Call for Artwork
We are getting some interest from artists that want to know if we ever need new designs and the answer is YES! (Especially right now, as we’re looking at adding some new items soon!) If you are an artist* or know an artist*; please shoot us an email at: info@greenelementclothing.com and the next design we print could be yours!
*What we mean by “artist”: anybody that creates visually appealing images – seriously, anybody. We don’t need to see a college diploma that says you graduated from art school (if you did, that’s awesome, but it’s certainly not a requirement). We have accepted artwork in the past from tattoo artists, art students, a greeting card designer, and others. We are just looking for unique and interesting art, so show us what you’ve got! If we think your style fits with our line, we’ll contact you and we’ll work through all the details from there.
Here’s what you need to include to be considered:
Name: This would of course be helpful.
Email address: This is the best way for us to contact you.
Phone Number: In case for some reason, email just isn’t cutting it.
Portfolio of some sort: an album, website, etc. to show off your skills. We’d love to see a range of items – whatever you’ve got. If you have one particular piece you’re interested in submitting for consideration for print, please specify. NOTE: Any artwork submitted for consideration must be ORIGINAL work that has never been sold/distributed/or published in any other form.
Why you want to design for us: It’s kind of important that you know something about what we stand for and we’d love to know what you think about designing for the Green Element.
You can send these items to us at: info@greenelementclothing.com – if your portfolio is on CD or DVD, please mail your application to us at:
Green Element
PO BOX 585
Salt Lake City, UT 84110
*If you would like your CD or DVD returned, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Thanks! We look forward to hearing from you!
We Challenge You Again, but this time to…SHOP LOCAL!
Take our challenge to shop local. Your reward from us: 20% off, Top voted action wins a free Tshirt!. We know you make the world a little better everyday, and this is an easy way to do so! We’re excited to see your actions and reward you here.
Let’s Be Honest, Part I
We get asked a lot of questions about our business (most of them are the usual – How? What? When? Where? and Why?) but we also get questions about us, as individuals (What got us in to this? Why are we so passionate about eco-friendly clothing? What are our long term goals? Are we crazy?). This post is meant to help answer some of those questions and to provide some insight into how we juggle holding down full time jobs (that’s right, we both have “real jobs” outside of owning The Green Element!), going to school (Brittany is currently pursuing an MBA), our social lives (which sometimes, admittedly, get put on the back burner) and our friendship with owning, managing, and operating The Green Element (and we’re going to be talking about all of that here, in a very honest way). We hope this blog post and the ones to follow in this series will provide insight into the “How/What/When/Where/Why” but also to tell you more about who we are as individuals and why we do what we do so that you can better understand us, our business, and our goals.
You see, we’re consumers, just like you. We are faced with decisions when it comes to clothing/home goods/etc and we like to make conscious choices when it comes to those purchases. We choose to buy from and support companies that we connect to, ones that we feel understand our personal morals and values and ones that we feel we can trust. We hope that this blog is able to achieve that within our own community of customers. We want you to know who we are and why it matters that you would purchase a piece of clothing from us compared to buying it off the shelf at your local big box store. It’s not just a piece of clothing that we’re selling. It’s so much more than that and that’s what we hope you’ll take away from this post.
We are committed to being open and honest with each other, with our customers and suppliers, and with anybody else we run into along the way as we run this business. We feel especially strong about this because our company is dedicated to eco-friendly practices and sustainability (but what does that really mean when it seems that every company these days is saying that and using words like, “green” and “eco” – we will tell you exactly what we mean and exactly how we’re “green” and “eco”. We do NOT believe in “green-washing”!) We believe transparency is key in all aspects of business (and life). So, here it goes: let’s be honest – about ourselves, our business, and our goals and ideas (*a blog post dedicated entirely to honesty about our product, specifically, is on the way – so stay tuned for that!).
Here’s everything (and probably more) that you’ve ever wanted to know about The Green Element and its owners. Enjoy!
Who we are: Havilah, 25 and Brittany, 26
Where we’re from: Brittany has roots in Alaska, Colorado, and Utah and Havilah in Idaho and Utah. We started The Green Element in Salt Lake City, Utah where Havilah still lives and works. Brittany recently relocated to Portland, Oregon.
Where we met: We were classmates in our undergrad program (Business School) at the University of Utah- we started casually hanging out in study groups, and then we began carpooling to class. The funny thing? For the first few years that we knew each other, we didn’t ever spend time together outside of studying! After graduation, we paused for a moment, and realized that we might actually want to just, well, hang out, as friends and not study partners. When we got together without books/study guides/prep tests, we realized we were great friends! Before we knew it, we were inseparable and filled a lot of the time we found we had after graduation with outdoor activities like hiking and climbing. We even decided after graduation to take a month and backpack around Europe together, which was an amazing trip and the starting point for discussions about what we wanted to do with our business degrees and our lives.
Why we started The Green Element: There isn’t just one reason, but it began as a conversation about life; wanting to do something out of the norm- striving to find something else after college life that wouldn’t put us in the position to be “clocking in and clocking out,” working for someone else for the rest of our lives. We wanted things on our own terms; we just needed the right idea. We’re both active outdoors enthusiasts and have grown up with an appreciation for the environment. We’re girls though, after all, and we like clothes. One day, we stumbled upon the topic of feeling a disconnect between our personal morals and values related to our lifestyles and our clothing purchases. When we started looking for clothing that fit our personalities that was also eco-friendly and sustainable and made in a way that respected the human element of production, we were at a total loss.
There were PLENTY of companies selling t-shirts with gigantic peace signs and recycle symbols on them and the oh-so-trendy “Go Green!” statement, but as we researched the products further, we found they were being made from conventional cotton that was sprayed with toxic pesticides and insecticides in places like Cambodia, Indonesia, and China. We couldn’t help but shake our heads at the thought of wearing a t-shirt with a gigantic plastisol heart-shaped earth on the front knowing that in the process of being made that shirt was harming our planet – the very planet it was depicting as the one we love. It was also promoting unfair labor practices and harming our health. No thanks.
So, we looked further, and – SUCCESS – we found t-shirts that were actually eco-friendly and we could trace their origins to fair-trade practices and their printing was done in an environmentally-friendly way. So, what were we waiting for, buy! buy! buy! Right? Wrong. The designs were, well, not what we would have worn. You see, as eco-friendly and sustainable and fantastic as something may be, if you don’t feel it represents you, well it’s just like any other piece of clothing, you’re not going to buy it. We actually conducted a survey once on this very topic and found the majority of people agreed. We were so happy to find that these products existed, but they were all geared toward what seemed to be an older crowd – those that attended Woodstock if you catch my drift and we’re just not your tie-dye, hemp necklace, birkenstock wearing type (*Disclaimer – if you are, awesome! We have nothing against it. We’re just trying to make a point here). So, while we saw a light at the end of the tunnel, we still weren’t there yet. Then it hit us. Why don’t we just MAKE the clothing that we’re looking for? Although we didn’t have a CLUE how to do it, that’s exactly what we decided to do.
How we started The Green Element: This will be covered in Part II. It’s just too much to post here, but we promise you, it’s worth waiting for because as difficult as it was to start a business, it was fun (and sometimes ridiculously funny), so there are a lot of great business tips, funny stories, and personal insights to come on this topic.
How we manage the business from different places: We are self-proclaimed masters of the “to-do” list. There is hardly a week that goes by without some exchange of email to-do lists and updates. It’s hard to have the separation and lack of convenience to be able to meet for a cup of coffee or lunch, but through chatting and other social networking tools (we’re in love with Google chat, seriously), we’re able to communicate effectively to promote The Green Element in both cities. It’s also helpful that Brittany can’t stay away from the powder in the Wasatch Mountains, so when she visits to ski or snowboard, there’s always the opportunity to get together for a business brainstorm session. Havilah also can’t say no to a trip to Portland every now and again, so it works out.
What makes our clothing company unique in relation to others in the same industry: Our products are made with 100% organic or recycled materials (like recycled polyester). We also screen print with water based inks, which most of our competitors don’t do. Our designs feature unique prints from a collective of artists in our local communities. Above all else, our products don’t scream at you (or others) about being sustainable or recycling or being “eco-friendly”! You shouldn’t have to choose between “green” or conventional products and one day, we hope you don’t have to do that. We hope eco-friendly becomes the mainstream, but for now you have to put in a little extra effort to learn about the products your purchasing. That doesn’t mean those products need to advertise it though. Instead, our clothes are casual, hip, not hippie, with designs that are just cool and appealing and in the end, if you want, you can tell everyone who compliments your new shirt that, “Oh yeah, it’s also eco-friendly”. The best part of all? It won’t cost you an arm and a leg to buy it either. You see, we started this company (as we mentioned earlier) as young 20-somethings, right out of college. We know what it’s like to budget and save money. When we went into this, we decided that we would NEVER – that’s right – never, ever, ever, charge more for any of our products then what we would personally be willing to pay. We only charge what we have to, to cover our costs and make enough so that we can make another one (and to maybe make a buck or two for ourselves – - one day). Choosing organic shouldn’t have to be so unreasonably priced that no one can afford it. If that were the case; what change would we really make? We can’t drive demand and change the system if eco-friendly products remain “celebrity” and “couture”. Sustainability is about balance- we don’t want you to go broke making the right choice. We just want to sell a cool t-shirt that’s good for you and the planet at a reasonable price. We think it’s reasonable.
What we say when people ask, “Do you sometimes find it overwhelming to own a business, especially during the height of the recession?” We get this all the time and the answer is – YES! It is incredibly hard and overwhelming sometimes to own a business. I think that’s what makes it fun though- if it were easy, well, everyone would do it. Recession aside, it’s probably harder owning a business while both of us maintain other jobs and one of us is getting a masters degree. We do love challenges though and while there have definitely been moments of sheer panic, it’s been mostly good, if not great. We’re encouraged by the growth in the market and demand for eco-friendly products and sustainable practices and now, more than ever, we feel the recession and the economy have only helped because people have become so much more conscious about the dollars they spend.
What we want to achieve, overall:
We would like for The Green Element to grow into a successful and sustainable business- getting to the point where we can employ others and foster economic growth. We want to be able to sustain ourselves enough to continue purchasing organic cotton and creating a demand for it among all consumers – all while educating and teaching about the benefits of sustainability. Eventually, we’d like to be able to visit the fields that our cotton is grown in, talk to the workers, and be involved in every single step of production from the ground (literally) up. We’d also like to give back to an environmental non-profit or help sustain land for cotton farming- this is all big picture stuff and we are still in the beginning stages, but we dream big!
Enough about the business – here’s some random information about us:
Brittany: There’s nothing I enjoy more than being in the mountains with a whole bunch of friends and fresh snow- whether I am skiing or snowboarding. I’m happiest on the mountain. I spent part of my childhood in Alaska and have recently rekindled my love for the last frontier. I spent last summer living in a tent and will go back to spend this summer exploring southeast, while Scott (my husband) lives out his dream being an Alaskan bush pilot! After that, I’ll finish up my MBA program and continue to grow The Green Element.
Havilah: I love to paint and create and I have a passion for the outdoors, being active, traveling, gardening, and cooking. My favorite activities include camping, hiking, cycling, and backpacking. I grew up in Idaho on a small farm and spent a lot of time outside as a child. I moved to Utah to pursue my undergraduate degree and found that as far as living an active lifestyle goes, Utah might just be the epicenter for all things outdoors. While I am not currently pursuing a graduate education, I am interested in community leadership, non-profit management, and sustainability.
Thanks for reading; we hope you learned something you didn’t know about us and our company and encourage you to ask away if you have any questions!
Next post will include the “Let’s Be Honest, Part II: HOW we started The Green Element) and will also include a “virtual focus group”- if you’re interested in participating, shoot us an email: info@greenelementclothing.com
Until next time…
Give something old a new life.
That’s our challenge to you! Your reward: A Free Beanie with any T-Shirt Purchase.
The Green Element partnered with a new online company out of San Francisco called ActBolder. We are really excited to be apart of such a great new entrepreneurial company with a very unique appeal and encourage you to check it out.
http://www.actbolder.com/business/greenelement/
It’s true. Our first blog post. Ever.
It’s only taken us three years, thousands of man hours, buckets full of blood, sweat and tears, 50+ events, more visits with banks and investors than I want to recall and five rough drafts of this very post, but hey- we finally made it into the world of blogging; hello 2011. With a marketing background and experience blogging for other companies, you would think we would have nailed this in the head two years ago. Strangely though, I’m learning that it can be quite difficult to market your own company. Actually, we’re learning a lot more than that! When we embarked on this entrepreneurial adventure almost three years ago, I don’t think that either of us could have given you an accurate account of how much we’d actually learn and experience on one of the most adventurous journey’s we have ever taken. I remember the first day we put our idea on paper, the feeling I had applying for our business license and the excitement rising in my stomach when boxes of inventory arrived on my front porch. However, I suppose that being humbled by experiences is necessary in life to keep us down to earth and on track because I also remember plenty of moments that had us both questioning our decision to take the plunge into entrpreneurship. In fact, we could probably write a very lengthy post on “what not to do when starting a business,” but we want to remember our first blog post like we remember our first day as official business owners; and thus, we will keep this a happy endeavor.
So, why is The Green Element getting a blog now you might ask? And we answer: why not? We’ve already waited long enough and our fans, friends and family are usually interested in new company developments and well, let’s face it- you can’t own a business in this century and not be connected in every possible way. We want this to be a place you come for a good story about the triumphs of owning a business and a place you can relate when you hear of our struggles. We want customers, new and old to learn about the real reason we started this company: to encourage and educate consumers to start becoming more conscious and aware of their buying behaviors and the affect that products, (specifically clothing) has on the environment. We welcome questions, comments, concerns, feedback and of course, we’d really love some new business : ) So, we ask you to bookmark this page, send it to your friends and family- throw the url in your facebook status and help us spread the word about organic cotton and eco-friendly clothing that’s Hip. Not Hippie! No burlap sacks here…
Future posts to include:
Owner Bios- An Inside look into the lives of two twenty-somethings and how they juggle owning a business on top of everything else.
Focus Group Invitation- We want your opinion on our designs and products.
Eco-Casual- How we make organic cotton clothing affordable and fashionable without compromising our core values.
What Not to Do- I told you we could write an entire blog on this.
And in between our main posts…you can expect frequent updates and shameless plugs to motivate you to browse our collection.
Stand Out. Be Heard. Support the Movement.
The Green Element
The Green Element’s mission is to provide stylish, fashionable, and high-quality clothing that is produced from eco-friendly materials and sustainable means at a reasonable price.
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