​My journey to clean up my life really officially started about three years ago when I took a class on sustainable design at UC Davis. I already was a big recycler and was conscious of most of the things I put in my body. My mom and my aunt, Peggy inspired my interest in nutrition; I read nearly ALL ingredient labels before buying new foods. But not until taking this particular class did I realize just how pervasive chemicals are in our lives. It can be overwhelming to think about not to mention downright scary. My list of ingredients to avoid keeps on growing. I’ve found that the best strategy is to just do things the old fashioned way: at home, by hand, from scratch. This means more cooking, gardening, and sewing, which just so happen to be things I love to do.

 

UC Davis was also where I learned to dye with plants and minerals. We were so lucky to have Sasha Duerr from Permacouture Institute teach a guest lecture in my surface design class. From that moment I was sold; I “drank the Kool-Aid” as my professor put it. I had known for years that I wanted to be a clothing designer but that day helped to cement in my mind that I wanted to design clothing that was as good for the Earth as it was for the wearer.

 

I have an insatiable thirst for knowledge and I have probably bought every book there is on natural dyeing and sustainable fashion. I hope to be able to share some of that knowledge with you as well as my excitement for eco-fashion. Hopefully you’ll “drink the Kool-Aid” too.