Appendix
Research:
Business start up advice
http://www.startupdonut.co.uk/startup/start-up-business-ideas/starting-an-online-business/profile-the-mumpreneur
http://www.startupdonut.co.uk/startup/start-up-business-ideas/running-a-business/how-i-balance-my-family-and-business-commitments-
http://www.startupdonut.co.uk/startup/start-up-business-ideas/running-a-business/tales-of-three-less-conventional-mumpreneurs
http://www.handmadeexpressions.net/pages/want-to-start-a-new-fair-trade-business advice how to start a fairtrade business
http://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Clothing-Line lots of advice and some links
Forming a co-operative info
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/busdev/facts/02-019.htm
http://www.startupdonut.co.uk/startup/start-up-business-ideas/running-a-business/how-i-balance-my-family-and-business-commitments-
http://www.startupdonut.co.uk/startup/start-up-business-ideas/running-a-business/tales-of-three-less-conventional-mumpreneurs
http://www.handmadeexpressions.net/pages/want-to-start-a-new-fair-trade-business advice how to start a fairtrade business
http://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Clothing-Line lots of advice and some links
Forming a co-operative info
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/busdev/facts/02-019.htm
Clothing companies
http://www.sorazora.com/index.html found it, found the most beautiful little company around..
http://www.howies.co.uk/ Totally brilliant company, combining art, organic clothing, and brilliant ramblings and rants from welsh bmx surfer founders. They even reweave clothes from the leftover cotton from other companies, destined for landfill. Also love their website.
http://www.seasaltcornwall.co.uk Cornwall based, 2010 best organic retailer UK and in the top 50 ethical companies. Make clothing from bamboo and organic cotton.
http://www.bluecanoe.com/index.asp Really beautiful clothes, amazing underwear!.. make things locally in the US and are aware of the whole process. Been going for years, very like their company. Sadly can't buy their stuff in the UK.
http://www.peopletree.co.uk One of the most amazing companies out there. Thoroughly inspiring, most especially in the way they support local companies and communities. They create items specifically with the producers in mind, and are aware of every stage of the process, including the dyes and chemicals used after the cotton is made. This company is one to aspire to follow in the gigantic footsteps of.
Only thing is that I although I have always loved their ethos and also their company image, I am rarely moved to buy anything from them, as their clothes are usually not really my style. And their kids collection is tiny, especially for boys. Two pairs of trousers and two long sleeve tops.. hmm..
http://www.welovefrugi.com One place I have shopped from in the past, Frugi has a wider selection of kids clothes, though again they're all in very bright colours and quite unnatural colours, and no mention of the printing or dying processes. They do however also support an orphanage in India.
http://www.komodo.co.uk Love these clothes, though no kids collections. They support various charities, and use some really interesting fabrics, hemp, recycled rubber, soya and tencel, made from cellulose farmed on wasteland.
http://www.braintreehemp.co.uk/our-fabrics.php What they say about the fabrics here is really interesting, hemp, soy and bamboo, sounds like they beat cotton hands down..
https://www.marigoldfairtradeclothing.com/ work with co-op of women in india, keeping natural crafts alive..
http://www.auraherbalwear.com Beautiful website, all about natural dyes and beautiful clothes. Also sell textiles but super pricey, more of a clothing seller.
http://www.ecozuzu.com/creatives.html
http://www.rawganique.com/ don't love it
http://www.earthcreations.net/ love it!
fabric supply
http://www.swicofil.com/the_natural_fiber_nepal.html nepalise natural fabric information http://www.tti.co.th/index.html http://www.cottoninc.com/Organic-Cotton-Suppliers/
http://www.cottoninc.com/Organic-Cotton-Suppliers/Organic-Cotton-Suppliers-Product-Types/Organic-Cotton-Suppliers-Product-Types.pdf
http://www.organiccotton.biz welsh fabric importer, mid range price fabric, bamboo and organic cottons £7ish pmtr
http://www.alibaba.com/products/organic_cotton/--100000833.html
http://www.globalsources.com/manufacturers/Organic-Clothing.html only china!
http://www.nftextiles.com/index.html expensive, british family company that do everything, will get fabric and make clothing
http://www.orimpex.com.tr/default.asp turkish company, organic bamboo and organic turkish cotton, will do the whole thing through to delivery. Also use organic certified dyes. Not sure on prices..
http://www.britishmadeeco.co.uk/ in the uk, lots of fabrics but imported from china and not naturally dyed
Thai related
http://tammachatnaturaltextiles.blogspot.com/2011/01/photo-essay-cotton-weaving-in-northern.html
http://www.thaitextilesociety.org/
http://praepangroup.wordpress.com/
http://www.studio-naenna.blogspot.com/
http://nationmultimedia.com/life/Straight-from-the-loom-30176668.html info on japanese lady creating natural dyed clothes from lampang organic cotton.. Planeta Organica, must check them out, JJ market Chiang Mai, or Bangkok Sukhumit Soi 49, ground floor.. be good to make contact! http://www.planeta-organica.com 48/1 Nantaram rd, A.Muang, Chiang mai +66 53 275 822
http://www.planeta-organica.com/blog/village-journal/hand-woven-villege-sep2011.html check out the amazing translation here from their japanese blog.. unrelated, but I love it..
'Night of the village, - quiet.
Again, suppose that our laughter echoed in the village is dark,
Is no way of knowing. . .
The next day, up to a little late,
Shrimp fried rice homemade craftsman indigo.
Since we are using the black rice was him in the village, a sense of bubble wrap is delicious!'
Natural dye supply
http://www.couleurs-de-plantes.com/index_uk.html
http://www.maiwa.com
other stuff
People tree suppliers in Bangladesh
http://thefairshop.co.uk/producers/artisan-hut/
http://www.assisiorganics.com/organic.html would love to work with these, fairtrade organic loveliness.. emailed but no reply yet
http://bangladeshtextileresidency.wordpress.com/2009/12/29/kumudini-foundation/#
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=0OD2AH5Oqy0&NR=1 check out the amazing textiles these ladies are making! incredible..
http://www.handmadeexpressions.net/pages/clothing list of some companies I'd like to be one of!
On Safia Minney
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/jul/22/peopletree?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487http://thedesignofprosperity.se/2006/press/minney/Safia_Minney_Bio.pdf
Blue Canoe's start up story
http://www.bluecanoe.com/e-store/ourstory.asp
organic support and reasoning
http://organicclothing.blogs.com/my_weblog/2006/12/the_high_cost_o.html
a useful list of organic textiles manufacturers
http://greenfibres.server101.com/organic_textiles_directory/index.php?c=2
http://www.mulberries.org/whoweare.htm natural silk weavers in laos supporting local communities
http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/organic_clothing_manufacturers.htm list of some organic clothing companies
other interesting organisations
http://www.aidtoartisans.org/artisans/ organisation connecting artisans to markets worldwide. Amazing, and can possibly connect me with artists to work with.
http://www.made-by.org/ not for profit organisation helping clothing businesses check their sustainability throughout the whole process. Can become a member of this.
http://bangladeshtextileresidency.wordpress.com/about/ british woman collaborating with bangladesh weavers
http://www.aarong.com/artisans.php
to look into next..
http://thefairshop.co.uk/producers/#3
http://www.handmadeexpressions.net/pages/want-to-start-a-new-fair-trade-business
https://www.marigoldfairtradeclothing.com/
http://www.mulberries.org/whoweare.htm
http://www.hemptraders.com/faqs.php#6http://herbalfab.tradeindia.com/Exporters_Suppliers/Exporter15339.685C.111548P/Vegetable-Dyed-Fabric.html
http://www.howies.co.uk/ Totally brilliant company, combining art, organic clothing, and brilliant ramblings and rants from welsh bmx surfer founders. They even reweave clothes from the leftover cotton from other companies, destined for landfill. Also love their website.
http://www.seasaltcornwall.co.uk Cornwall based, 2010 best organic retailer UK and in the top 50 ethical companies. Make clothing from bamboo and organic cotton.
http://www.bluecanoe.com/index.asp Really beautiful clothes, amazing underwear!.. make things locally in the US and are aware of the whole process. Been going for years, very like their company. Sadly can't buy their stuff in the UK.
http://www.peopletree.co.uk One of the most amazing companies out there. Thoroughly inspiring, most especially in the way they support local companies and communities. They create items specifically with the producers in mind, and are aware of every stage of the process, including the dyes and chemicals used after the cotton is made. This company is one to aspire to follow in the gigantic footsteps of.
Only thing is that I although I have always loved their ethos and also their company image, I am rarely moved to buy anything from them, as their clothes are usually not really my style. And their kids collection is tiny, especially for boys. Two pairs of trousers and two long sleeve tops.. hmm..
http://www.welovefrugi.com One place I have shopped from in the past, Frugi has a wider selection of kids clothes, though again they're all in very bright colours and quite unnatural colours, and no mention of the printing or dying processes. They do however also support an orphanage in India.
http://www.komodo.co.uk Love these clothes, though no kids collections. They support various charities, and use some really interesting fabrics, hemp, recycled rubber, soya and tencel, made from cellulose farmed on wasteland.
http://www.braintreehemp.co.uk/our-fabrics.php What they say about the fabrics here is really interesting, hemp, soy and bamboo, sounds like they beat cotton hands down..
https://www.marigoldfairtradeclothing.com/ work with co-op of women in india, keeping natural crafts alive..
http://www.auraherbalwear.com Beautiful website, all about natural dyes and beautiful clothes. Also sell textiles but super pricey, more of a clothing seller.
http://www.ecozuzu.com/creatives.html
http://www.rawganique.com/ don't love it
http://www.earthcreations.net/ love it!
fabric supply
http://www.swicofil.com/the_natural_fiber_nepal.html nepalise natural fabric information http://www.tti.co.th/index.html http://www.cottoninc.com/Organic-Cotton-Suppliers/
http://www.cottoninc.com/Organic-Cotton-Suppliers/Organic-Cotton-Suppliers-Product-Types/Organic-Cotton-Suppliers-Product-Types.pdf
http://www.organiccotton.biz welsh fabric importer, mid range price fabric, bamboo and organic cottons £7ish pmtr
http://www.alibaba.com/products/organic_cotton/--100000833.html
http://www.globalsources.com/manufacturers/Organic-Clothing.html only china!
http://www.nftextiles.com/index.html expensive, british family company that do everything, will get fabric and make clothing
http://www.orimpex.com.tr/default.asp turkish company, organic bamboo and organic turkish cotton, will do the whole thing through to delivery. Also use organic certified dyes. Not sure on prices..
http://www.britishmadeeco.co.uk/ in the uk, lots of fabrics but imported from china and not naturally dyed
Thai related
http://tammachatnaturaltextiles.blogspot.com/2011/01/photo-essay-cotton-weaving-in-northern.html
http://www.thaitextilesociety.org/
http://praepangroup.wordpress.com/
http://www.studio-naenna.blogspot.com/
http://nationmultimedia.com/life/Straight-from-the-loom-30176668.html info on japanese lady creating natural dyed clothes from lampang organic cotton.. Planeta Organica, must check them out, JJ market Chiang Mai, or Bangkok Sukhumit Soi 49, ground floor.. be good to make contact! http://www.planeta-organica.com 48/1 Nantaram rd, A.Muang, Chiang mai +66 53 275 822
http://www.planeta-organica.com/blog/village-journal/hand-woven-villege-sep2011.html check out the amazing translation here from their japanese blog.. unrelated, but I love it..
'Night of the village, - quiet.
Again, suppose that our laughter echoed in the village is dark,
Is no way of knowing. . .
The next day, up to a little late,
Shrimp fried rice homemade craftsman indigo.
Since we are using the black rice was him in the village, a sense of bubble wrap is delicious!'
Natural dye supply
http://www.couleurs-de-plantes.com/index_uk.html
http://www.maiwa.com
other stuff
People tree suppliers in Bangladesh
http://thefairshop.co.uk/producers/artisan-hut/
http://www.assisiorganics.com/organic.html would love to work with these, fairtrade organic loveliness.. emailed but no reply yet
http://bangladeshtextileresidency.wordpress.com/2009/12/29/kumudini-foundation/#
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=0OD2AH5Oqy0&NR=1 check out the amazing textiles these ladies are making! incredible..
http://www.handmadeexpressions.net/pages/clothing list of some companies I'd like to be one of!
On Safia Minney
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/jul/22/peopletree?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487http://thedesignofprosperity.se/2006/press/minney/Safia_Minney_Bio.pdf
Blue Canoe's start up story
http://www.bluecanoe.com/e-store/ourstory.asp
organic support and reasoning
http://organicclothing.blogs.com/my_weblog/2006/12/the_high_cost_o.html
a useful list of organic textiles manufacturers
http://greenfibres.server101.com/organic_textiles_directory/index.php?c=2
http://www.mulberries.org/whoweare.htm natural silk weavers in laos supporting local communities
http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/organic_clothing_manufacturers.htm list of some organic clothing companies
other interesting organisations
http://www.aidtoartisans.org/artisans/ organisation connecting artisans to markets worldwide. Amazing, and can possibly connect me with artists to work with.
http://www.made-by.org/ not for profit organisation helping clothing businesses check their sustainability throughout the whole process. Can become a member of this.
http://bangladeshtextileresidency.wordpress.com/about/ british woman collaborating with bangladesh weavers
http://www.aarong.com/artisans.php
to look into next..
http://thefairshop.co.uk/producers/#3
http://www.handmadeexpressions.net/pages/want-to-start-a-new-fair-trade-business
https://www.marigoldfairtradeclothing.com/
http://www.mulberries.org/whoweare.htm
http://www.hemptraders.com/faqs.php#6http://herbalfab.tradeindia.com/Exporters_Suppliers/Exporter15339.685C.111548P/Vegetable-Dyed-Fabric.html
What have I learnt?
Three P's review
Personal
So many things I have learnt throughout this project! I have experimented with living in a wide variety of different living situations, some supportive of my learning journey, some more challenging. This has been great experience to enable me to see how best to nurture my study, and my relationship to study too. Not only being in the right environment, for physically finding time and space to work, but making sure my head has that constant focus too.
The research involved with this project has radically affected the way that I interact with fabric and clothing. I now think much more deeply about where the fabric and dyes may have come from and what impact they have had throughout their journey to the place where i hold them in my hands. I have pretty much stopped shopping all together,, only visiting second hand clothing stores, making clothing from found or recycled fabrics or looking for naturally dyed organic clothing, which isn't very often found. Ohli's travelling clothes are being made from recycled fabrics and hand sewn as we go along.
Belief! Such a great reminder here in how the world shifts around you to offer support when you know what you want to acheive and go for it with belief in your heart.
Project
What are the things I have learnt throughout this project related to study?
I am recognising that different methods of sharing my work are relevant at different times depending on my circumstances. I am exploring a wider variety of multi-media techniques, utilising whichever methods fit my living situation the best. I am using whatever resources I have around me to support my work.
Also, I have found it really useful to go through the permaculture principles for each zone, and to see how they related to my plans. Going through these and linking them in opened up so many more questions in my mind as to how it was going to be, and where to place priority. It brought my feelings of the project very clearly back to a solid permaculture ethical basis. I'd like to integrate this into all future projects in some way as I found it so beneficial, and I think it has affected this design in a really positive way.
Also, I've found it necessary in this project to cut off plans and ideas that I have thought to bring into this write up, and prioritise those aspects most necessary, and adapt ,my methods of sharing that information. Towards the end of this project I find myself in a living situation where I have much less time to devote to focused write up time, and very limited access to the internet. This is very different to the beginning of this project when I had ample time for these things. But what I have lost in some areas I have gained in others, as now living in a permaculture community I have much greater support and inspiration around me to affect my ideas and methods of thinking. All balancing itself out in interesting ways..
I have also learnt not to record long high quality videos and expect to be able to upload them easily in the non reliable internet of Thailand.
Professional
Throughout this project I have investigated ethical companies,different ,methods of clothing production natural dying techniques, business techniques, all beneficial for my future involving this design. I have delved into a proffesional world of business and company policies that I have never visited before. Looking into financial planning and budgeting techniques is also very helpful for my professional future.
How does this fit in with my ALP?
When setting out on the vision for this project - as with all current projects - I have been designing them to further my knowledge and skills in areas that I mapped out right at the start of this diploma in my Action Learning Plan. (You can see this Action Learning Plan here.) The skills linked with this project include - developing skills in natural crafts,, developing a sustaining spiritual practice, developing self confidence and self belief, gaining skills in natural building, and organic gardening practice. The project is also working towards my post-diploma goals of running workshops and teaching within a collective.
How have my quadrants been involved and expanded upon through this work?
Through this project I know I am working towards increasing areas of growth involving all quadrants. Great!
Tutor's review
As I was working on project 3 and 4 simultaneously, the review from Rich was morphed together. You can find it below.
So many things I have learnt throughout this project! I have experimented with living in a wide variety of different living situations, some supportive of my learning journey, some more challenging. This has been great experience to enable me to see how best to nurture my study, and my relationship to study too. Not only being in the right environment, for physically finding time and space to work, but making sure my head has that constant focus too.
The research involved with this project has radically affected the way that I interact with fabric and clothing. I now think much more deeply about where the fabric and dyes may have come from and what impact they have had throughout their journey to the place where i hold them in my hands. I have pretty much stopped shopping all together,, only visiting second hand clothing stores, making clothing from found or recycled fabrics or looking for naturally dyed organic clothing, which isn't very often found. Ohli's travelling clothes are being made from recycled fabrics and hand sewn as we go along.
Belief! Such a great reminder here in how the world shifts around you to offer support when you know what you want to acheive and go for it with belief in your heart.
Project
What are the things I have learnt throughout this project related to study?
I am recognising that different methods of sharing my work are relevant at different times depending on my circumstances. I am exploring a wider variety of multi-media techniques, utilising whichever methods fit my living situation the best. I am using whatever resources I have around me to support my work.
Also, I have found it really useful to go through the permaculture principles for each zone, and to see how they related to my plans. Going through these and linking them in opened up so many more questions in my mind as to how it was going to be, and where to place priority. It brought my feelings of the project very clearly back to a solid permaculture ethical basis. I'd like to integrate this into all future projects in some way as I found it so beneficial, and I think it has affected this design in a really positive way.
Also, I've found it necessary in this project to cut off plans and ideas that I have thought to bring into this write up, and prioritise those aspects most necessary, and adapt ,my methods of sharing that information. Towards the end of this project I find myself in a living situation where I have much less time to devote to focused write up time, and very limited access to the internet. This is very different to the beginning of this project when I had ample time for these things. But what I have lost in some areas I have gained in others, as now living in a permaculture community I have much greater support and inspiration around me to affect my ideas and methods of thinking. All balancing itself out in interesting ways..
I have also learnt not to record long high quality videos and expect to be able to upload them easily in the non reliable internet of Thailand.
Professional
Throughout this project I have investigated ethical companies,different ,methods of clothing production natural dying techniques, business techniques, all beneficial for my future involving this design. I have delved into a proffesional world of business and company policies that I have never visited before. Looking into financial planning and budgeting techniques is also very helpful for my professional future.
How does this fit in with my ALP?
When setting out on the vision for this project - as with all current projects - I have been designing them to further my knowledge and skills in areas that I mapped out right at the start of this diploma in my Action Learning Plan. (You can see this Action Learning Plan here.) The skills linked with this project include - developing skills in natural crafts,, developing a sustaining spiritual practice, developing self confidence and self belief, gaining skills in natural building, and organic gardening practice. The project is also working towards my post-diploma goals of running workshops and teaching within a collective.
How have my quadrants been involved and expanded upon through this work?
Through this project I know I am working towards increasing areas of growth involving all quadrants. Great!
Tutor's review
As I was working on project 3 and 4 simultaneously, the review from Rich was morphed together. You can find it below.
| pr3_review_nim.doc |
And here is the check in that I had with Rich after this project was complete.
| pr4_checkin_nim.doc |
