Jessica Alpern Brown’s primary work as a paper cutter now informs her multidisciplinary art and design practice and exploration of interior design products. Our current product selections include Jessica’s versatile and dynamic Contour Discs which premiered with our Monmade x CDCP Collection. With Green Leap, Monmade launched Jessica’s Light Line Pendants, a dynamic and colorful collection of modern lighting.
Jessica’s inherently sustainable mindset informs her newest Light Lines Pendants. The colorful creations maximize material use and minimize waste by using cut-offs from her other products. The lights also utilize plastic cups reclaimed from catering companies for their center structure. The collection offers a variety of shapes, sizes, and color options, from table lamps and small designs to bold chandelier-inspired pendants.
Large Bell Pendant in Full-Spectrum Color (top left) and Fan Pendant in Frosted Teal (top right & bottom).
“When envisioning my light fixtures, I aimed to perfect a “Matryoshka Doll” design model that uses a series of shapes of decreasing size placed one inside another. This method allows me to obtain several products from each sheet of material while eliminating waste. The design also allows for a no-adhesive assembly by incorporating a clip-style locking feature.”
Separate from the hardware and wiring components, the pendant shades in Jessica’s Light Lines collection now offer a Declare label. The shades are available in three dynamic profiles, including Bell and Fan in large and small sizes. In addition to size, each pendant design is available in a range of single colors and partial-to-full color spectrum options. Hardware and cords may be customized to match or contrast acrylic shade colors.
In addition to unique pendent lighting, Jessica’s Contour Discs offer flexible and dynamic interior design accents. This fresh take on a classic wall art solution explore moiré patterns and effects. When layered in varied and dynamic arrangements, the overlapping textures of the discs, coupled interplay of light, create a sense of movement and depth.
Through our assessment of her studio and processes, Jessica Alpern Brown achieves five of Monmade’s six dimensions of sustainability: environment, climate, human health, social equity, and eco-labeling.
Woman- and veteran-owned business.
Sourcing new and reclaimed materials regionally and domestically from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Utah.
Laser-cut designs in acrylic require no framing or adhesives for assembly. Light Lines products utilize plastic cups reclaimed from catering companies.
Pendant shades components from the Light Lines collection are Declare labeled.
Lighting products are either UL-Certified or use UL-listed components. Producer uses domestic third-party manufacturing for the UL Certification and assembly of her lights, including manufacturing support partners in Derry, PA and Denver, CO.
Producer offsets her studio’s energy usage with a wind power generator and rainwater collection.
Producer’s primary production facility is a shared maker space, Protohaven, which is in proximity to producer’s studio, located within an LMI area, and currently working on increasing environmental initiatives.
Producer collects and reuses her smallest cut-out pieces in a jewelry series called Remnants.Larger cut-offs from her Contour Discs are used in Light Lines products. When she cannot repurpose materials, she donates them to the Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse.
Learn more about Monmade’s holistic approach to sustainability.
Monmade’s holistic approach to sustainability is described by our Dimensions of Sustainability. Rooted in our team’s knowledge of responsible manufacturing processes for small businesses, our six defined dimensions inform our assessments of artisan producers and their products. Our producers and their products achieve a dimension when they meet one or more of that dimension’s defined criteria.
Using sustainable materials including recycled, reclaimed, or bio-based materials, prioritizing sustainable vendors and local sourcing, minimizing environmental impact of facility and/or manufacturing waste, publicizing sustainability practices, planning for responsible growth
Climate
Manufacturing at and/or within 100 miles of primary business location, using renewable energy sources, reducing energy consumption, reducing water consumption, measuring carbon footprint, seeking reduction of use of non-renewable resources
Human Health
Products contributing to safe indoor and/or outdoor air quality, using low-to-zero VOC adhesives/sealants/finishes/paints, products comply with specific industry standards including UL and ADA, providing adequate safety and personal protection equipment for employees, safely using/storing/disposing of materials and/or finishes, using and/or encouraging green cleaning methods for products, recommending responsible installation and/or maintenance of products
Social Equity
Business is women and/or minority owned, workforce is more than 50% women and/or minorities, located in an LMI area, hiring local workforce, contributing portion of profits to charitable organizations, practicing public stewardship, offering employee benefits, providing wage transparency
Circular Economy
Designing products for zero-impact, reuse, and the elimination of waste throughout the entire life-cycle of the product. A circular system often includes (but not limited to) using sustainable materials (e.g. bio-based, reclaimed), safe and efficient manufacturing, durability, using sustainable packaging materials, and a plan for end-of-life
Eco-Labels
Indicates when producers/products/ product components are independently certified/verified for their environmental attribute claims by a third-party organization; certifications/ verifications can be for single attribute claims such as FSC or multiple attribute claims such as EPD, HPD, and life-cycle analysis