Over the last 7 years, I  have watched the organic textile industry evolve and progress.  I have been keeping careful tabs on the labels and what they mean.  Authenticity and accountability for the environmental and social impact of textile production are why I launched Harmony Art and it has definitely been a journey!

Certification Status Report
2004 - OTA adopts American Organic Fiber Processing Standard (AOFPS).
2005 - Harmony Art organic design is founded.  40 different "eco fabric" standards exist.
2005 - Harmony Art chooses the OTA's AOFPS for her fabrics.
2006 - Global Organic Textile Standard - GOTS version 1 is finalized.
2007 - Harmony Art fabrics produced in India are 3rd party certified to GOTS.
2008 - GOTS logo (below) is introduced.
NOV. 2011 - Harmony Art applies for GOTS certification!
DEC. 2011 - Harmony Art warehouse is inspected by OneCert. (blog post)
2012 - It's official HARMONY ART BECOMES GOTS CERTIFIED and PRESS RELEASE is issued.

*What does this mean?  Nothing and everything.  Nothing because the fabric has already been made and certified to GOTS standards.  Everything because we (Fox-Rich/Organic Cotton Plus & Harmony Art) are some of the VERY first distributors not only to sell GOTS certified fabrics but to BE GOTS certified.  

So, what does that mean?  Well, for ANY product to carry the GOTS logo ALL of the "chain of command" upstream need to be certified.  Example:  If you were to make baby clothes and you sourced GOTS fabrics and wanted to use the GOTS logo on your hang tags, your fabric supplier (not the fabric itself) would need to be GOTS certified AND your facility would also need to go through the certification process.  This step now opens the doors for any of our customers to pursue GOTS certification themselves for their end products.  

Why has it taken us so long to take this leap you ask?  Well, two reasons -- 1.  We wanted to be sure the certification had the momentum to be THE organic fabric certification   2. It's expensive! 

Why is this important?  Well, remember "organic" food before the NOP logo?  That's the stage we are in now and certification is an important step in keeping organic fabrics authentic and easily identifiable to the end consumer.  We feel strongly that this step not only supports our customers but the organic fiber world as a whole.  

The journey continues.  To stay informed on a more day-to-day basis please "like" us on Facebook and watch our News page.

Thanks for being a part of this evolution.  

This months marks the 7th anniversary of Harmony Art organic design.  It seems unreal to me.  Can it be?  Really?  WOW!  

I can still vividly remember being in Michigan in January 2005, witnessing the "glorious transition to a freer life" of my father-in-law, Paul Susalla.  He died on his 66th birthday, 7 years ago today.  His passing was peaceful, calm and beautiful. We should all be so lucky to be at home surrounded by so much love. 

If I hadn't quit my job to start Harmony Art I would have been in Germany attending the Heimtextil show rather than being in snowy Michigan with my family during this sacred passage.  The timing has always felt like a confirmation of my decision.  

This time of great sorrow will always be intimately woven into the start of the Harmony Art journey.  Although I never told Paul about my new business idea/venture (it seemed so inconsequential in the moment) his illness helped inspire it.  In the face of life's frailty, I was motivated to reflect and to act.   

 I miss Paul.  I think he would be really proud of what we have accomplished.  How I wish I could be celebrating another anniversary with him.   When this time of year comes around it always feels bitter sweet.  

To quote Mark Twain: 
"Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

Life is short.  Make your journey a great one!  Thank YOU for SEVEN amazing years.

As of today, December 28, 2011, Harmony Art organic design is officially certified to the Global Organic Textile Standards!  Next week will mark our 7th anniversary as a strictly organic fabric company, and I can't imagine a better present.  It's been a journey and it still continues but I wanted to take a minute to share this BIG news with you.  Thanks for all the love and support along the way.  

Over the last 7 years, I  have watched the organic textile industry evolve and progress.  I have been keeping careful tabs on the labels and what they mean.  Authenticity and accountability for the environmental and social impact of textile production are why I launched Harmony Art and it has definitely been a journey!

Certification Status Report
2004 - OTA adopts American Organic Fiber Processing Standard (AOFPS).
2005 - Harmony Art organic design is founded.  40 different "eco fabric" standards exist.
2005 - Harmony Art chooses the OTA's AOFPS for her fabrics.
2006 - Global Organic Textile Standard - GOTS version 1 is finalized.
2007 - Harmony Art fabrics produced in India are 3rd party certified to GOTS.
2008 - GOTS logo (above) is introduced.
2011 - Harmony Art applies for GOTS certification!*

*What does this mean?  Nothing and everything.  Nothing because the fabric has already been made and certified to GOTS standards.  Everything because we (Fox-Rich & Harmony Art) will be the FIRST US distributors not only to sell GOTS certified fabrics but to BE GOTS certified.  

So, what does that mean?  Well, for ANY product to carry the GOTS logo ALL of the "chain of command" upstream need to be certified.  Example:  If you were to make baby clothes and you sourced GOTS fabrics and wanted to use the GOTS logo on your hang tags, your fabric supplier (not the fabric itself) would need to be GOTS certified AND your facility would also need to go through the certification process.  This step now opens the doors for any of our customers to pursue GOTS certification themselves for their end products.  

Why has it taken us so long to take this leap you ask?  Well, two reasons -- 1.  We wanted to be sure the certification had the momentum to be THE organic fabric certification   2. It's expensive! 

Why is this important?  Well, remember "organic" food before the NOP logo?  That's the stage we are in now and certification is an important step in keeping organic fabrics authentic and easily identifiable to the end consumer.

This week I submitted the 20+ page application and a large check to OneCert.  After reviewing the documents, an inspector will be sent to our warehouse in South Carolina and the certifying will begin.  I look forward to keeping you posted through the process. 

Living Craft Magazine just posted and interview and giveaway on their blog with yours truly.  Check it out if you have a minute and leave a post for a chance to win some of our newest Harmony Art organic fabric and Green Bag Lady fabric bags for your whole family. 

One of the questions they ask is: "Do you teach fabric design or other design?" I'm really curious to see if anyone will respond to that answer.  Time will tell.

When I launched Harmony Art Organic Design in January 2005, I was looking to create a business (really a job) for myself in my field (textile design) that I could feel good about.  Reality was that in 2005 there were no fabric companies making organic cotton prints.  Oh sure, there were a few pioneering companies like Patagonia and Green Babies that were making clothing using organic cotton printed fabrics but unless you were big enough to do your own production runs (1,000 + yards), you had no selection.  This left small businesses and home sewers virtually without any organic fabric options beyond beige, oatmeal or granola.  It also left this textile designer with next to no job opportunities beyond the toxic traditional ones.

In 2005, there were over 40 eco-textile standards to choose from.  (Talk about confusing!) The OTA was writing their own Fiber Processing Standard and since then have worked collaboratively to develop the Global Organic Textile Standard or GOTS.  Just last month the USDA's NOP program acknowledged and ok'd the use of GOTS for textiles labelled as organic.  (THIS IS BIG NEWS!)

What started as a quest for a job I could feel proud of, became a vision/mission to change the way textiles were produced.  I wanted to help move the textile business from being one of THE MOST TOXIC industries to one of the most thoughtful.  To that end, I would need many more companies to embrace organics!

Six and 1/2 years later... I am proud and honored and encouraged to report that indeed the textile industry has caught on!  No longer alone, many independent organic fabric companies (Mod Green Pod, Oliveira Textiles, Cloud9, Daisy Janie, Birch Fabrics, etc) have started and with this spring's Quilt Market even the biggest names in quilting fabrics have joined the organic fabric team.  Large fabric companies like Rowan, Clothworks, Robert Kaufman, and Michael Miller have released printed organics.  Even the amazing and oh-so-popular and lovely Amy Butler has released an organic cotton collection.  Quilt Market's latest trend report highlighted organic fabric's proliferation.  Over the years, I have spoken directly or indirectly to just about every one of these companies and designers.  I've watched it all and personally participated in much of it.

It is safe to say that organic fabric is no longer just shades of oatmeal and granola!  Although still a small fraction of the conventional cotton being produced, organic fabrics are no longer fringe.  They are a force (much bigger than me) to be reckoned with.  It's been an honor and a privilege to be a part of this movement.  It's been exciting and thrilling to watch it grow and expand.  Thank you to each and every one of you who has understood, purchased, supported, encouraged, challenged and embraced this journey.  Without a doubt it has been the people along the way that have made this movement happen.  I am just one small part.  I think collectively we have much to be proud of. 

What do you think?  Is the mission accomplished?  Is it time for a new goal?  I'd love to get your perspective either through this blog publicly or privately by phone or email.  I look forward to your feedback.  

With sincere gratitude,

We returned from our road trip to LA to find a complimentary copy of this book had been delivered.   Why the excitement? 

There it was on page 9.... our organic cotton interlock print:  Alphabet Soup.

Thank you Meg McElwee for choosing to use one of our organic knits in your book!  It is always thrilling to be featured in books, blogs, articles, newspapers, etc.  We have been very fortunate over the years to have been featured many places but there is something that makes it even sweeter when the organic content is a footnote rather than lead story.

To learn more or to purchase your own copy of Growing Up Sew Liberated just click.

Thank you Elisabeth Malzahn & Elaine Lipson from Interweave Press.  Thank you Jen Madsen for bring this to my attention. 

Yep, it was six years ago this month that we took the plunge and made the shift to working exclusively with organic fabrics.  In that time, we have produced over 50 fabrics, supported over 200 small businesses and given at least 10 lectures all centered around organic cotton.  We have watched as successful businesses sprouted to life, and have grieved when some have closed up shop.  I would be lying if I said it had all been fun and painless.  There have been many bump and bruises but I can say with all honesty that it has been the lovely, thoughtful, committed, caring people I have met along the way that have made it all worthwhile. 

BIG thanks to everyone who has supported, purchased, shared, laughed, cried and sewed with us over the last S-I-X years!

In honor of the new year and our birthday, we are going to once again offer our gratitude challenge.  The first person to send me a list of 2,011 thoughtful, unique things they are thankful for will win a FULL ROLL of the limited release or clearance fabric of their choice. All you pay for is the cost of shipping!  Let the gratitude begin and spread!  I'm grateful for you! 

Note: this year was the 11th year that we made such a list to welcome in the new year. 

Head on over to True Up to check out an interview with Yours Truly!  True Up is a fabulous fabric blog run by the thoughtful and knowledgeable Kim Kight.  If you like fabric - you will love her site. 

While you are visiting cool fabric sites, don't miss checking out Stitch Simple too!  Jen (founder of Stitch Simple) is a gem to work with.  I am SO thankful!!!