source of Art of Tree’s timber is not always possible, though it is
a lofty goal worth striving for. As Joey underlined, “We have to
start somewhere.” The good news is that government agencies
and establishments are already recognising their efforts. “FRIM is
going to, hopefully, work very closely with us and provide us with
the traceability of their trees,” Jeffrey added.
Repeatedly, both Jeffrey and Joey talked of “closing the loop”,
to give back to where it makes a difference, and are in negotiations
with NGOs like PEKA – which was formed to stop the destruction
of natural resources – and Future Forest (a forest management
company) to channel part of the proceeds of Art of Tree’s sales
into planting trees, rehabilitating forests and contributing to the
source of their livelihood, Mother Nature. As Jeffrey put it, “to
become a company that absorbs carbon rather than produces it.”
Adopting a ‘closing the loop’ philosphy would not only transform
the company into one that is carbon neutral but has the potential
to transform it into one that is carbon negative.
This thoughtful approach doesn’t stop there. Heavily involved
in corporate social responsibility (CSR), Art of Tree has also
supplied initiatives like Pitstop Community Café with furniture,
and donated items to be sold to raise funds for homes for the
handicapped.
Jeffrey summed it up perfectly. “Every tree that we salvage, and
every market share that we gain from making the furniture from
salvaged trees is market share we are taking from furniture makers
that use forest trees. If that market share is three percent to five
percent, then it means we are making the world three percent to
five percent better. And if we can plant 10 or even 100 more trees,
that will make an impact for the generations to come.”
Sustainable, eco-conscious and shrewd, Art of Tree is the kind
of business run by the kind of business people Malaysia and the
world needs more of.
PHOTOGRAPHY BRIAN FANG, M8 STUDIO
ART DIRECTION NOR HAMIMAH ABDULLAH STYLIST BOSCO LIM
MAKE UP AND HAIR JOEY YAP
TM | MARCH/APRIL 2018
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