Mango Wood

Here at Casa Bella we are in love with Mango Wood. Not just because it produces a delicious, tropical fruit, native to India and Myanmar and other countries in East Asia. However, it's not the fruit we are obsessed with, it's the incredible wood we are left with.

By now it's hardly news that we are facing an environmental crisis. Between non sustainable farming, an over reliance on fossil fuels and the realisation that, unless we change our habits, single use items are vastly reducing our finite resources.

So how to be sustainable, whilst still supporting traditional crafts? The answer lies in being far more selective in the materials we use. And by not only having a conscience as a consumer, but by manufacturers and by businesses such as ourselves being responsible with where we source our products.

Mango wood is an excellent option, partly because of the range of colours in its grain, due to spalting, (a discolouration from natural fungus.) The typically light to golden brown wood often has fantastic streaks of beige, black, green or even yellow running through. This coupled with the incredible grain patterns leaves us with a style both unique, and akin to far more expensive hardwoods.

Being a hardwood, albeit a softer one, it’s not only incredibly durable, but fantastic for a long lasting piece of furniture. Just as fast fashion is causing massive environmental problems within the fashion world. This almost disposable plywood culture is not only exhausting our forests, but ruining the soil below.

However, mango wood, is a by-product of an existing farming practice, and, due to it being an extremely quick growing hardwood. As it matures between 8-15 years it’s by far an improvement on the centuries it takes oak and mahogany.

We’re also extremely selective with the partners we use, subscribing to the Trees for Trees organisation. This ensures that the farmers are paid to plant new trees creating a truly renewable wood source in addition to supporting the local economies and ecosystems.

By being a fast growing hardwood, mango is also extremely malleable. This makes it a much more preferable option for crafting with than more slow growing woods.

This allows for furniture just as, although we believe it to be more beautiful, than other options, whilst being far better value for money. Due to it being a by-product rather than the main product, and also being far easier to work with. These properties also make it unsuitable for hardwood flooring, leaning the furniture industry without competition for mango wood.

This leaves us with a brilliant raw material that is such a joy to work with, as malleable and beautiful as it is. This allows it to fit countless designs and styles, from chunky Dakota, to sleek Scandi or robust industrial. Whilst being as gentle with the planet as we can. Waiting for the mango tree to stop providing fruit before it takes its next adventure as multi generational furniture.

Take a look at our varied ranges of mango furniture. Then see how you can not only unlock a beautiful new aesthetic, but also create a more ethical home.