Today we’d like to introduce you to Charles Vaught.
Charles, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
While being raised in several different areas around Florida, I developed a love for our environment and adventure. During college, I created several opportunities which led to me kayaking across the USA twice. Once from Minnesota to New Orleans when I was 20, and once from Montana to the gulf when I was 21. This time alone allowed me to reflect upon my early years of life and really shaped me into the person I have become. I moved to Vietnam immediately after graduating from Florida Gulf Coast University and managed several different eco resorts for the following six years.
One of those properties was the 1st in the country to be 100% solar powered and also to use 100% reusable bamboo drinking straws. With the owners and designers of the bamboo straw company (Bamboo Step) being my friends, when I left my position at that resort in July 2018 and came back to Florida for a holiday, I immediately saw the potential for these straws here. Now I’m working with them to grow, into the US market.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
VISION: Live in a world where individuals take ownership of our environment.
PURPOSE: Enable people to make conscious choices. Empower people with a “positive impact” lifestyle.
STRATEGY: Create finely designed products that have a measurable positive impact. So design and sustainability
become inseparable.
By making a great sustainable alternative to everyday products, we allow individuals to move towards a responsible world, a step at a time.
We are addressing conscious people, those who have embraced sustainability as part of their lifestyle.
We have chosen responsible entrepreneurship as our way to take actions.
And we know that people who choose our products want to make a difference too.
Our 1st step is the Bamboo Drinking Straw, and we’re able to custom laser engrave peoples names, logos, and messages on them.
A specific species of bamboo is cultivated to produce this premium series. Each straw comes from a carefully selected culm of pure solid bamboo. It is cured and sanitized through a chemical-free process to result in a durable, and taste-less drinking straw.
The outer skin of the bamboo is removed during the manufacturing process, revealing the natural bamboo fiber structure which has become a recognized characteristic of our Bamboo Step straws.
How can artists connect with other artists?
Loneliness is my best friend. He’s always with me, every second of the day and night. We’re cool. It took me a while to learn that I had to spend time with him to be ok with him. So when you ask me to give “advice for those looking to connect with other artists”…due to loneliness, I’d say: be comfortable alone, and you’ll no longer be in a state of “wanting/looking.”
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
We are at the Legions Park Farmers Market almost every Saturday morning.
Or you can visit us online at www.bamboostep.com and help spread the word or purchase straws.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bamboostep.com
- Instagram: bamboostepcom
- Facebook: @bamboostepcom
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition, please let us know here.
