(originally published at grechen’s closet on June 3, 2008)
Interview with Sara Seumae, founder and designer of SPUN Clothing, a new eco-friendly clothing line. Sara started SPUN after becoming a mother and following her desire to make her family’s environment as “green” as possible. She drew on her years of retail experience and set out to produce a line of clothing which would be fashionable AND eco-friendly, and ended up with SPUN in 2007. SPUN uses certified organic cotton, is produced in the US, pays fair wages, and uses low-impact dyes.
Read Grechen’s Review of several SPUN pieces, and more about SPUN from Sara herself:
First, I’d love it if you can share with our readers what you’re wearing today? What’s your favorite piece in your closet? How much of your closet is made up of eco-friendly pieces?
I am actually wearing mostly my own clothing today. I have on a white v-neck under a truffle color cardigan, which are both Spun. I am also wearing a citizen for humanity pair of jeans and a pair of UGG boots. All of these pieces are pretty much my favorite things to wear on cold Seattle days where I feel like being super comfortable. I realize that the jeans and boots aren’t exactly organic, but they are both more than 4 years old and since my closet is yet to be 100% eco-friendly, I consider wearing my old clothes very environmentally conscience.
What inspired you to start an eco-friendly line? What kinds of materials do you use? Why?
Starting a clothing line was something that was always on the back of my mind. Like many people, I worked in retail stores while in college. I listened to customers complain about certain aspects of clothes and what they wish designers would consider and I made mental notes. I sort of assumed that I would be taking these notes to a designer in the future and let them know what the consumer is looking for. But after I had my two daughters, my husband and I really got into the organic lifestyle. Let me tell you, ignorance is really bliss because once I started learning about conventional methods and ingredients in foods, cleaning products, and everything else we come in contact with everyday, I couldn’t get myself not to make organic choices. How could I do that to my little girls? After sitting on the idea for over a year, I finally decided to make my dreams into a reality. I am proud to say that we only use 100% Certified Organic Cotton which is dyed using environmentally safe low-impact fiber reactive dyes. I decided to only use organic cotton after researching other options. The Certified Organic Cotton is the best choice as far as organic fabrics go and it is the softest material to use. We are also made in the US and are people friendly because we are sweat shop free.
What are some of your best-sellers? What are some of your personal favorite designs?
The best sellers have been the cardigan and the v-neck. They are also my personal favorite. The cardigan is of course a must have for any woman. I intended for it to take the place of a hoodie and become a go-to item for summer vacation packing options. It can be dressed up or dressed down and ideally, goes with any outfit! The v-neck is sexy and simple at the same time and I think women feel good in it. I worked on the fit for a while and made sure that the shirt will flatter a womans chest while allowing some room in the tummy area. This again goes back to those retail days where women would tell me that they wish a shirt would push their chest out and not show their belly so much. And let me tell you, after 2 babies, I agree!
I believe in taking a “holistic” approach to greening my wardrobe; while I’m not opposed to buying organic cotton t-shirts from Banana Republic or Wal-Mart, I prefer to support smaller boutiques and designers who focus only on earth-friendly design & production; I love the idea of as few steps as possible between me and the products I buy. Do you agree? Why do you think it’s important for consumers to consider the company behind the product, as opposed to just the product?
I also believe that every little thing you can do to move towards a green lifestyle should be celebrated. I think some folks in the “green” community are too strict on consumers. Personally, I don’t feel that it’s very eco-friendly to toss out all of my non-organic clothes in an effort to green my closet. That is really too much of a waste afterall. The green movement is more about making conscience choices than it is on being hard on yourself. If your budget or lifestyle currently allows you to make a few organic or eco-friendly choices, then do your best. Always consider that to be truly eco-friendly, you should not only look at an individual product but also the whole picture. Try asking if the product is produced locally, does the company contribute to non-profit organizations, or does the company treat it’s employees fairly? I find it much easier to do this if you choose smaller companies which have a harder time hiding these details.
Do you have any eco-living tips for our readers? What are some small things we can do at home, and in our closets to make a difference?
We have made a commitment in my family to donate our old clothes, shoes and anything else we have taking up space, to our local thrift shop at least once a year. Not only is this a good lesson for our daughters, but also a way to review our life. We get a chance to notice what we have and decide whether we have made a smart purchase. You don’t realize how much stuff you have laying around the house that has not been worn or used in a year. Why not donate it to someone that can give it new life and keep it from heading to our landfills. For example, instead of letting my kids hang on to old toys which I know they have outgrown, we donate it rather than taking a chance on it getting damaged at the bottom of the toy bin. We explain to them that we should give it away before it is broken so that another child could get to play with it. I think this practice really makes a huge difference in not only helping keep trash to a minimum but also acts as a wake up call by helping point out everyday choices we make as consumers. It has helped my husband realize how many tshirts he really owns which he had forgotten about!
(buy SPUN online at Fashion Ethic – and save 20% with code GRECHEN20)
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