The McSock, a seamless cover made from organic felted wool that protects 13″ MacBooks and iPhones, not only is the most fashionable protection, but supports a cooperative, Fanm Veret, the Women of Verrettes, in Haiti! Turtle Tree foundation, a non-profit registered in the Netherlands since 2007, has started several ventures in Haiti. These collaborations help to develop green artisanal products that are marketed globally, achieving economic independence in these isolated rual communities.
The sleeves’ story is a result of Tom Vriens, a New York based filmmaker and journalist, meeting the Verrettes in 2007. Helping the small town to create and market new products, the Verrettes were introduced to a series of workshops organized by Vriens’ newly created foundation Turtle Tree along with Frank Bierens and Siebren Hodes.
With the villagers lack of textile experience and electricity, felting, the oldest textile technique was instructed, since it only requires warm water, soap and human strength. Designers, Annie Arthur and Claudy Jongstra were enlisted to teach the art in a series of workshops. Turtle Tree, choosing to use the durable material for MacBooks and iPhones reached out to designer Mary Jane Marcasiano for input. Now available, the McSock is sold through Apple reseller, Tekserve in Chelsea.
Read the entire story here with related links.
