Many people who live in Seattle care about supporting companies that have chosen to go organic. We buy organic food to eat, make sure that our body-care products are made with organic ingredients and are increasingly interested in buying clothing made from organic cotton.
What most consumers don't realize, though, is that while the cotton may be grown organically, the dyes used may contain chemicals. Local clothing company Truly Organic [1] has taken the concept of organic garments one step further and uses all natural dyes from plant and mineral sources.
Would you believe that an onion peel can dye fabric a vibrant orange or that pomegranate can turn a fabric almost black? Truly Organic uses these natural substances and a dyeing process that recycles the solid and liquid waste into compost and irrigation water. And the best part? Their clothes are adorable.
Co-owners and siblings Paul and Leah Weinstein started Truly Organic in 2006 after visiting both organic and conventional mills and dyeing facilities in India. Leah, a quilt designer, was interested in using organic textiles in her work and saw a market for completely natural and organic fabrics.
The Weinsteins established relationships with several facilities in India that are not only committed to organic and natural methods, but that also follow Fair Trade employment practices. What started as a wholesale textile company expanded in 2007 to include a line of tops, pants, shorts and T-shirts for men and women.
Truly Organic's spring women's collection includes the flirty and stylish Baby Doll Blouse ($69, prices may vary in retail locations), which comes in white, black, light indigo, brown and a spicy red. Their Scooter Capris ($109) and full-legged Smarty Pants ($119) are available in a white, black, light indigo, brown and a luxuriously soft yarn-dyed indigo/brown stripe.
Highlights from the men's line are casual, short-sleeved button-up shirts ($82) in a variety of colors and patterns, and the handsome long-sleeved Bicycle Cowboy shirt ($92), whose mother-of-pearl snaps add just a little twang.
You can purchase Truly Organic clothing online [2] and at Horseshoe [2] in Fremont.
On Saturday, May 17, from noon to 5 p.m., Truly Organic and Horseshoe will team up with Dress For Success for a trunk show and clothing drive. Dress for Success provides professional clothing to unemployed women to help them enter the workforce.
For each pound of women's business attire donated, Horseshoe will give customers a 5 percent discount on sales of Truly Organic apparel, up to a maximum of 15 percent off. What better reason is there to clean out your closet?
If you have a shop, sale, event or great product tip you'd like to share, e-mail seattleshopping@nwsource.com.
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