startup – the {r}evolution apparel blog

The Importance of Taking Time To Do Things Right: An {r} Update

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again — It’s a slow revolution.

The past couple months have been a real test of patience, teamwork and pure determination. Most of our days are spent making phone calls, bombarding people with e-mails, and searching long lists of fabric databases.

No one told us it would be this hard.

If they had, we wouldn’t have listened.

For those of you unfamiliar with the process of starting a clothing line: It’s complicated. And as one of our mentors has said, it’s about 10 times more complicated when trying to do it ethically.

There’s a term called “greenwashed” that we’ve been trying to avoid like a bad haircut. Too often, companies give American consumers false messages of environmental responsibility and eco-friendly manufacturing when it’s simply not the case.

We’ve come across this same problem in our research to source sustainable fabric. It’s a lot of smoke and mirrors, and it takes a LOT of investigation to know what you’re really getting.

Take for instance cotton. It may be organically grown, but the majority of the time it’s not organically manufactured — consequently defeating the whole purpose of growing it organically in the first place.

Or sustainable bamboo. The fastest growing plant in the world is acclaimed as one of the most environmentally-friendly ways to make a t-shirt. In reality, manufacturing a bamboo shirt takes an incredible amount of chemicals that usually end up being dumped into the water ways of China.

And then there’s traditional nylon, rayon and spandex. But I won’t even get started on that.

The bottom line? We’re doing our research. And we’re doing it well. We feel a responsibility to the consumer and future buyers of {r}evolution apparel, and we’re not looking to pull a fast one on you.

We won’t do this until we can do it right.

And thankfully, we think we’ve found our answer.

But more on that to come. {r}

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}

How We Made $2,000 in 8 Hours

Well, we haven’t, just yet. But by the end of today, we will. Just keep reading.

We’ve been on a wild goose chase for sustainable fabrics lately. Domestic cotton, recycled PET plastic fiber, and the new wood-pulp fiber, Tencel.

We have a few good leads. But it’s all a waiting game.

So we’re starting on the next phase of {r}evolution apparel: Fundraising. We know we have a killer idea. We know it’s going to be beautiful. We know we will succeed. So it’s time to get a little capital behind this thing.

We were invited to participate in a competition sponsored by Pepsi Refresh, GOOD magazine, and SelflessTee. We want to win $2,000. And that’s where you come in.

Watch this one minute video, “Eight Hour Challenge for GOOD.”
After you view it, leave a comment below. It can say anything — one letter, one word, a love note, a hate note. It doesn’t matter. Just comment.
Watch the video as many times as you want. Part of the competition is getting as many views as possible, so click away at that “play” button!
By 7pm EST, the blog with the most comments gets the money.
If you’re feeling extra helpful, then you can also go to the post on our Facebook page and leave us a second comment there.

The video is about selfless acts. So watch to see what our next “selfless act” is going to be, and cast your vote. As always, we’re eternally grateful. {r}

{If you have any questions, leave a comment or e-mail us and we’ll reply ASAP!}

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}

Fashion-Savvy Interns Wanted for NYC Internet Startup

There are worse things than being a 25-year-old intern, so when Kristin and I heard about this opportunity we were both about one e-mail away from dropping everything and applying ourselves. It’s an internship that I would have gushed over in college if given the opportunity.

We’ve met some pretty cool people since our launch date, and Maria Olson, CEO and Founder of LivLuna, is about as cool as they come. When she asked us to help spread the word about her internship opportunity, we didn’t hesitate.

Maria left her job at Amazon.com to start her own online business that will launch at the beginning of this year. LivLuna is a green, e-commerce boutique that will sell socially-responsible, eco-friendly, stylish clothing for women, and a percentage of proceeds will go to non-profits that empower women and girls.

In addition to that, LivaLuna will also be a social media site for ‘fun fearless females kicking a** and saving the world in style.’ Maria is working hard to get everything together for January, but with so much to do, she’s seeking out some help.

She’s looking for two ‘super smart’ interns who want to work in New York City. This isn’t one of those trapped-in-a-cubicle-all-day desk jobs either, Maria is offering the chance to work with her in an artsy downtown Manhattan loft.

The interns will be responsible for all kinds of creative tasks, ranging from photo and video shoots to managing an online community, and must be able to commit to three months and 10-20 hours per week.

Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis, but she’s hoping to hire someone by January 1st, so don’t wait. Who knows, in a few months, you could be placing an apparel order with us!

For more information, take a look at the LivLuna Intern Job Description or to apply, send your resume and cover letter to maria@livaluna.com {r}

{Thumbnail photo credit: StyleNineToFive.com}

How We Became Designers {Part I}

When we were back in Nicaragua, toying with the idea of getting samples made, we spent some time with a Nicaraguan pattern-maker, named Sonia. During that time, we showed her our detailed sketches and explained the designs for our line.

As she drove us back to our hostel, she asked me what I studied in school. I said business. She then looked at Shannon and said, “Where did you go to fashion school?” She was shocked to learn we really know nada about design.

This is a woman who has been to places like Paris, New York, and Miami for fashion shows. She lives and breathes fashion. She told us that she had once learned a specific, difficult stitch only used by Yves St. Laurent. She is no rookie.

And yet, somehow, we managed to give her the impression that we aren’t rookies.

When did this happen? Three months ago, we were far more concerned with finding something we could import back to the States.

The extent of my sewing knowledge stems from a week spent in eighth grade, making a dress with my Grandma’s guidance.

And sketching people? Forget it. I can doodle a bad-ass flower, but drawing cute little outfits is a whole other story.

How do you even begin to “design” something? Where do you start? What do you need to know?

And then, how do you start a clothing line?

We don’t have all the answers. Yet.

But we’re going to share what we’ve learned in the next two posts.

It turns out that design is not as inaccessible as it sounds. Actually, I think that applies to most things in life. Learn something, be determined, fake it a little, and you can become, well, anything. {r}

Video: How We’ve Found Our ‘Passion’

Without sounding like an eHarmony commercial, we think the internet is a great place to meet people. Really.

Just after our blog launch, web & social media coordinator Jessica Malnik invited us to do a guest video-post for her “Follow Your Passion” series. As a recent college grad just getting into full-time work and keeping up with her blog, she writes about all things Gen Y.

Here’s a link to our short video on her site — it includes our personal views on passion, and an impromptu adventure in Kristin’s backyard. Enjoy! {r}

Behind the Scenes: The Making of All of Us Revolution

We’ve been talking a lot about inspiration lately. And while inspiration is a key element in figuring out your big idea, perspiration is the key element in making it all work. Yep, 1% inspiration, and 99% perspiration.We thought we’d give you a little peek into what we’ve been sweating over for the last few months. The basics:

1. Brainstorm and research ideas
2. Agree on one idea
3. Make travel plans
4. Set up marketing (blog, business cards, Twitter, Facebook)
5. Officially start business (register for an LLC)

I know, I know — it sounds easy, right? But throw in two perfectionists, some technical difficulties, zero training and very little experience, and you’ve got your hands full.

Research alone took a month. After the original Facebook message, we started shooting each other web links and forming ideas. And the options were endless. Should we import tagua seed jewelry? Peruvian llama-wool sweaters? Or go with our own idea for an apparel line?

We were lucky because the “agreeing” part came easy and the disagreements were easily compromised. Things could have gone astray from the very beginning, but our personalities and individual talents have turned out to be quite the combo.

Then it came down to the “where” of the business. At first we were dead-set on South America, but Chile & Argentina have “dirty” Spanish, and we couldn’t find much info on Bolivian, Ecuadorian, and Peruvian cooperatives. Fortunately, Central America had just what we wanted. Jackpot! Guatemala and Nicaragua have heaps of women-owned cooperatives, plus some of the biggest markets in Central America.

Part of our business plan was to get people involved from the beginning — let everyone see what the process looks like. Sure, we could wait until we had a product in our hands and throw it on a website like everyone else, but the how we got there is just as important as getting there.

Our idea of blogging became a totally other “business” of its own. The entire next month was spent writing: fair trade, fashion, travel, business, and of course, our project. (Those posts will be making a debut soon!) We wanted to have a backlog of about 50 solid articles even before our launch date.

And then we made it official and became a Limited Liability Company. By chance, I re-checked the Missouri LLC fees. In the last few months, it had magically become a cheap and easy process: pay 50 dollars for a lifetime LLC, and receive your paperwork instantly via PDF!

Honestly, things were pretty smooth sailing up to this point. But all of that changed in early August when I flew up to Boston to put our blog together and prepare for take-off.

Stay tuned for Shannon’s next post about some of the hilarious moments and epic failures in our last month before blog launch. {r}

Win a Chance to Change Your Life: The Art of Non-Conformity Project

You’re probably reading this blog for one or all of the following reasons:
a) you know one of us
b) you’re interested in our story
c) you’re interested in taking control of your own life

If option c) relates to you in any way, there’s something you should know.

“The Art of Non-Conformity” by Chris Guillebeau came out yesterday. (Note: This is not a paid plug. We just love the guy.)

Chris writes about setting your own rules, living the life you want, and changing the world, on his blog — and now you can read 227 pages of similar, thought-provoking advice.

I read Chris’ manifesto, “A Brief Guide to World Domination: How to Live a Remarkable Life in a Conventional World” a year ago. I didn’t take immediate action, but much of my decision to join this business venture was based on inspiration and hope I gained from Chris‘ words.

If you’ve found yourself unhappy with the status quo, or wishing your life weren’t so darn “average,” then check it out. You can read my Amazon review here and buy the book here. It should also be noted that 100 percent of the author proceeds from the people he meets on his book tour go to Chris’ charity project in Ethiopia.

We won our own free copy from Chris (we’re avid readers of his blog, too) and we’d like to spread the love.

We’ll mail our copy of the book to the first person who responds via comment — the only stipulation being that you must pass the book onto someone else when you’re done. We’ll glue our business card inside, and try to track the book, its readers, and their stories.

Just comment, and tell us why you’re interested! {r}

Dreams Aren’t Cheap: How to Get Money from Strangers

So you have a project. You want to build a school in that village you visited in Cambodia. Or make a short film about old cars. Or start an underground magazine.

Or maybe you want to start a fair trade apparel company.

All great ideas. But unless you’ve got piles of cash laying around, it’s probably going to be an uphill financial battle. The two of us haven’t exactly been saving corporate salaries with benefits and retirement plans, so we’re in the “uphill financial battle boat,” too.

Having said that, a lack of funds is no reason to give up on a project. We’ve been doing a little research on early-stage fundraising, and we’re here to tell you that it doesn’t require angel investors or venture capitalists.

Take BetterPlace.org and Kickstarter.com, for example. Both are websites for people to raise money to fund different kinds of projects: art installations, meaningful travel, community-sponsoring, wacky ideas. You can find just about anyone doing just about anything on these two sites. Project “starters” let people know what kind of project they’re working on, and followers (total strangers) can donate to the cause.

An example: Today on Kickstarter I found a documentary that needed support. The filmmaker, a senior at Drexel University, needed 800 dollars to complete filming. It’s called “Threads of Hope” and shows how fair trade in India changes women’s lives. She received the funding from 16 different “backers” and will be premiering in October.

I also browsed through projects on BetterPlace to find “Companeros in Motion,” a mobile schoolbus in Bolivia that drives to villages with books and learning tools. They have 50 supporters and are 98 percent funded!

Investors are rewarded, too. They are updated on the project’s progress, and often rewarded from the company or individual. Kickstarter investors are guaranteed a gift if enough funds are raised, and if not, they get 100 percent of their money back. So really, your money only goes to a successful project.

The bottom line is that not having money is not a good reason to give up on a goal. These are just two examples of fundraising; a little creativity can go a long way.

We’re on the perpetual lookout for interesting ways to raise capital. If you’ve got some ideas, share the love! In the meantime, let’s push reason aside and run with our big ideas. {r}

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

{the blog}

Tagged: startup