Go.

Interwoven Threads is filling orders from a remote mountain location. It doesn't just sound cool, it is cool. What I thought might be a slow down after an insanely busy holiday ordering slam has simply not slowed down, which I'm so thankful for. Thanks to all who included Interwoven Threads in your gifting and getting this holiday.

Back to travel...whenever I'm away, I remember how much I appreciate the idea of going. Travel. Saw this nice sketch on the ever-inspiring Indexed blog today and thought it was a good representation of how I'm feeling as well as a nice reminder for 2008. Where will you go?

Check back soon for a mondo post on my tour of the sustainable and inspirational New Belgium Brewery.

Trashy gifts

not talking about the awkward uncle-gives-to-aunt-undies moment that might derail your family Christmas...i'm talking about the trash that is generated via our gifting. it may be too late to go green and local for your holiday gifts, but it's not too late to reduce the refuse that seems to pile as high as the tree post-gifting.

some families (like mine) participate in a all-out sprint to save a bow and bag - kudos - but if your family is more prone to filling lawn and leaf bags with your holiday memories, here are some tips.

1) don't wrap. many stores (especially boutique and local stores) will provide nice boxes for your goods. save the planet and the hassle of unwrapping by throwing a reused or reusable bow/ribbon on.
2) dip into your recycling. newspapers, printer error paper and my favorite: magazine pages make unique wrapping paper that easily heads right back into the recycling when you're done.
3) get a better bag. "wrap" your gift in a reusable canvas bag (and encourage the protest of plastic shopping sacks) or in the branded sack in which it came. by finding the right stores, i've purchased gifts this year that come in everything from popcorn boxes to dog food bags that were messed up during production. a strange sack will encourage your recipient reuses or regifts later.
4) make like a cheesy jewelry ad and present your gift without wrapping. "ta da - the necklace was baked into Santa's cookies!"
5) reduce. there's one in every family...the type that wraps gifts to look like a Macy's float. the only use for such excess is to take a picture of a present-buttressed tree or to cover up the fact that you got a lousy gift and by guilt covered up the fact with every spare ornament and leftover in the basement.
6) grab two bags: one for things to keep such as bows, ribbon, bags and boxes, and one to fill with actual trash. you'll be more intentional and might well freak yourself out over how much you're throwing away.
7) buy better gift wrap. do a google search and many such recycled paper manufacturers will come up. i dig PaperOrganics and Fish Lips more here at Ideal Bite.
8) slice up the discarded paper into squares and use it for notes. i do this with discarded white paper a lot.
9) call your local recycling center to find out if you can recycle wrapping paper. i can't find anything online right now...but it's worth looking into.
10) don't give a gift. give the act of giving. many online donation opportunities exist for all sorts of charities and causes. most will allow you to send an e-mail to the recipient for whom the gift was donated. this is also a great way to turn a last-minute gift into something truly meaningful.

merry Christmas, all.

Interwoven Threads in the KC Star!

Fashion Editor Jackie White included Interwoven Threads in a wonderful story for today's Kansas City Star. as part of a local gift ideas theme, three images were included (courtesy of photographer Tom Foley).

as a reminder to anyone thinking about giving Interwoven Threads for Christmas, today's orders will be shipped via Priority Mail by end of day today (Dec. 21) and the good folks at the Post Office told me today's shipment should arrive Saturday or Monday depending on which corner of the world you inhabit. as a disclaimer, Interwoven Threads is not responsible for the U.S. Postal Service's delivery schedule during this busy time of year. the stated delivery time for Priority Mail is 2-3 days, however, local (Kansas City-area) packages normally move across town in a day. information is included in each shipment on the benefits of organic cotton and the story behind Interwoven Threads and its donation program.

if you're freakin' out and want to guarantee the gifts are in your hands, i am willing to deliver in the Kansas-City Metro through Saturday at noon. you just have to ask nicely. any questions can be sent to shout (at) interwoventhreads (dot) com. i'll respond right quick.

Ho Ho Ho

as much as I want to believe everyone on your Christmas list would appreciate the gift of Interwoven Threads this year, diversifying your holiday gifting is an important way to exercise your socially-conscious purchasing power.

the always-comprehensive Treehugger has a great list (with helpful categories) of green gifts.

likeminds and quickly growing Two Hands Worldshop has unique fair trade gifts displayed on an easy-to-use site.

i just gave my office secret santa a donation in her honor to Ashoka. donating to your (or your recipient's) favorite charity can be a powerful way to make your gift go farther than the check-out counter. most charitable organizations have online donation options, making it an easy transaction.

interwoven threads will be shipping priority mail (1-3 days) and can ship directly to your special someone. just make a note when you order. a fact sheet on the benefits of organic cotton and a brief company story and donation information is included with each purchase.

how are you doing better this holiday season?

Green, green Christmas?

Intelligent post from the Marketing Green blog today on "green" products' success during this holiday season. I agree with many of the reasons why "green" isn't being as highly publicized as it could be, however, I contend that what may appear to be a lack of interest in "green" products and businesses may be more of a share of voice issue than an issue of consumer disinterest. This time of year, a marketing and messaging blitz occurs and normally brands with the biggest coffers naturally get the biggest share of voice among consumers. I am enthused by two things: the amount of green gift guides and green gifts added to traditional gift guides, and speaking as an expert in my own little Interwoven Threads world, sales are hoppin' this season.

As blogger David Wigder states, I think there's little cause for alarm here...I think it's a symptom of an emerging mindset and market. We'll be having a much different conversation this time next year.

Interwoven Threads in Present Magazine!

the good folks at Present Magazine did a nice feature on Interwoven Threads in the latest edition. check it out here, and remember to take a gander on the new collaboration and threads!

New threads now online!

a new chapter of Interwoven Threads begins now, with a partnership between Interwoven and the Barclay Martin Ensemble. Barclay created two shirts on the Interwoven Threads label, which are quite stylish and consist of the same 100% organic cotton, made-in-American quality you love about Interwoven Threads.

the collaboration also allows Interwoven Threads to extend its unique donation impact by addressing global education. 1o% of each BME purchase will go toward Walk With The Poor, a not-for-profit organization funding opportunities for educational supplies, scholarship and resources in 25 developing countries. very cool.

you'll also see some changes on the website, which are a nod to some more developments to come. 2008 is shaping up to be an exciting year.

a big thank you to Barclay Martin, who has shared his vision and worldly experiences to create another option for changing the world, one T-shirt at a time.

hit the "Threads" page to check 'em out and buy, and the gallery to get additional looks.

What's been keeping me busy

Been a busy time with Interwoven Threads in the past couple days.
+Re-ordered a number of styles today, as a recent sales blitz took down the inventory (great problem to have).
+The collaboration with Barclay Martin and his band has come to fruition. He’s selling his own Interwoven Threads shirts at his shows and last night we met with photographer Tom Foley to finalize the photos for the web (should be up in the next day or two for online purchase).
+Today I was part of a first-time event at reStart, Interwoven Threads donation partner, at which I donated 41 shirts and collaborated with photographer Rebecca Peters to provide holiday family photos to families living at and receiving resources from reStart.

The families were great (about 25) – and thrilled to have the opportunity to have a family photo. For the majority of the families, this was the first time they’ve had a family portrait taken.

Each family wore its best, labored over every detail and truly drank in the moment. Rebecca was amazing with her subjects, taking multiple photos and then getting with each family to choose their favorites. Rebecca donated her time, materials and talent to provide each family with free professional portraits during the holiday season.

Today during lunch, I sat with Kevin Kuzma, a writer for the wonderful local arts and culture magazine, Present, and discussed Interwoven Threads. I have a few other media opportunities in the next month – I’ll let you all know – and am really excited for a chance to further spread the word about Interwoven Threads as we move into year two.

Interwoven Threads, at its core, should be a conduit for doing better. Sure, it’s a T-shirt company, but I hope it’s more. And today, after being at reStart and after reflecting on my partnership with Barclay and his band, it’s clear that what we’re all part of is larger than fashion or clothing or a company.

So thank you for being part of this journey. Thank you for making Interwoven Threads part of your holiday gift purchases. Thank you to those who came to reStart tonight to donate your own clothes. Thanks to Rebecca and to Barclay for being integral parts of new chapters.

I’ll send a note when Barclay’s shirts are up for sale – along with some great promotions for the holiday shopping season. So stay tuned!