June 4th, 2010
Leap Media are a new customer. They obviously are keen to work ethically and have links with the National Trust.
A few weeks ago they needed some apronsmade with fairtrade certified cotton. Urgently. We were able to supply them with our unbleached, natural aprons. Their customer the National Trust were pleased – and so were we. Here they are!
Fairtrade cotton aprons - National Trust
Now Leap Media are back wanted fairtrade certified cotton t shirts. Urgently. Well the more people make this choice the better so I am delighted, plus they are a pleasure to work with.
It’s the week end aftfer a good week.
Happy days.
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June 1st, 2010
Every now and again I get a bit wobbly. As I did last night. I have purchased morestock of Fairtrade and organic garments to extend our range - and then I think……..have I done the right thing? Arethere enough people out there who will be committed enough to purchase it? Are there schools who will want school uniform made with Fairtrade certified cotton. Slight panic on my part. When ever I read about other people in business they always seems so certain. I wish I was more like that. So I have to spend some time in thought and think again of the things I am certain of. Well……..
- I am certain that trying to trade more fairly is the way I want to work
- I love the idea of trying to think of the human race rather that just humans in the UK
- I am in certain that there are lots of other people who have similar thoughts
- I do think that we need to care for our planet and realise that we need to give as well as take
Once I have written this it helps me to clarify thing again. I may “wobble” and worry but if I believe in what I have written then that must be the way for me to proceed. So I await my next delivery of goods and they include our school uniform options. This is exciting I want to find the name of the ship they are on and make it seem more real. They will be here in around three weeks.
NOW. I need to let let schools and companies of the options we can offer them. They do have quality Fairtrade and organic choices. I am certain of this as well – this will be the challenge – to ensure they know they have a choice and that we exist.
Challenges. I like them.
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May 17th, 2010
Women and children Fairtrade cotton farmers
I visited India to spend sometime with the people who grow the cotton for our Fairtrade polo shirts and T-shirts which we supply to schools for their uniform. It was adventure rights from the word go and was fascinating from the moment the wheels of our plane wheels touched down in the City of Ahmedabad.
The whole trip was fascinating and wonderful however, there were two main highlights. We were talking to spinners at the large Mahima factory when we were suddenly ushered along, being told that the children were going home and that we would miss them. ‘Children? What children?’ I was puzzled as I looked around at the adult filled room. We squeezed into an old car and soon arrived at the colourful Swayan School Academy which was an inspiring experience! I was able to briefly visit each class and meet the children who were from the rural farming cotton growing communities surrounding the school. The school was financially supported by Mahima the spinning company we had just visited who produce solely organic and Fairtrade cotton.
The children themselves were so polite and a little shy with us but they were clearly very happy. It was one of those rare moments that I know I will remember forever. As I left the school I realised that the whole trip to India would have been worth that one special visit. The knowledge that by manufacturing Fairtrade and organic school uniforms we were connecting directly with, and supporting this school made everything seem real and worthwhile.
Swayam Academy Class
I squeezed into the car again and was driven along a very bumpy track to a Fairtrade co-operative of cotton farmers. I had no idea what to expect as I had been told that the harvest had already taken place. However, another memorable experience was about to take place.
Drummers making us welcome
On arrival two young men drummed us a greeting and as I walked into the village I was surrounded by excited children and smiling adults. The harvest was not over and I was shown around the crop by a group of proud farmers. . They seemed honoured by my visit and interest which was so touching because of course it was me who was so honoured at their kind and excited reception.. Later I sat with the head of the village in the yard, and was presented with an Indian doll carrying Fairtrade cotton which was a very touching moment for me. These people, who in comparison to our Western lifestyle have so little, gave so much to me in time and smiling pride, and it may seem cliché but I was truly moved by the whole experience.
Once back from our trip I was absolutely committed, even more so than before, and it seems to me that we to supply Fairtrade school uniform seems the perfect thing for Cotton Roots to concentrate on. It’s fairer, has a good impact on the environment, and helps these children with an education that all our children in the UK already enjoy.
Posted in Fairtrade School Uniform, Susan's Musings, Visit to Cotton Farmers in Gujarat | No Comments »
April 27th, 2010
Christian Aid
Another new customer to be proud of. We have been working with Christian Aid and supplied them with Fairtrade cotton hoodies and Fairtrade and organic T shirts.
All in bright red.
If you click on their logo above and look at their web site you will see all the wonderful work that they do.
The great thing about the organisations we work with, they may have different faiths, or live with slightly different approaches, but they all strive to care for others and our planet. I have also found another reason to love building this business……..the customers are a pleasure to deal with. They are interested, patient and warm. Oh happy days.
Wearing our Fairtrade & organic polo shirt
Here we have a Christian Aid worker wearing one of the polo shirts which we have embroidered with their logo.
Posted in Charities, Organisations Wearing Fairtrade | 1 Comment »
April 25th, 2010
Pomegranate
Well the order for the Eden Project, aprons dyed with tea and coffee, have all been safely delivered. I am genuinely proud of them. The are of great quality, the weight of fabric and the construction and the colour……I love the strong but somehow, still soft colour.
We decided to have some made to hold in stock for potential new customers. It is this type of judgement that we have to make – to hold stock or not? Do we take the risk of buying garments without having confirmed customers or do we wait for customers and then manufacture to order for them?
I have made a few mistakes – and although I realise that this is the only way to learn – my mistakes are not my most favourite thing. For example I have lots of organic bar aprons in both unbleached and black fabric, but I have found that we have had sold far more of our Fairtrade and organic bibbed aprons – the bar aprons wait patiently (but not me).
Naturally dyed garments in our industry (company clothing, uniforms) are a step ahead. It will take us a while to find the customers who are committed and leaders themselves to take this route with us.
We have had t shirt fabric manufactured and dyed so that we can show potential customers. Currently we have pomegranate, madder, coffee, tea plus swatches of a huge range of other colours we can supply using less familiar plants found in India. My favourite colour at the moment is the beautiful orange dye made with the skin of pomegranate.
My current idea (as I am writing this) is to ask Jenny and Ros to come up with a print design for the front of naturally dyed T shirts. A design that gets across the message of “Dyeing for change”. We will then print it, or embroider it and see if we can find a committed organisation who would like to use it for their uniform or to sell in their shops to promote the idea of dyeing naturally.
Maybe there is a museum out there whose theme will be dyeing, or textiles, or sustainability and the idea will fit perfectly
……Well it’s Sunday and I am expecting a visitor so I have to stop thinking about business and start 1. to tidy the house 2. to think about preparing food (maybe a picnic). But before I go, if you are interested in “the perfect t shirt” take a look at http://www.betterthinking.co.uk/perfect/ I found this article sometime ago and found it useful and interesting.
Posted in Natural Dyeing & Customers, Naturally dyed garments, Susan's Musings | 5 Comments »
April 23rd, 2010
Well hurrah! They arrived today from Morses in India.
Our new, hot of the press, Fairtrade Polo shirt sizing sets.
In our business before our order is manufactured in bulk Morses sends us a set of garments so that we can check that the sizing is just as we expect it – and today our set of children’s t shirt and children’s polo shirts were delivered. They are perfect! We also received our “lab dips”. These are small swatches (pieces of fabric) dyed to show us that the colour will also be perfect.
Morses has been a real help to help. He is thorough, gives me confidence and is looking after the manufacture of our garments. I met up with Morses when I visited India last year. It really makes a difference to talk face to face.
Morses at work
Posted in Fairtrade School Uniform, Visiting India - Our suppliers | No Comments »
April 23rd, 2010
Company HORN
Here we are again. Another busy week. We have lots of orders coming through and I am really pleased with how our Fairtrade company is doing.
When things go well we have a “company horn”. It is an old brass antique horn and if someone in the company has something to celebrate then they honk the horn! This week it got honked twice.
The first time Karen and Ros finished embroidering around 1000 fleece jackets. Whew! A real time for celebration and a good old honking of the horn.
Ros and Karen honking!
The second time was was Ros received her Fire Marshall certificate. Ros had been on a workshop to learn all about fires, how to stop them happening, how to put them out, and how to get everyone out of the building. Everyone who has been on the course finds it very interesting. So we are looking forward to Ros teaching us all she knows.
I am looking forward to the next time someone wants to “honk our horn!”
Posted in Susan's Musings, Working at Cotton Roots | 2 Comments »
April 14th, 2010
Salvation Army Fairtrade T shirts
More great news. It just seems to keep coming at the moment! Lisa has been working away with the Salvation Army on a project they have and they placed their order yesterday. We are supplying them with Fairtrade cotton t shirts and I am really pleased, of course, that they decided to use Cotton Roots.
Offering Fairtrade garments is a niche business but one I find really fascinating and fulfilling. The Salvation Army are a growing band of new customers from the charity sector that are keen to use ethically sourced clothing. On a personal note my grandmother Maud Smith who ran the public houses “The Lion” and “The Royal Oak” in Abertillery from around 1925 – 1965 would have been pleased. The Salvation Army often came to the pubs and she made them very welcome. It was tough times for the miners and their families in the valleys of South Wales and the Salvation Army did lots of supportive work. So my Grandmother, although a publican, really respected them and especially asked for them at her own funeral, a fitting tribute of mutual respect. She was a business woman, family woman, strong woman and I think she would have been proud of us supplying the Salvation Army – so it gives me an added thrill. Fairtrade T shirts, my Gran, and the Sally Army, a good combination.
Posted in Charities, Susan's Musings | No Comments »
April 14th, 2010
Idomeneo the Opera
English National Opera – Idomeneo by Mozart
We have a new customer and that excites me. Their clothing could not be Fairtrade due to their very specific requirements which is a shame – but it’s just not possible yet.
The English National Opera are performing “Idomeneo” at London Coliseum and we are supplying the costumes. A new one for us – costumes. It is a very contemporary opera so the performers will be wearing suits, shirts, and blouses which we have supplied. I have had very little involvement in this order Jenny has worked hard sending samples, and exchanging goods until the opera company was happy with everything.
I am excited about this. I have never been to the opera and I feel a trip to the Coliseum coming on for all of us at Cotton Roots. I am hoping to get some photographs from the trip and will post them on our blog! We are of course still using manufacturers who ethically make our garments.
So if you go along to “Idomeneo” in the summer look out for our uniforms. We will be there!
This link will let you listen to osme of the music and an interview with the conductor. Take a look.
http://www.eno.org/see-whats-on/productions/production-page.php?&itemid=26#music
Posted in Music Industry | 2 Comments »
April 7th, 2010
Fairtrade organic aprons embroidered
The grand open of the new, swish, really, really green, City Eco Hotel takes place on Friday 9th of April in Bournemouth.
We have supplied the hotel with their catering staff aprons which are not only organic, made with fairtrade cotton, but also dyed organically using plants. The shipment from India arrived today so we are burning the midnight oil to embroider the aprons with “The green room” or The green house” and make sure we deliver them on time.
Burning the midnight oil is part of running a company and the enjoyment comes when customers are pleased with us and the garments.
We opened the parcels excitedly - as this was the first batch of aprons that we have made especially for our customers – City Eco Hotel and the Eden Project. It was a nervous few days as the aprons were “Stuck in customs”. ”Stuck in customs” is a phrase that always gives me the collywobbles. It could mean weeks waiting………. I was worried. But lots of phone calls later and helpful assistance and they were “unstuck” and arrived today. Hooray!
The hotel staff will also be wearing Fairtrade polo shirts which are unbleached. This means that the colour is a beautiful oatmeal hue. We have embroidered the polo shirts with the hotel emblem, a leaf. They polo shirts are organic and very soft to touch – so of course scrummy to wear.
I am excited and proud that the director of the hotel Sarah Burrows decided to use our uniforms. We are trying to expand Fairtrade and organic options for customers all the time. Their hotel motto is “Luxury doesn’t have to cost the earth”. I like it.
So look out for the hotel if you stay in Bournemouth www.cityecohotel.com.
MUST get back work embroidering their aprons…….off I go.
Embroidery machine showing "The Green Room" embroidery
Posted in Hotel Industry, Natural Dyeing & Customers, Organisations Wearing Fairtrade | 2 Comments »
