Part of the fun of attending NeoCon in THE MART’s 3.7 million square feet of space is all the people you get to meet. Whether that’s the sweet person in the Press Office who helps you connect to the WiFi, someone pointing you in the right direction on the 3rd floor when you get a little turned around, or a fellow attendee who knowingly shares where the stairs are so you both don’t have to wait in the long elevator lines.

Then there are the special people you encounter at some of the booths, the people you find yourself staying and talking with long after you’ve learned about each one of their products. In a short while, this person you’ve never met before suddenly feels like a close friend.

Welcome to Camp Kindness

That’s the vibe at Mantra Inspired Furniture. Their booth on the 7^th floor is dubbed “Camp Kindness.”

There are forest cut-outs, woodland creatures on the walls, yellow lanterns, and an embered campfire creating just the right ambiance to talk about their love: the power and potential of American forests and real wood furniture.

Their made-in-the-USA, American hardwood furniture is meant to break the stigma that real hardwood furniture can’t be two things at once, beautiful and affordable.

Their Unity Table is all about bringing people together. A bench featuring Mantra’s upcoming collaboration with Finland-based Lunawood was also on display.

Thermally modified hardwood is a new alternative for outdoor wood furniture that uses heat and steam.

The process is 100% chemical free and the results will outlast even teak. As I understand it, it’s essentially wood that undergoes the same process as a “twice baked potato,” an apt metaphor for campfire life.

The Profile Collection

The Profile Collection, entered into the Best of NeoCon category, is full of character.

Is it a vase, or is it a face?

Well, actually, this grounded American hardwood table collection features the actual profile of one of Mantra’s employees!

What’s in a Name

The eight mantras that serve as a backbone for Mantra’s mission come from a handwritten list CEO Susan Pilato received from her father years ago.

These encircle a foundation of integrity and intention in their work, but they also serve as modus operandi for living a good life beyond the work-a-day world: drive carefully, say something nice to everyone you meet, moderation, enthusiasm, organization and appearance, do it now, be cheerful and optimistic, and keep on trying.

Perhaps this is why it felt so wonderful to step onto the green grass and spend some time in the forest of “Camp Kindness.” Sometimes the grass really is greener on the other side.

For more NeoCon Show Coverage check out Momentum’s Fractals.