Our First Review

We were so excited to get our first review online!! Thank yo to Upscale Baby for saying some nice things about us. Take a look at Upscale Baby and let us know what you think.
Hopefully we'll have more in the near future as the word gets out.

Don't Want to get Bamboozled

Thank goodness I didn't get my labels ordered(when I actually should have) otherwise I'd have to have 1/2 of them re-done. As it stands I really need to get more plugged into the business end of the, well...business otherwise I will miss very important things.

The latest would be the labeling change for "bamboo" material. Seems that some products that are made of and have the inherent beneficial qualities of bamboo aren't really that . The bamboo fiber has been reconstituted to a point that certain claims, (i.e. wicking, fast drying, antimicrobial) can no longer be made.

I checked with the supplier I am using and indeed while they do employ a "better" retrieval method for bamboo fiber/pulp in the knit fabric I was using, it now needs to be labeled "bamboo viscose." Personally this doesn't change my feeling about using it, the benefits of it as a raw material,(no pesticides and easily replenished) in my mind still make it a sustainable fabric.

Thankfully, the denim twill pants are able to still be labeled as "bamboo" as the bamboo is processed in a method similar to hemp or linen, where the raw material is broken down mechanically into fibers and then processed into yarn.

It's always something.....

Finito...for a moment

Finally finished updating the website and was all excited about it. That was until I received a call from one of the production places that I put a call into. Very nice lady, incredibly informative and helpful, but after a lengthy conversation am feeling pretty discouraged. I really wanted to get information on pricing and from what she said, seems like the price I have is pretty much what I am looking at to produce the line. It is so much higher than I ever anticipated and am hoping that I have not been spinning my wheels on something that will be too expensive to produce.

I am not giving up, but I have to rethink the next step and how to proceed.

The site looks great though, don't ya think?

Updating and Other Tedious Projects

After getting all the the samples done, it only took me 2 weeks to get pictures of them. Perhaps I was dreading the arduous task of updating the website with new layouts. I still need to get the flat pictures done and I am putting that off. This is the part I don't like to do.

I have to say that I am happy with how the line looks and the samples room did a great job with the sewing, for the most part. I am currently however needing to find a source for less expensive production. The place I am using is pricing out MUCh higher than i anticipating so I am having to look for an alternate source. I definitely want to keep it in the US, and preferably in NY but that might not work out. Have to consider the bottom line, and what the final garment will retail at so... the search begins.

THe First Sample

Well it's been a long process and an interesting learning experience to get from design idea to finished sample, but it has finally all come together. The first sample is done and I think it's soo cute....well maybe I am biased but.

It's made from Soy, Organic cotton and a touch of lycra or Bamboo, Organic cotton depending on the color, soft pink, sage green, cream and a rich brown.

As this is the first line we are, unfortunately, at the the mercy of what fabrics can be found, relatively inexpensive, and am limited to the colors and content. As Schuylark grows I will be looking to change everything to be completely organic, and hopefully offer some new great prints and colors as well.

All that being said, the rest of the salesman samples are be started as we speak and I am so excited to see the whole line together. Labels need to be ordered, and placements set, looking into a place to pre-wash some of the fabric that I think might benefit by being a little softer. Hopefully it will all be done by the end of the month, that's what I am shooting for, as I think that will right on target for Spring 10.

The Fabric is Coming

Wouldn't you know, my fabric will arrive when I leave town on vacation. Drat! I was really hoping it was going to be here sooner but thanks to UPS rescheduling, again, it's now going to get here Monday. Also, have my first mock up done by the sample maker but will have to wait to see that as well. This vacation is thing is getting in the way of business....hmmmm, not complaining. But am excited to get this going a little quicker now. After I come back it'll be real push time. In the meantime I am getting my hangtag and labels designed. It's so much easier doing it for someone else. I tend to re-do my own 10,000 times before I decide on something. NOT good time management skills, but I do like how the latest version is looking, so that's a plus.

Go Green or Go Home, or Go Green AT Home

When we decided to start a business it made sense that we did something that was "earth friendly". Not just another line of clothing, which was what I had originally intended. After thinking about it for some time, using organic, natural fabric just seemed like the right thing to do. It was also in my mind to be an example for my children. To do something that helps to make a difference in the world, no matter how small you might think it is, is at least better than doing nothing at all.

So in that consciousness we have changed other areas of our lives as well. Last year we started our own garden. It's small, but we have plans to expand it as we get more knowledge about organic gardening. We have a great yard for it and the room to grow all the thing we love to eat. Last year we had about 10 million tomatoes and beans(beginners over planting) so this year we diversified into smaller quantities of other vegetables. Spinach, kale, peppers as well as some cantaloupe and watermelon. The kids loved to go and pick stuff right off the vine and eat it and I think it's great for them to be able to experience that.

We also just installed, after soooo much deliberation, our solar hot water and PV systems. I can't tell you how cool it is to see that meter running backwards on a sunny day. We had already started the practice of turning off lights and such when we leave a room, and now it's even more fun to see how fast we get that dial to go in the opposite direction.

These things are just a few of the bigger things we did, and maybe not everyone can, but there are all sorts of little things as well that can be done everyday, you know, taking your own bags to the grocery store, and recycling the ones you do have to use. Purchasing recycled paper products, I know that the TP isn't Charmin soft, but it's TP for cryin out loud. Finding cleaning products that have eco-friendly ingredients, composting your scraps, collecting rain water to water your plants. We may not always do it, but every time you do the feeling that you get is so great that it compels you to want to do more, and more, and more. Like buying clothing that is made from organic sustainable fabrics and made with fair trade practices...yeah, that's it!!