How we started
Organic Style began as a wish to share my knowledge about an eco-friendly lifestyle. As a vegetarian for about 15 years and animal lover for my whole life, I became more and more interested in living a healthier lifestyle for myself and those around me including the environment. Quite a few years ago, I took a vegetarian cooking class and learned about the importance of organic food. I went to the class assuming I knew everything there was to know about vegetarian food, having been vegetarian at this point for about 5 or 6 years. What I came home with was a whole new appreciation for organic. I learned it was healthier for me, healthier for the farmer who is growing the food and harvesting it and also healthier for the environment. I would no longer be contributing to unneeded chemicals and pesticides on our earth by consuming only organic food. So now I was putting healthier food in my body, but what was I putting on my body? Since I was always an animal lover first, cruelty free skincare products were an absolute for me but I also learned that clothing can be made organically too. And there were so many alternative products being produced that I wanted others to learn about such as towels, sheets, handbags, hats and especially clothing and accessories for babies. After careful planning and researching manufacturers who I wanted to carry, I opened Organic Style! All the clothing we offer is organic and manufactured in fair labor facilities. It is also dyed with vegetable dyes or low-impact dyes. All the accessories we carry such as handbags and jewelry are fair trade and imported from countries such as India, Nepal, Ghana and Uganda.
I also wanted to practice what I preach about recycling and reusing so all the shelving and fixtures in the store are either recycled or made from salvaged wood. The counter is made from floorboards and barn walls from a 200 year old PA farmhouse that was being torn down and the shelves are made from 200 year old stair boards.
If I can do my small part to help change the world to be a safer, cleaner, healthier place to live then I will be happy!
A Bit About Organic and Fair Trade
Organic clothing is becoming mainstream just as organic produce was 10 years ago. Most organic clothing is made from cotton, hemp or linen and is all manufactured under strict fair trade regulations. This means everyone from the farmers who grew the fiber crop to the folks who made the clothing are paid a fair wage unlike typical sweat shop production. The crops are all grown without the use of any pesticides or chemicals. It actually takes approximately 1/3 lb. of pesticides to produce one non-organic t-shirt! People in countries such as Uzbekistan and India where much of conventional cotton is produced are forced into horrific conditions. The government controls their lives very tightly and if the farmers do not obey, they are likely to be arrested and beaten. There is also an alarming trend of farmer suicides in India. The state is responsible for bringing the livelihoods of millions of people to such desperation they feel suicide is the only way out. Supporting organic and fair trade products can help to reduce the amount of people forced to live that way.
Charities We Donate To:
We contribute a portion of sales to a different charity each month. A few of our charities include:
Animal Protection Leauge of NJ www.aplnj.org
Farm Sanctuary www.farmsanctuary.org
Orangutan Outreach www.redapes.org
Clean Ocean Action www.cleanoceanaction.org
The Smile Train (Cleft Palate surgeries for underpriveleged children) www.smiletrain.org
We strongly believe in empowering others and feel it is so important to give to those in need.
