Alison Pollack
Environmental Entrepreneur!

"It's very satisfying to tie your integrity to your job," says Alison Pollack, owner of West Hills, CA-based Earth Friendly Interior Design.

A self-described "nature lover," Alison was raised in California's San Fernando Valley and came to FIDM originally to study Fashion Design. After seeing the less glamorous side of fashion ("especially the mathematics and pattern making"), Alison sought the advice of a FIDM career counselor who thought the Interior Design major may be a better fit. Alison explains, "I got into the program and enjoyed every bit of it."

While studying Interior Design, she took classes in color theory and textiles and found a course, where students were taught to write using the drafting table, incredibly helpful for the real world. But it was a video Alison saw in a class that changed her future. "Dennis Weaver was an old actor who built a house in Colorado out of recycled materials," Alison explains. "It incorporated aluminum cans, rubber tires, solar power and an energy efficient refrigerator. It was fascinating." This experience made Alison realize she could incorporate her love of preserving the earth with a career in Interior Design.

While in school at FIDM, Alison worked at Pottery Barn and for several interior designers. She suggests that aspiring students work in a showroom or retail space while in school. "I think that it is very valuable to learn customer service," she says. "And why the customer is always right. It really helps you if you're going to open your own business."

During her time at FIDM, Alison's future business partner was studying law and working in construction. In her own free time, Alison would learn about incorporating a business and how to obtain a business license. After graduating in 1993, Earth Friendly was born. "We went to any kind of seminar or convention that mentioned environmental construction or design," Alison says of the early days. "A lot was trial and error so we just collected a lot of resources."

Now, with a staff of five, lots of sub-contractors and a flurry of projects, Earth Friendly focuses on nontoxic and natural design, ranging from organic bedding to chemical-free paint. About 90% of her business is residential and her clients range from fellow earth lovers to cancer patients who are chemically sensitive due to treatments. "Our business is 99% word of mouth," Alison says. "We kind of travel from one friend to the next." Alison's talents have also attracted an earth-conscious celebrity clientele including Andy Dick, Nick Nolte and Vicki Lewis. "I just keep striving in the direction of bettering where we are now," she says. "Every baby step counts."

Currently, Earth Friendly is working on a 10,000 + square-foot project in Pacific Palisades, CA and a residential renovation in Malibu, CA. As for the future, Alison says she would love to build a wealthier clientele so that Earth Friendly can subsidize work with lower income bracket clients. Ideally, Alison and Earth Friendly would do charity and community work.

In the little free time that she has, Alison loves reading and taking her dogs outside. It comes as no surprise that she also enjoys time with nature. "I've tried to keep hope alive and to change something in the industry," Alison says. "Hopefully it will be a trendy thing that catches on."

Earth Friendly Interior Design may be reached by calling 818.888.6250.

Please Note: The information contained herein was confirmed at the time of original publication