There is a commitment amongst the staff at Nube (www.nubegreen.com)to several core principles: sell only products that are (really) made in the United States, sell products that use recycled materials in a creative manner, and support small (and hopefully local) artisans. Their commitment is fulfilled by the wide array of products sold at the store. From clothing to office furnishings and whimsical art, artistry and creativity on are display at every turn. The many ways that materials -- which otherwise would be at the end of their useful life -- can be re-purposed surprises and delights. Whether the product’s recycled lineage can be traced to its origins, as is the case with the Ag Bags, or is bereft its former use, as in the case with the clothing, is one of the most interesting character of the store. Most often, merchants selling recycled products wear their environmental pretence on their sleeve; at Nube, it is the quality of craft and creativity of design that is first and foremost on display. Not that the lineage is not first and foremost to Ruth True, Nube’s owner, as witnessed by the pair maps above a counter showing the inventories’ origins.
[caption id="attachment_760" align="alignnone" width="700" caption="The Store"]
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[caption id="attachment_765" align="alignnone" width="700" caption="Chandelier made from Recycled Cardboard"]
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The space itself is thoughtfully crafted from materials apparently long forgotten; the clever use of doors found in the Odd Fellow’s basement to sub-divide the space reflects the practical use that many of the for sale items exhibit. You can see all this and more at Nube, in the Odd Fellow's Building at Pine and 10th Avenue, just down from Elliott Bayy Book Company and next to Molly Moon's.
[caption id="attachment_764" align="alignnone" width="700" caption="Maps Showing the Inventory's Origins"]
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[caption id="attachment_759" align="alignnone" width="700" caption="Doors on Tracks Subdividing the Space"]
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[caption id="attachment_761" align="alignnone" width="700" caption="Furniture made from Street Signs"]
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[caption id="attachment_763" align="alignnone" width="700" caption="Ag Bags made from Bicycle Tubes"]
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[caption id="attachment_762" align="alignnone" width="700" caption="Scary Critters, Made from !?"]
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[caption id="attachment_768" align="alignnone" width="700" caption="Housewares made in the U.S. from Recycled Materials"]
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