prAna Expands Fair Trade
You can support Fair Trade by purchasing these prAna products…
For more info please visit Fair World Project and Fair Trade USA
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Functional Apparel for the Unconventional Spirit
Archive for the ‘Clothing’ Category
While I was going to university I worked at a natural foods market. I got the job to pay my bills and had no idea how much that job would change my life. I have a whole new perspective of how I am connected to the environment and other people.
It was there I was first exposed to the idea of ORGANIC. As I learned more I soon realized why organic was important. I had no idea that farming was done with the chemical use in fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides that it is. It almost made me scared to eat my food. So even as a young student I tried to buy at least organic vegetables and throughout the years have grown to buy most everything we eat as organic.
I also felt a great sadness for the farm workers who were exposed to the chemicals in conventional agriculture. What right did I have to put someones health at risk so I could have cheap food? Even the other day I was up by some orchards I live near and saw a sign saying, “Do not enter – Pesticides sprayed”.
I also remember the first time I heard about an organic cotton shirt. I distinctly remember thinking “why would it matter, its not like you are eating the shirt?” To me I just thought about myself and the reasons why I supported organic. I was only concerned with preventing ME from being exposed to chemicals.
It has been a few years since that day and I have learned a lot about why I should care if my cotton clothing is in fact organic.
It is hard to see all the steps it takes to arrive at the shirt or dress or pants we wear. With cotton, it started at some point as a seed in the ground. That seed was watered, grew up to be a mature cotton plant, the cotton was harvested, cleaned, spun into yarn, knit into fabric and eventually sewn into the garment in your hands. Every article of clothing has the opportunity to help or harm the environment and the farm workers in cotton fields around the globe.
About 12 years ago prAna was introduced to the idea of organic cotton. It spoke to our founders specifically for the environmental and social benefits organic cotton can deliver. Organic started making its way into prAna’s line shortly there after and year after year we have offered some of our products in organic. But we still sell conventional cotton.
We want to change this, but it isn’t easy. Organic cotton costs more because it requires certification and more labor in its farming practices. So we need to have a customer base that wants to make this change with us.
Organic cotton is a solution, but it isn’t as straightforward as we would hope. Textile Exchange just released their Farm and Fiber Report and we are seeing a decline in organic cotton fiber production. We are concerned about this – less fiber means organic cotton is harder to access and therefore poses challenges for sourcing. Additionally organic cotton makes up about 1% of total cotton production, so there is a lot of room for improvement. Despite the great work that has been done – there is a need for more investment in organic as an alternative for those of you who want to make a difference with the purchases you make… the conscious consumer.
prAna is on a journey – we learn, grow and improve ourselves through this process. We feel organic is the right direction and is one that is guiding us.
In the upcoming seasons you are going to see a stronger offering of organic products from prAna, we have made some commitments as a company to push ourselves to make the switch. But we need your help too.
We have three ways you can act right away:
Support Us – let us know that organic is important to you. Use the comments section of this blog to show your commitment.
Educate Yourself And Others – move the conversation from organic tomatoes to one that discusses clothing too and why organic matters in your clothes. Want good stats to support your point of view? Check out our previous blog posts (Annie’s, HRG, Textile Exchange)
Include Organic In Your Purchase – every time you buy organic, you send a strong signal to the market that the health of people and planet is worth your money.
We thank you for all you do…
Nicole Bassett, Director of Responsibility
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As we awaken ourselves this spring, we felt it was a perfect opportunity to focus on the idea of ORGANIC. Each week in April we are bringing you a voice from the organic movement to share with you details on the subject, why this is important to you and how prAna is mindfully navigating organic in our own business. This week’s post on Organics comes from Hood River Garlic and will be followed by posts from Textile Exchange and our own Director of Sustainability, Nicole Bassett. Tell us your thoughts…
prAna: Hood River Garlic is a certified organic garlic farm, located 60 miles east of Portland, in Hood River, Oregon. In 2010 they added 600 organic blueberry bushes with more to plant this spring. This blog post is by Terri Browne Hixson who owns the farm with her husband Eric. We reached out to Terri to hear more about why they chose organic farming and how the practice of organic reaches beyond just food, but to clothing as well.
HRG: We have been growing organic garlic since 1999. We have always been organic and we became Certified Organic by the Oregon Tilth in May 2002. This May marks our 10 year anniversary of our organic certification. From the very first garlic seed that we planted in 1999, to the 600+ blueberry bushes recently planted, we have always been organic. “A lot of farmers become organic to sell their crops for more money. For us, there was just no other way; we choose organic farming for the planet, children and the critters, not because of financial gain.” (This quote comes from the About Us section of our web site.)
If you are in a store and just look at price alone it can be easy to justify buying conventional products over organic. I think about where the product originated from and how was it grown, and I believe that organically grown food and cotton must come from a cleaner and safer environment. For example when planting garlic, I like to say “It all starts with the clove.” But in the bigger picture, when it comes to agriculture, “it all starts with the soil”. Soil health is an essential aspect of all farming, whether it is organic or conventional. Pesticides, herbicides and petroleum based fertilizers poison the earth; from the air we breathe, to the water we drink, to the soil we till to grow our food. It does not matter if the crop is grown for food, or clothing. Everything flows downstream, I prefer to buy organic knowing that I am not supporting agriculture that poisons the rivers and fish. One reason that organically grown food and cotton is more expensive than conventional is labor costs. A major labor expense for organic farmers is weeding, because we don’t rely on chemicals to kill and inhibit weeds, weeds are pulled by hand or mechanically. By spending a few extra dollars when you choose organic over conventional, you are helping to support organic farm workers to live happier and healthier lives by not being exposed to harmful chemicals.
prAna: And supporting organic farmers is not just about food – what about all the cotton farmers that are making their livelihoods from growing the fiber for many of our clothes.
HRG: Cotton is one of the most densely sprayed crops in the world. It is responsible for about 15% of the worlds conventional pesticide use. Most conventional cotton is grown in 3rd world countries where they do not have the restrictions on toxic chemicals like we have in the US and Europe. Many of these farmers are poor and cannot even afford to buy respirators or protective clothing to wear while spraying the poisonous chemicals, so it gets into their lungs and on their skin. They often spray all the way up to harvest time, so the overspray ends up affecting all of the farm workers in the field.
In organic farming, the field workers on organic cotton farms will not be exposed to these toxic pesticides. Instead of chemicals, they use mechanical and hand weeding techniques, the introduction of beneficial insects, crop rotation and intercropping (planting different crops together). They will not suffer from the respiratory problems and other health problems from being exposed to the toxic chemicals of conventional cotton farming.
The more we choose organic, the more organic products will become available to us. As consumers, higher demand of a product will help drive down prices, as long as there is supply and demand for that product. We are not talking about oil, we are talking about agriculture. And it all comes down to our planet, whether we are putting it on the dinner table or to clothe our backs, we need to take care of Mother Earth.
I have to acknowledge a company like prAna that provides organic products to consumers. Living in Hood River, I can’t afford the time or gas money to go to Portland to shop. I love to use prAna’s web site, buying prAna is so easy, the clothes have such great colors and designs, yet they are functional. From the yoga clothes, to casual clothes, to the hiking and climbing clothes, (I planted 600 blueberry bushes in the Bedford prAna pants I am wearing right now!) You don’t have to sacrifice anything to support your values when buying organic cotton clothing. As organic farmers, Eric and I love to support other organic farmers.
Your dollars are your voice. Please choose organic. It is the best choice for the soil, the air, wildlife, rivers, fish, animals and most importantly: children and you.
Terri Browne Hixson, Owner, Hood River Garlic
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It was an amazing day of fun, food and fashion benefiting Street Yoga as locals gathered to view the latest styles from our Spring 12 Collection in Portland. A big shout out and hug to the all the people & companies who donated product, prizes and services for the raffle that supported Street Yoga’s mission…
Street Yoga gives youth and their caregivers the tools to overcome early life trauma, through the sharing of life-building mindfulness and wellness practices grounded in the ancient healing principles of yoga. We serve by helping them create a sense of true home in their own bodies, minds and communities.
Thank You Natalia, Lush, Childs Play, Hip Hound, Portland Rock Gym, Joes Cellar, Acro Yoga PDX, Merrell, New Deal Distillery, Mazamas, North Portland Yoga, Amy Parson @ Salon 21, Papa Hayden, Dorio’s Cafe & Tavern, Clogs-N-More, Yoga Pearl, Sierra Nevada Brewing, Redstar Tavern & Blush Beauty Bar!
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Functional Apparel for the Unconventional Spirit
1. Make enough room for a mat. You don’t need a lot of space to do yoga at home. Just enough room for your yoga mat, and a foot or two around all sides. Once you get your practice going, you’ll feel as much calm stepping onto your mat as you would stepping into a studio. State dependent memory—our tendency to adopt the same physiological state we remember being in at other times we did the activity—works in our favor here. We become calm and energized during our yoga practice and soon enough, after a number of sessions on the mat, we begin to feel calm and energized as soon as we step on it.
2. Give yourself permission. Friends, family, work—everything and anything can become a reason to feel guilty about taking the time to do yoga at home. The bottom line is this: we can’t take care of others unless we take care of ourselves.
3. Listen to your body. Your body knows what’s good for you and what’s not. Before you begin your practice, take a few minutes to sit or stand in stillness. Scan your body from your toes, up your legs to your knees and into your hips and lower back. Then scan up to your upper back, shoulders, arms, stomach and chest. Notice any sensations anywhere, ranging from simple sensations of energy to stronger ones of discomfort or pain. Stay tuned into those areas as you do your practice. If you feel increased pain or new pain be sure to back off and choose a different variation of the movement. Rest if you need it.
4. Feel energized? On days when you feel energized, it can be great to do power vinyasa or Kundalini yoga at home. These are more dynamic, flowing, energetic styles of yoga.
5. Feel like you want to build energy? Kundalini yoga and power vinyasa flow are also great for building energy. If you’re looking for something less strenuous, try a Hatha practice.
6. Feel like you need rest? Meditation, or yin yoga, are both very nourishing.
7. Feel free to rest. Feel like you don’t have enough energy to do anything at all? Simply practicing Savasana, where you lie flat on your back in corpse pose and simply let go, can be enough of a yoga at home practice some days.
8. Feel free to meditate. On other days, you might just want to sit in meditation. Yoga Asanas, or physical postures, are actually geared towards enabling us to sit comfortably in meditation. So sit still and rest in the rhythm of your breath—no guilt required!
9. Give yourself permission to make it short and sweet. So a regular class is 75 minutes? What feels right for you? Your yoga at home practice can be as short or as long as you need it to be. Honor what’s right for you. Feeling like you need an Asana practice, but can’t convince yourself to get going? Just remember that getting started is the hardest part. Try committing to doing “just seven minutes” but give yourself time for more in case you feel like it.
10. Just do it. Bottom line: When you do yoga at home, even five minutes can bring in the stress-relieving, muscle toning and lengthening
~Lindsey Lewis, MyYogaOnline.com
MyYogaOnline.com is the global leader for mind-body health and wellness and holistic living. My Yoga offers an extensive and always growing library of videos: yoga, Pilates, meditation and more. Plus tailored wellness programs, expert advice, workplace wellness, green living, health, and recipes.
When my twin sister planned a destination wedding in Brazil, how could I not be ecstatic? Even though my husband and I were re-routed from through London on the way to Rio (yes…London), it was all worth it!
I fell in love with Brazil – the people, the food, the landscape and oh, the caipirinhas (Brazil’s national drink made from cachaça [sugar cane rum], sugar and lime). Rio’s stunning scenery, beaches set amongst a backdrop of steep jungled mountains and skyscrapers, really takes your breath away. In Copacabana, tan, fit athletes play futevôlei on the beach (a combination of volleyball and soccer), while tourists and locals stroll the famous Avenida Atlantica.
While in Rio, we took the tram to the top of Corcovado, the steep mountain where the statue of Christ the Redeemer resides. On the way to the statue, you pass through the Tijuca National Park – the largest urban forest in the world. We spotted a few monkeys along the way, and in a matter of minutes were out of the hustle and bustle of the city and surrounded by rainforest.
My sister was married in the resort town of Buzios, about a three-hour drive from Rio. The beaches here are gorgeous. The day after we arrived, we went out on a boat tour, island-hopping along the way. The boat served up caipirinhas and grilled shrimp while we relaxed in the sun. (Who knew you can eat the entire shrimp shell?) At each stop, we snorkeled and swam in the blue-green water. During one of our snorkeling stops, we even caught a glimpse of some sea turtles! Lying on my back, floating in the ocean, I felt like I was officially on vacation.
After spending time in Rio and Buzios, my husband and I traveled to Paraty, a beautiful colonial town located on the Costa Verde, about a five-hour bus ride from Rio. Paraty is known for its beautiful cobblestone streets located in the center of town, where no motor vehicles are allowed. Surrounded by rainforest, you can visit jungle waterfalls and explore the area on horseback or mountain bike. If you prefer to soak in the sun, you can visit Paraty’s beaches or the many islands nearby.
And might I note:
Not only did I fall in love with Brazil, I fell in love with prAna’s Bliss Capri pant. Upon landing in Rio, our bags did not arrive along with us. I was so glad that I had packed a few items of clothing in my carry-on bag: the Bliss Capris, a tank top and some flip-flops. Otherwise, I would have been stuck in my fleece pants and sneakers in 80-degree weather. (Coming from Montana, it was pretty cold when we left town.)
I really can’t say enough about these pants. I wore them almost every day. They are lightweight and quick-dry; great when it rained or when I took a stroll on the beach and misjudged the tide. These pants didn’t wrinkle when packed into my suitcase for two weeks, and the drawstring waist makes them extra comfy. They will definitely be my go-to pants for traveling to warm-weather destinations! I’m not usually one to gush, but these pants are gush-worthy.
~Jen Barile, Adventure Life
Adventure Life provides authentic adventure travel to our world’s legendary locations. Combining award-winning operating standards with exceptional itineraries, our trips are carefully designed to experience the best of the region, while allowing flexibility for the unexpected and unpredictable that make each trip unique. For more info visit adventure-life.com and facebook.com/adventurelife.
A few weeks ago, Gwen Pavlick and I were invited to speak at an industry night in Orange County for FIDM, a leading fashion school here in California. The school has an extensive traveling exhibit called ‘Recycle. Reuse. Reinvent., an Innovative Materials Connection’, that displays the latest in sustainable and eco friendly textiles, materials and trends. Our product development team had been involved in some of the previous events at other campuses, so it was an honor to be considered for this event as well! As product developers of prAna’s women’s performance products, Gwen and I are leaders within our team in regards to building sustainability awareness and increasing our offerings in this area. We love learning (and sometimes teaching) about how to be the change! No one is perfect, as we say, it’s all about the journey.
What a great partnership this was with FIDM. As an apparel brand we constantly balance the understanding, that while we want our materials to have a longer, better and closed-loop life cycle, we also want to be fashionable. Just pulling up to the building, we knew this was going to be a fun time.
The creative energy from the students and instructors was contagious. Their interest and expectation of sustainability was inspiring. A prAna table was set up within the exhibit that displayed a few of our recent sustainable products. We have been focusing our efforts on Organic cotton and Recycled polyester over the last few years. You have to start somewhere, right?! Our exhibit information reviewed these fabrications and also noted our dedication to wind power. The other items in the exhibit were provided and managed by the FIDM Librarians. It is amazing to see what innovation there is in this arena, from luminescent material to man-made material grown in a lab, makes recycled and organics look simple!
The evening started with a wine and appetizer hour. It was a great chance to meet other industry peers and focus on the details of the exhibit. The DJ played rhythmic beats, as attendees found their way to a seat amidst a forest of twinkle lights. Our presentation began with an overview of who prAna is, what we have been doing, and where we plan to go, in regards to material and product sustainability. It was a great opportunity to educate our audience on our alliance with Natural Power Initiative, our support and growth with Fair Trade, and our interest and direction towards Blue Sign certifications. After talking to the group about the work we have done with these materials, we wanted to show the audience what we had been working on the last few years. We were able to bring in a few students to help us show off our products from Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 collections.
All items shown here are made from one of the following: recycled PET, organic cotton, Blue Sign certified materials, Fair Trade products, or sustainable fibers. Since Gwen and I only work on a portion of our seasonal collections, we were proud and impressed to present such a well merchandized and robust offering in just this eco category.
Overall, the event was a wonderful collaboration between FIDM and prAna. It is always great when industries can come together and partnership towards a larger goal. We love the support from FIDM, and thank them immensely for the amazing evening, especially Rebecca Markman and Dorothy Metcalf!
~Rachel K. Lincoln & Gwen Pavlick, Product Developers
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Functional Apparel for the Unconventional Spirit
prAna Looks To Expand Fair Trade Certification With A New Pilot Project For The Women Of Rural Swaziland
As World Aids Day draws to an end, we are reminded of the staggering numbers of people around the world suffering directly and indirectly. Our partners in Swaziland are dealing with the continents highest rate of the disease on the continent which only renews our commitment to help improve their quality of life… We’re always looking for new ways to fold the intention of sustainability into our materials and practices, whether local or global. One way of doing just that is looking at connecting the work we are doing with artisan workers and Fair Trade Certification. PrAna, Fair Trade USA , and the co-op women groups in rural Swaziland, Africa have begun a pilot project to look at bringing a the structure and standards of Fair Trade Certification to these women. These gifted artisans have been knitting products for prAna for several seasons now and are looking forward to participating in the pilot project and obtaining the official Fair Trade Certification label for their products. In addition, workers in Fair Trade Certified factories earn a premium of up to 10 percent of the cost of the garment for community investment or cash bonuses. We thank them for all they do…
Support the GoGo’s (endearing term for grandmothers) in Swaziland by purchasing their crafts. These artisan products, made for prAna, help our partners to create and implement sustainable solutions for the women and rural communities in Swaziland. For more info visit www.nnlfilm.com and follow Never A Neverland on Facebook also.
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We just returned from the Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City Utah, where we were showing dealers our Spring 2012 collection. The show was quite busy, our booth was hoppin’ and good times were had by all!
For those of you who could not make the OR show, prAna has saved three of the limited edition 20th Anniversary chalk bags that we made for the Access Fund. Chris Sharma has generously agreed to personalize them just for you! There is a $30 minimum donation and all proceeds will go to the Access Fund. First 3 folks that contact us and make payment may choose what they would like Chris to write on their chalk bag!
Email info@prAna.com with Access Fund Chalk Bag as your subject line…
Breath, life, vitality of the spirit.
