Kicking off Soy Style with LEE Industries

Posted by Jessica, BiOH Polyols Marketing Manager on July 13, 2009

We are pleased to kick off our Soy Style: Did you KnOH? Campaign with LEE Industries - a leader that is all about Soy Style. As a family owned company out of Newton, North Carolina, LEE is known for their innovative styles, custom upholstery, and sustainable products. LEE was the first furniture company in 2006 to adopt soy-based Preserve foam made with BiOH polyols when they launched their naturalLEE line. And today, many of the naturalLEE features come standard across their products – leaving a smaller environmental impact.

Photo courtesy of LEE Industries

You can check out what’s inside their furniture on their website. Some of the eco-friendly features available from LEE include frames from certified sustainable forests, cushions made with soy-based foam and Ingeo™ fiber, water based finishes, as well as many natural and organic fabrics. To learn more about the sustainable features of LEE upholstery, check out this short clip of Norman Coley (President of LEE) in their showroom at High Point, NC:

But LEE isn’t just about more sustainable products and processes. They are all about great style and quality that will last. They offer over 1000 fabrics and 80 leathers to find the perfect look for your home. You’ve likely seen some of their furniture featured in popular magazines. And LEE’s product offerings continue to surprise and inspire others… like the leather slipcover chair shown in the clip below. Yes, I said leather and slipcover together!

LEE can make products in any size to meet your needs. Here’s a great example for those tall friends of yours… maybe they should consider the LEE S-U-P-E-R-S-T-E-T-C-H sofa!

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. LEE offers many more fabulous and fun styles… the possibilities are only limited by your imagination! To scope out LEE style for your next furniture purchase, visit one of the stores near you.

Photo courtesy of LEE Industries

What do you think LEE should design next?

Filed Under: BiOH® Polyols, Eco-friendly Furniture, Green Design, Green Living, Soy Foam

Scott Sandy said on July 13, 2009:

“naturalLEE”, clever.

Design next? I dunno… cat furniture?
Mysty Cain said on July 13, 2009:

Lee Industries – social responsibility, sustainable resource,SFI, SFC, Soy Based, Corn-based, geo fiber, BiOH polyol foam, all down cushions, low VOC, …..shoot, tell ‘em “It just begs to be petted.”

Beautiful & responsible – I am sold.
Bruce Barone said on July 13, 2009:

This is all NEW news to me and rather quite exciting. I think the public needs to become more aware of these positive changes and the impact on our lives, our environment. I notice that two of my favorite furniture stores near me, both in Northampton, Essentials and Fly by Night carry some of these products. I know I will be visiting them soon. Maybe these stores should hold “open houses” and explain to the public more about the changes in the industry and how they can make better, wiser purchases. Yes, Open Houses!!!
Susan Rapp said on July 13, 2009:

From fabulous Eco-Natural to Eco-Chic to Eco-Glam, Lee not only gets fashion forward style, they truly get the Green Movement: It’s about choice. Thank you Lee Industries for giving us that choice, for being a leader in the road to change, and for being one of the true innovators in our industry.
Bill Brent said on July 13, 2009:

Hey, how about using a biocomposite material as an element in the furniture support structure (“frame” or armrest), to create a greener furniture product?

See, for example pp. 19-20, here:
http://www.uoguelph.ca/plant/courses/plnt-6250/pdf/M_Golbabaie.pdf

[quote:]
“…countertop which is made by a commercial company (Avanti Polymers) in Gretna, Manitoba [51]. This company has focused on the strength of hemp fibers and used them in injection molds to create countertops that are uncommonly light but durable. Bacterial enzymes are required to break down the hemp into a material that can be bound by polyurethane to harden the mass…. In general, countertop is interesting due to its biodegradability characteristics.”

Seems like this injection mold “countertop” material could also work well for a couch or chair!
Ana Maria Bassani said on July 13, 2009:

Fabulous looking furniture, as a real estate agent, clients are beginning to ask about green homes and how they can lessen their footprints, now I can tell them to look for green furniture and fabrics. Would LEE be interested in “lending” his furniture to stage a home that’s up for sale? Great way to showcase your wares!
Jessica, BiOH Polyols Marketing Manager said on July 14, 2009:

Thank you for your interesting and thoughtful comments yesterday. From real solutions like using a biocomposite material to promoting retailer education and recognizing their innovation… all your input is appreciated and valued by us and the manufacturers!!

I’m pleased to announce the $100 winner from day #1 of the Soy Style contest…. Mysty Cain. We loved the tagline from the second video… “..shoot, tell ‘em ‘It just begs to be petted’.”

Thanks for all of the comments!
Julia Rosien said on July 14, 2009:

I agree, the comment about this furniture needs to be petted is bang on. This is the kind of eco-sexy furniture that I’m interested in for my home – and my office.

I’m a slave to fashion and I’m so glad we’ve finally bid farewell to the belief that it has to be uncomfortable to be good for the environment.

Great videos, Jessica. Looking forward to the rest of the week!
Ann Dailey said on July 22, 2009:

For the next design, I recommend an ottoman, large enough for a golden retriever to rest on, which can also be used for storage of file folders when your dog is not on it and when you are not using it as a footstool.