motivation – the {r}evolution apparel blog

Why You Have to Try Everything

The list of people we’ve talked to about sustainable fabrics is absolutely ridiculous:

A University of Missouri Professor.

A supermodel.

The Department of Agriculture.

Cotton farmers from California to Texas.

Wool farmers in rural New Zealand.

And it goes on.

After a thousand dead ends, we finally met the right person. Someone with answers — someone who can take our ideas and “turn them into reality,” for cliche’s sake. And I’ve realized that this is basically how life works. You try a thousand ridiculous things, and only after 99 percent of them don’t work out, something does.

In every aspect of life. Relationships. Jobs. Businesses. Hobbies.

Getting to where you want to be depends on trying everything. And if you don’t, you just might not end up where you want to be.

So you have to call strangers to talk about fabrics when you barely have enough knowledge to formulate questions. You have to email people 10 times. You even have to be willing to call the government.

And not just in your business or your job. In your life as a whole.

You have to date. A lot. And get rejected sometimes. And go on lots of job interviews. And take new classes about new things. Be doggedly persistent in new business ventures. And try everything you were ever interested in, because you never know when something will click.

Because when it does, it’s beautiful. {r}

{You’ll be hearing from us in Asheville next week!}

{r}evolution apparel: Made in Asheville?

It’s a scary thing to dish out several hundred dollars, hop on a plane, fly a thousand miles, and hope for the best.

But that’s what we’re doing next week.

Kristin and I are going to Asheville, North Carolina for a couple days to meet with a company specializing in environmental fabrics and to discuss the production of {r}evolution apparel.

We imagine our time in Asheville will go something like this:

Meet the company owner, who we’ve been talking to for the past month.
Hash out the details of our designs and spec sheets.
Collaborate with pattern makers on the logistics of each piece.
Look at fabric swatches, dyes, buttons and zippers.
Tour the facilities and observe how the manufacturing process works.
Finalize the production of patterns and samples.
Gather and review the sustainability and fair trade certifications.

End each day with an organic beer at a vegan bar. I mean, it’s Asheville, right?

When we return home to Austin and Denver we hope to have samples finished in the following few weeks and to begin the second most challenging stage of the process:

Fundraising. Attracting investors. Making sure we can do this right.

In some ways, we feel like this is the moment we’ve been waiting for. We’ve spent every day of the past six months working towards this stage of the game. We know we have a lot riding on next week, but we also know it’s just the beginning of a long road ahead.

And for all of you, you’ll be able to say you were there in the beginning. {r}

Photo Credit: faqs

Wearing Local for One Year: A Slow Fashion Interview {Part II}

Yesterday, we had the chance to interview Rebecca Burgess, the face of The Fibershed Project. She has committed to wearing clothes made only from materials sourced within a 150-mile radius of her home in California, and as her year of wearing local wraps up, we asked her a few questions about sustainable design and personal challenges.

{r} You are also an educator and textile artist. As designers wanting to make the best decisions for people and planet, what advice would you give us about entering the industry, compromise, and sustainability?

I highly recommend the mantra, ‘make do with what appears to be little.’

Start from the inside out. What do you really want to create in this world? What do you ideally want to offer as a service or good to your fellow human? What is the systemic impact of your product?

When I reflect on the word ‘ideal’– it reminds me how this project began… it was an ideal scenario… and the question existed… but can the ideal work?

Your ideal becomes your goal, and you move towards it. You take leaps, and risks, and sometimes you work with self-imposed limitation to get there. Ideal doesn’t land in your lap, you make it happen.

Now that I am closer than ever to my ideal scenario, I’m better informed about how I would want this to be scaled to become available to others in my community. Keeping with the ideals, the clothing would be a product of a human-scale, and deeply ecologically thoughtful processes.

The current caliber of ‘sustainable’ textile production is summed up by the owner of one particularly famous environmentally friendly clothing company (that I’ll remain nameless), who says, ‘The cost of manufacturing is inherently going to damage the earth, that’s why all business needs to have a pay-back plan to the planet.’

What that person is saying and accepting as truth is that we as humans are going to continue to have a material culture that does damage. The problem with that scenario is that we live on a finite planet, and damaging manufacturers cannot continue to expand on a finite planet. This clothing company is not inherently sustainable, nor is it doing anything to create a vibrant and thriving planet; ultimately all the money put towards conservation, and protection of the environment is at best, (in a historical snapshot), neutralizing the effects of an ever- growing manufacturing process that will eventually exceed all attempts at neutralizing.

I think the next wave of textile production will be looking at how to manufacture regeneratively. How to make the process a living, ecological model. Can you eliminate the concept of waste? If you can close your loops, and balance your carbon, then your system is as harmonious as the process of breathing. And, it will last the generations, and not simply be a blip on the screen towards ecological collapse.

Planting the dye plants, harvested later for dyeing fabrics

Leather in Fibershed: DIY

Local sheep used to make socks and legwarmers, among other things

Part of the dyeing process

{r} And the question everyone wants to know: When the year ends, what’s next for you and Fibershed?

The next wave for Fibershed is to expand out of my wardrobe, and begin to look closely at how we can create a bioregional supply chain that does no harm. We are celebrating the Fibershed as a whole, and bringing attention to our plans for the first ever, solar-powered, farm-based cotton and wool mill. We’re throwing a party on May 1st, and you’re all invited!

We are inviting people from everywhere — because we see a Fibershed as a replicable module. This isn’t just about our bioregion, its about the potential that exists in all regions!

As the personal challenge ends, I forsee Fibershed having a for-profit and non-profit wing. The for-profit wing will be a host of bio-regional fiber growers and processors working together to create the best possible garments. The non-profit wing will be working on R&D (research and development), and grant-writing to secure the funds to help develop innovative manufacturing systems — everything from rotational grazing regimes, so that farmers can get help to improve their soils, and sequester carbon, to developing closed-loop water systems in our fermentation indigo dye house.

It is all completely exciting, and the best part is, it’s already happening!

A huge thanks to Rebecca for sharing her expertise with us. Her story makes us re-think the boundaries of a seemingly-oxymoron, “sustainable fashion.” We encourage everyone to check out Fibershed and spread the word!

Rethinking Fashion: An Interview with HOLSTEE

{A Note on the 2k Competition: We won’t find out who won until this weekend, but we’ll be sure to let everyone know! A huge thanks for all of your support — we sincerely appreciate the amazing turnout.}

If you haven’t heard of HOLSTEE, you will. Meet Mike, Dave, and Fabian: three guys, living in Brooklyn, who design and curate “kickass products, sustainably made, with a social impact.” It really doesn’t get much cooler than that.

It all started around the HOLSTEE tee, with a holster-like zipper-pocket for all the stuff dudes carry. They’ve branched out with “fins,” wallets and pendants, and an entire curated collection. The amazing part? Every product is made in a way that helps people and planet.

HOLSTEE is a special inspiration for us, because these guys created a company that reflects their lifestyle, and encourage others to “live their dream and wear their passion,” as well. We had a chance to interview them and find out what young entrepreneurs think about trends, sustainability, saving the world, and living your dream.

{r} HOLSTEE’s manifesto has become slightly famous (check it out here). In it, you say, “Life is about the people you meet, and the things you create with them, so go out and start creating.” How did the idea for and creation of HOLSTEE come to be?

Well, like you said, Holstee all began with the idea of putting a pocket on a shirt, but at the time it was one of a few projects I was working on with some friends at Incubaker. We always loved working together and had a few side projects going on at any given time. We came to realize that if we all focused our energy, even if it was part-time, we could take one concept and push it much further than we could multiple projects. We put the other ideas on hold and decided to move forward with Holstee. At that same time, my brother and I decided we were ready for change. It was almost summer in NYC and we decided to quit our jobs in the heat of the recession and focus full-time on Holstee and see how far we could push it before running out of cash. We figured in the worst case scenario it would be the best summer of our lives and we would find jobs again, and that is how we got started!

{r} Starting a business is never easy. What were some early obstacles that you dealt with, and what advice would you give yourselves if you could do it all over?

Production was a big challenge for us at the beginning. Without backgrounds in design, fashion, or producing apparel and accessories we had a huge learning curve. The biggest takeaway was always sticking to your gut when it comes to design, and budget twice as much time and money to produce anything, especially when it’s the first time.

{r} Sustainability and responsibility are cornerstones of HOLSTEE. We think more and more people are asking, “What’s in this product, and who made it?” What are your thoughts on the shifts in consumer trends and attitudes?

As new and increasingly transparent brands emerge that educate consumers on the entire ecological impact of an item, consumers become more aware and begin to take responsibility for the impact of their purchases. It is too easy to frown on child-labor, pollution and pesticides one day, then turn around and buy a t-shirt from the local fast-fashion outlet around the corner without considering the effects. The most important thing people are continuing to realize is that each dollar spent is a vote and investment towards what you value in life.

If you would like to see more local stores you need to stop shopping at chains, if you want to see less waste you need to buy things with less packaging. On the other side, designers and businesses need to offer not only the most ecological option but the best design and quality to make the consumers’ choice as easy as possible. It is the crossing point between mindful consumers and meaningful products where we will really see some growth. Hopefully, this will help shift the harmful phenomenon of over-consumption and waste.

{r} As “change-makers,” what do you think about power, responsibility, and a small group’s ability to impact the world?

I am positive that every decision each person makes has a huge domino effect. The most obvious example I can think of is when someone smiles. Next time you are on the subway or in a crowd of people try giving a genuine smile and see how contagious it can be.

{r} And finally, what’s next for HOLSTEE?

Oooh good question! We are hoping to release about five to 10 new products this year and are currently prototyping a few — still top secret though ;-) We are also working to grow the curated part of our site, continually offering new meaningful products to your growing community. And of course lots of travel and fun in the meantime!

A huge thanks to Dave for setting this up, and to the crew at HOLSTEE who continue to kick ass and provide products we can all feel good about buying. Check out their online home here, and connect on Facebook and Twitter to keep following their story. {r}

11 Ways We've Redefined the Good Life

About a month ago, we were asked to participate in a new project that couldn’t have been more in sync with our own ideals and philosophies. The brains behind The 11 Project is a woman named Brooke Thomas, and her goal was to compile a magazine, both in print and online, that focuses on “redefining the good life.”

The 11 Project can best be explained like this:

In the words of Pamela Slim, “The conventional world order has blown up.” And yet we’re stuck with the same lingering ideas of what it means to be happy, fulfilled, and successful. [The 11 Project] is basically un-earthing all the awesomeness that human beings have to offer by seeking out people from a broad range of fields and backgrounds and talking to them about what they’re contributing to the world.

In the company of Chris Guillebeau and 11 other people who are rejecting the status quo and living on their own terms, we tackled the 11 challenging and thought-provoking questions that will make up the base of the magazine. We answer questions ranging from, “What do you think the pursuit of happiness is all about?” to “What’s your idea of Hell?”

11 people. 11 questions. And the launch issue, Outside-the-Box, debuts today on January 11th. You can check out our interview and the rest of the first free issue here (you can find us at lucky #11).

What does the “good life” mean to you? {r}

11 Ways We’ve Redefined the Good Life

The 11 Project can best be explained like this:

11 people. 11 questions. And the launch issue, Outside-the-Box, debuts today on January 11th. You can check out our interview and the rest of the first free issue here (you can find us at lucky #11).

What does the “good life” mean to you? {r}

How to Realize Your Uniqueness and Carve a Niche

We all have something to offer the world that no one else can. Cheesy, but true. If we’re all completely different people, and there’s no one else in the world exactly like you — well, then, you have something that no one else does.

Defining that can be tough. Figuring out what you have to offer isn’t always easy. There are those who just know what they want to be and what they have to give the world, and then there’s, well… the other 99 percent.

As we muddle through our marketing strategies and competitive analyses, we’re forcing ourselves to define our USP — Unique Selling Proposition. What does our product have that truly sets it apart from everything else in the market?

It turns out that USP’s aren’t just for new businesses. Figuring out what you have to offer the world is part of life; finding out why you’re here and what you’re meant to do is human nature. Some of us drift through life hoping our uniqueness will one day appear, and our purpose will be clear. Others seek their purpose, and constantly ask themselves, “What do I have that truly sets me apart from everyone else?”

Maybe you have a lot of compassion. Or patience. Or intelligence. Or wit. Regardless of what qualities you have, the combination is truly unique to you.

And once you figure out what only you can offer the world, you can start working towards changing the world. Cheesy, again, but still true.

Today, we’re sitting down and asking ourselves the following questions, hoping to further define our niche and customer benefits. If you’ve found yourself wondering what you really have to offer, and what you’re really supposed to be doing with your time on Earth, it may be helpful to ask yourself these questions as well.

What problem can I solve for people?

What can I do that’s different from what everyone else is doing?

What makes my combination of qualities superior to others?

Do I fit into an existing niche, or do I break the mold?

How could people benefit from my combination of qualities?

No matter where you are in your business or your life, it’s always important to take a step back and ensure that you’re doing the things that fully utilize your qualities, and provide value to others for personal fulfillment. What’s your USP? {r}

A New Year, A New Us: How to Abandon Excuses

One day, Shannon and I were taking a walk, and started talking about yoga.

Me: “I’ve been wanting to take classes for so long! I just never do. I keep thinking that I will when I have money.”

Shan: “I know, me too…”

And then we talked about all the other things we’d like to do in life, but because of money, laziness, or time, we haven’t.

For example, some simple things from my list:
Do 30 sit-ups and push-ups every morning while listening to a feel-good song.
Take another photography class.
Spend a season snowboarding.

And a few things from Shannon’s:
Compartmentalize my time better, so I remember to leave time for “fun” things.
Start mediating again (in addition to the yoga).
Move to a new city, meet new people.

We are probably the queens of, “Just do it; excuses are for wimps.”

But we can be guilty, too. We have a vision of what we want our lives to look like “someday.” And we keep thinking that we’ll get there “someday,” and it will be great. When we have more of this or that, and we can do all those cool things that make up the cool people we want to be.

That day on our walk, I think we reminded each other that if we would just do those cool things now, our lives would be what we want them to be.

No more excuses. It’s a new year. A new us. More motivated for a more balanced life. More in tune with the present. More active. Dare I say, more “proactive” (I’ll be snowboarding in Colorado for the next few months, and Shannon is moving to hipster Austin at the end of January, both of us accomplishing our #3).

What have you been wanting to do in life? {r}

How to Make Big Decisions That Lead to Big Changes

We make decisions every day. What to wear. Who to ask for help. Which project to take on at work. Making a decision is easy — usually.

Unless it forces you to change the way you live your life.

As a species, we are averse to big change. Ever notice how long it takes for great ideas to catch on? Change is hard because it involves unknown elements. And let’s face it, we’re all afraid of the unknown.

It may seem strange that two amateur bartenders with no 9-5 work experience, no understanding of importing, and no Spanish skills have made the decision to start a business out of Central America. There are a million unknown elements in this project. We could fill up a hard-drive with all of the things we don’t know about this new venture.

But there’s one thing we do know. We analyzed the opportunity. Asked ourselves if it was worth the risk. And then made a decision to say yes.

It wasn’t instantaneous. We tossed around questions for a month. Do we want to travel? Support American-made? Be organic? Work in a foreign country? Sell products online?

Ultimately, these are the steps we took to really make our decision. It’s an introspective process. It takes time. But even in a few months, the reward has given us progress, meaning, and purpose. Change is scary, but stagnation and boredom are even scarier.

Know what you want out of life. Review the past year. We suggest reading Chris Guillebeau’s post about conducting an annual review. Analyze your life and the past 12 months. Figure out what went well and what didn’t. Ask yourself why, and figure out what you need to change. Make goals concerning family, career, and personal growth. Figure out how you’re going to achieve each goal. This is a great way to figure out what you want, what you don’t want, and how to make good things happen.

Know what you want out of your business venture. Make a list of the things you’d like to get out of your new career. Time off? Location independence? Built-in travel? A new skill set? The ability to help others?

Define success in your own terms. Will you be happy with a meaningful project that doesn’t make you rich? Do you want to realize a childhood dream? Do you want to start a scalable enterprise? Or is your goal to be independent from a boss?

Evaluate your options.* List your business ideas. You’ve probably got a million running through your head. We definitely did. We’d write down each one with some informal pros and cons and mentally file them away. The best will rise to the top.

Combine your life goals, business goals, and need for success to choose the business opportunities that allow you to live the life you want. It will take a while to evaluate every aspect of your future. Shannon and I are still figuring out the kinks in our plan. It takes a lot of planning to achieve each personal and business goal we’ve set. The only definitive, absolute knowledge we have is this: it is possible. With a little ingenuity, there’s no reason we can’t have it all.

* A note on evaluating business options — Don’t rule out opportunities for the following reasons: lack of money, time or fear of hardships. Business opportunities are inherently lofty — if starting a business isn’t challenging, then it probably isn’t a good business. Shannon and I don’t know anything about importing products from Latin America, nor do we have enough money to support the project. However, our business plan makes sense with our lifestyle and business goals. We just have to remind ourselves: with great risk comes great reward.

Here is a one-page template that I find helpful for moving through these steps. Feel free to use it and pass it on. {r}

You Can Have It All, Too

We all have things we want to do: study a language, learn a skill, face a fear, or — start a business. And then somehow, we get distracted. We confuse the time we spend dreaming about these things instead of doing them, and we start making excuses. I don’t have enough time. I don’t have enough money. I don’t know if my idea is good enough.

But, what is good enough?

The people who are able to turn an idea into a successful idea don’t waste a whole lot of time questioning themselves. They shift their brain into high gear and never look back. They’re proactive, set priorities, think positively and most of all, have an end goal in sight.

Easier said than done, right?

Kristin and I are no smarter, no richer, no more clever than anyone else. And both of us have had our fair share of second-guessing ourselves and dare I say, procrastinating. Yet we’ve found ways to stifle our doubts by adopting the tools of other successful people and creating some of our own.

Have an end goal in sight. If you don’t know what that goal is, read this for some help.

I find that combining visualized success with hard work is the most effective technique in pursuing my goals. I usually make a list and then turn that into a vision board. I cut out words, images and phrases from magazines and newspapers and compile them into a collage of how I envision the success of my idea affecting my life. If that’s too artsy-fartsy for you, then it’s still worth keeping in mind the law of attraction and the power you have over visualizing your future success.

Be proactive. Once you’ve narrowed down your focus, be true to your priorities and adjust your life in a way that caters to your end goal.

When my best friend Emily decided to backpack Australia for a year she spent the four months prior to her trip, calculating her finances to the tee. She created a way to support her life abroad while setting aside enough money to pay 200 dollars a month in student loans back home. She prioritized her lifestyle around an end goal while working two jobs and making 500 dollars a week.

Remember that you don’t have to get everything right — it’s more important to get things going.

There’s some alarming statistic out there that the majority of successful people have failed at least once, if not several times. If this holds true to the masses, then the sooner you can get those failures out of the way, the closer you’ll be to your great success. The point is that after you write your lists, choose your best idea, create your vision board, then the real work begins. The most important step is making the decision to take the plunge and to get things going.

Don’t let the “big picture” consume you. Break it down into a “montage” of little pictures.

View your big idea in terms of small steps. Break down the “big picture” into mini, manageable tasks and list each one in order of importance. Momentum is key, so pick apart the problems and conquer them bit by bit. Do one thing every day to get you a little closer to the end goal. As Confucius said, “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”

Come to the realization that this is the only life you’ve got.

We have an actionable plan to inspire you in the way we’ve been inspired. We’re taking one step at a time to live the life we know we can. Take your first step with us in starting your own revolution. {r}

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

{the blog}

Tagged: motivation