We are what we wear? ...ERM YES . it absorbs through our skin.

For 20 years I've had this idea .....

that's a real long time to not do something about it.

After lock down eased, I felt that it really is now or never. 

Anyone who knows me has heard me go on about the absorption of toxins and the effects on the system.

I totally believe starting a green business is the ONLY way forward in 2020 but there are so many extra things to think about it is easy to get lost in the details.  But I thought I would use this space to outline what is important about WHY I'm going in this direction. 

Organic clothing is nothing new but still there a lot of people wondering if it's worth it?

 I mean, if you can get a cotton t- shirt or whatever much cheaper. why bother? 

 IT ISN'T CHEAPER.. ITS COSTING US THE WORLD, OUR HEALTH AND OUR FUTURE.

That may seem a touch on the dramatic side..but hear me out.

To produce just ONE  T-shirt and ONE pair of jeans it takes 5000 gallons of water.  

That is some serious water consumption... put it this way...

 How many t-shirts and pairs of jeans have you got in your wardrobe?, Your spouse's wardrobe? Your children's?

OK, now imagine all the stock made and sat in the shops waiting for us to buy?

That is a fucking awesome amount of water used and needed. Which is just for fashion??  Wait a minute? WTAF? Are there not people in the world that STILL don't have have access to water?? 

Are they bothered about the next fashion??   I think not.

One of the major problems with cotton - to grow in abundance the government added poisons after WWII. Cotton had been growing happily for 4000 years before the terrible idea of adding pesticides.These pesticides are now integrated in the ecosystem and in their water supply. This directly affects these farmers and their families. They are getting cancers and toxin poisoning working on their own land, living in the toxic environment and all this damage needed not to happen really. 

 CONSUMERISM IS A KILLER.

 A lesser known issue is they are in debt with growing this crop as its been so heavily funded by the government (?)  they are now not getting enough money. Lots are taking their own lives and since 1997 over 200'000 have committed suicide with their own chemicals because of the debt. I feel physically sick that these things are happening and the production carries on. 

Not only does it affect the farmers also it is affecting us, the end user too.. so yes it  actually is all our problem for those still feel so far untouched by the atrocities above.

Our skin is our largest organ and its it built up of layers and pores. We basically ingest what we wear.. every pore is absorbing  the chemical traces on our clothing and especially our nightwear as we conduct more heat at night.  Conventional cotton is one of the most chemically intensive treated fabrics around.These traces can be passed into our bloodstream everytime we wear and sleep on conventional cotton. This information alone should make you want to change to organic. 

I'm not trying to make you feel bad about what's in your wardrobe or worry you, BUT as consumers we  need to be made aware of what we putting in and next to our bodies. We have been led to believe that conventional cotton is a natural, pure and clean fabric. But that's just what false media have led us to believe.

There has also been a massive cultural change in what we eat and treat ourselves. In the last 10/15 years there are organic food stores and holistic practitioners in every town. Now we are going further finding out about this stuff and this needs to happen - we are researching more into what we are wearing and what is being produced. 

So what about organic cotton? This is grown from seed, not GMO seeds and using method that rejuvenate the soil and the environment. There are not any pesticides or chemicals used in the farming, which the farmers are pretty happy about as you can imagine. It is hand picked and processed with the environment in mind. Most manufactures of Organic cotton have fair trading in place. They care about the chain from farmer to manufacture. Everyone is paid fairly. Using this system will renew the land and hopefully fix some of the damage farming conventional cotton has done over the years. 

This will inevitably take more time than it took to fuck it up.

 Prevention is better than cure. Every time people.

I would like you make an informed choice the next time you want to purchase a t shirt, especially a cheap crappy one from Primark.....omg - dont even let me start on that. There are other ways to shop these days. I love to thrift and there are loads of bargains to be had - try something new. Feel better about your shopping choices. The days of mindless shopping should be over, if your woken...just a tiny bit.

We all have a responsibility to Mother Earth. 

We are only caretakers of this planet for the next generations. I really don't want to be the ones to say - ,

My bad...we didn't care enough.

Big Love

L.x 

PS 

SOON IM KICKING OFF A NEW 100% ORGANIC/VEGAN CASUAL WEAR LINE SOON

WATCH THIS SPACE

P.PS I've put a couple of links which are very informative sites if you wish for more information 

https://organic.org/introduction-to-organic-fibers/

https://organiccottonplus.com/pages/learning-center

Welcome, Hello and Bonjour!

This is my first blog and have been thinking a lot about the first post...even to the point of procrastination..... and this was supposed to be started at the beginning of the year. My bad.I felt wanted to start a blog to keep a diary of starting a sustainable business and all the shits and giggles that come with that. ....not. 

Also my friends have had enough of me rattling on......so im changing up the audience.

My name is Louise and I  live in Yorkshire, I am a happy single mum to the most beautiful and kind little boy. He is my guiding light and his protection is my highest priority.  I spend my time being mum and since the lock down I am following my dreams and launching a new organic clothing and home ware business. This is something I have been passionate about for all my adult life.. and its about time to make it happen.

When we get the time my son and I like to go off in our Camper to get back to nature. Nothing makes me happier than driving around in her.....she is a dream.

Oh, I'm also learning French, so if anyone wants to leave any comments in basic french.. I would be more than happy to respond in french..I would love to venture further afield in the camper in the next year, possibly to french soil....

Before  becoming a mum  I had my own dressmaking/alterations shop and studied Garment Technology, I have over 15 years experience in designing and making garments.  I love to sew and find it very relaxing...until its stressful. I studied Fashion in my 20's after deciding I didn't want a normal 9-5.

I've been excited to write about the shit I get up to for a while as i've always loved words and feel I am much more expressive in writing than actual verbal.  I have plenty of nuggets of wisdom to share with the world  about  all kinds of stuff...betcha cant wait..... it was always just finding the time. Now a tiny bit past 40....I now realise there is never really time.....

 .....WE HAVE TO SHOEHORN ALL THE SHIT IN SOMEHOW MY PEOPLE . 🤣🙌

We are  all  (hopefully) being made very aware of the continuing pollution of the planet and rightfully so as this needs addressing by each and everyone in our own ways. I am very passionate about saving this great place we call Earth. She is one awesome son of a bitch.

The fashion industry IS A MAJOR OFFENDER and I have been an advocate of the use of recycled and more importantly sustainable fabric when making items for customers for a number of years. I have watched eagerly as new sustainable fabrics popped up and this makes my heart sing. As for myself, have fortunately  never been a shopper. Wiling away hours trying on clothes I have no intention or money to buy???? WTF is that about Ladies?? 

I haven't the time to make myself beautiful, sustainable clothing ( not yet)  so I have literally only shopping in charity shops since the beginning of 2018. ( hence the Charity shop Rose) , both for financial reasons and just not seeing any reason to buy new when there is surplus out there going to waste.I love to route at flea markets, second hand shops and a Jumble sale. Sadly not many jumble sales around in church hall anymore and always with a lady called Jean behind the scenes.

Another woman's trash is another woman's treasure, more than ever these days.

 I show all my  charity finds and creations  on my Instagram @charityfashionrocks  I would love you to please take a look and follow me style it out for generally less than a tenner for an outfit in fact that's generous budget.

 I really cannot see the money in new clothing, especially if its costing more than actual money to actually produce. People are slaves to fashion and it's being sewn by enslaved folk still in 2020!! No one needs a new top that bad. I'm pretty sure it is through ignorance why folk still buy cheap shit that is costing us our health and our children's world and some people their lives......... walk in someone else shoes, its costing others a lot. Im not sure everyone actually cares and that's the alarming fact. 

Cute pic of my son in my shoes

The last thing we want is our children not having the beautiful nature around that we are blessed with by causing unrecoverable damage. We all know we are nearly there and it's pretty critical for certain areas. All of us can do a little bit...not buy surplus stuff. I like to think this year and it's lock down has taught us a lot about what we actually need and  not just what we just want. 

Wanting more makes us unhappy and  actually getting more does not  actually make us happier ?  

We should all strive to be happy anyway, try to be more unaffected by the outside and keep our shit together.  We need to take more care of our bodies and our friends and of our mental wellbeing. 

I hope to find like minded people out there and let's communicate.

Big love and light

L.x