Beatriz Ball upholds craftsmanship, sustainability
Beatriz Ball has always believed in craftsmanship and sustainability, even when it wasn’t fashionable.
The designer’s longstanding commitment to craftsmanship and sustainability began when she began working with the metal artisans of Mexico more than thirty years ago, and can be summed up in her credo, “Kind to your world, gorgeous on your table.”
For Ball, and her company, there is a purpose beyond selling products, and sustainability is inextricably linked to the aesthetic of her handmade metal products in the Atelier Collection.
“Today, there’s more interest in handmade things and that appreciation and awareness is wonderful, but for me it only really has meaning when it has an emotional value for the person who owns it,” said Beatriz Ball. “As a designer, I can provide that emotional connection if the material is handmade and sustainable, and in the process, I can support the artisanal communities that make it.”
Ball likes to say that she designs items of “heirloom quality,” that is, soulful and durable products meant to be passed on to future generations.
Ball proudly utilizes sustainable and recycled materials in the crafting of her handmade metal products in her busy foundry located on the outskirts of Mexico City. The aluminum employed, as well as the special sand used for sand-casting molds, is all recycled.
At her zero-waste foundry, all miscasts are melted down to create new pieces. The company also disposes of its waste products through eco-responsible methods. Her foundry was just converted into a 100% solar powered facility, making it 100% carbon neutral.
Ball educates and encourages her artisans to individually embrace recycling by monetizing their efforts. At the end of the year, all funds from the selling of leftover materials for recycling are redistributed to employees.
“Aluminum is a boon for the environment because there is no limit to how many times it can be recycled,” said Ball. “Indeed, nearly 75% of all aluminum ever produced is still in use today. Recycling aluminum saves around 95% of energy needed to make the metal from raw materials, and 95% of greenhouse gas emissions.”
Sustainability has been a component of Beatriz Ball’s handmade manufacturing since Day-1, and her intensely handmade Atelier metalware products employ eco-friendly and sustainable materials and are crafted by artisans who trace a heritage of metalworking for generations.
Beatriz Ball will exhibit at U.S. summer 2025 shows in Dallas, Atlanta and Las Vegas.
