We are all products of our environment.
Here in Southern California, we live in a strange place. The LA metropolitan area is one of the most population-dense and culturally vibrant areas of the country. But, just two hours out of town and over the mountains you enter one of the most sparse, beautiful and wide open desert in the world. You can have your coffee at Alfred on Melrose and then be on top of a sand dune in Death Valley by late lunchtime--if you drive fast enough.
If you go east instead of north, one of those places you can visit out there in the dust is a little silver mining ghost town called CALICO.
Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire
(you should read it)
CALICO is a workshop and studio founded by Chris Webster, somebody who grew up in the desert and somehow found his way into the city.
We specialize in furniture design, home goods, and architectural fixtures. We don't really do cabinetry--we mill solid wood into complex shapes better than most others. We also serve artists and the entertainment industry located here in LA, and other manufacturers and brands.
We do things with a modern touch with industrial knowledge that can only be gained by seeing how the best do it--and then boil it down to a smaller and more approachable package. When Chris was designing his first lines of furniture, he quickly realized how most domestic manufacturers were locked away from most people due to the huge minimum orders they required. The desert mentality of "screw that, we'll do it ourselves" took over, and here we are now happily serving the creative community of LA.
CALICO is at its core about sustainability and improving the quality of life for anybody we can. This company was partly started to avoid playing into a system of exploitation both of the environment and individual. We believe in the 4 day workweek, and 4 weeks of vacation a year with good pay. We don't take on projects that will just end up in the dumpster after an event or use harmful finishes or materials. It is very possible to run a manufacturing business with these rules, and we've been proving it since we started.
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Something doesn't fit? Wrong files sent? Crunchtime? No worries.
If you're around, swing by whenever. Much better than email.
No harmful materials, finishes, or single-use projects.
We are not a black box. Ask about anything about the process.
Don't be a stranger, now! We'd love to see how we can help you get where you need to go. Even if that means in the middle of nowhere, sleeping well, knowing that your project is getting taken care of back home.
