Good Friday everyone! (Literally, lol!)

This Wednesday, March 26th, I will be at a super cool event called ”Fashion @ MiaSci” which is The Miami Science Museum’s “Happy Hour With Substance”. I am heading up the Eco-Fashion segment which will include clothing from The Blue Butterfly and accessories by Ecoist – two of the biggest pioneers in Eco-Fashion in the South Florida area! Please come out and join us as this is sure to be a fantastic event!

Hi everyone!

Just wanted to let you know I will be giving an Eco-Fashion educational presentation this Saturday evening, February 9th at the Green Flamingos event hosted by The Green Broker, Carl Hildebrand of www.TheGreenBroker.com and Birgit Auge of XO Living. There will be raffle prizes, and I will have organic, fair trade clothing for sale! Here are the details:

Green Flamingos
“Green Products, Services and Technologies for Better Living“
3886 Biscayne Blvd
Design District 33137
6:00-8:00pm

Google Map

This is always a great event, I hope to see you all there!

Love & Light,

Amber Shannon =)

Hello everyone and welcome to 2008!

I hope the new year has been treating you all with joy and kindness so far! I’m writing today to let you all know of the metamorphosis happening with The Blue Butterfly! As most of you already know, I have been transitioning over the past couple of months from being at the store full-time to focusing more on educating the public about organic, fair trade clothing and designing the web store. I am happy to report that both of these projects have progressed beautifully. Although all of the products haven’t been uploaded yet, the web store is now open for business! Also, I have started scheduling educational presentations across the Tri-County area, woohoo!

Ok, this brings us to the status of the store itself. My lease was supposed to be up at the end of February, but due to some unforeseen circumstances and other important factors that were taken into consideration, the store will be completely moved out by the end of January, probably sooner. This means that until everything is out of there, the store will be open by appointment only. But not to fret! The Blue Butterfly is only just beginning! The store was a perfect, nurturing cocoon for the inspiration and ideas that have blossomed. So, stay tuned as 2008 will be an exciting year full of fun and adventure, and YOU are invited to come along for the ride!

Love, Light and Blessings to you all!

Amber Shannon =)

Hi everyone!

Below is the official notice of the change in my store hours! I’ve been thinking a lot lately, specifically about my own purpose in life, as well as the purpose of the store. Originally, when I decided to open the store, I had two main goals in mind:

1. Educate people on the truth behind the conventional clothing industry, which includes both the environmental and social injustices.

2. Provide a local resource where people could purchase alternatives – eco-friendly/organic, fair trade clothing – something they can finally feel good about.

So, since the beginning of the year (before the store even opened!) I have met so many amazing people and done a good job of educating along the way. I have done some presentations here and there, but only when time would allow. I found myself spending all my time at the store, and any free time (including my one day off a week) was spent designing the webstore, writing articles or blogs, attending meetings, volunteering, or doing the everyday necessities such as laundry, dishes, etc! I’ve been able to reach a lot of people and raise a good amount of awareness through my blog posts, bulletins, and e-mail blasts, but there’s a huge community out there that I haven’t connected with yet! So, that’s why I’m changing my hours! Most of my customers come to the store on Saturday and Sunday, so I’ve extended my hours for those days and left Monday – Friday open for appointments only. I will be doing presentations all over the Tri-County area during those days to educate people about what’s really going on with conventional clothing.

I will be showing people how detrimental conventional cotton is to our environment and advising them that sweatshops are still alive and thriving today. I will tell them about the thousands of conventional cotton farmers in India who are committing suicide every year because of the pesticide/insecticide industry. I will tell them how every time they buy a conventional cotton shirt from Walmart or Target, they are making greedy corporations richer, and literally PAYING to keep poor people poor and trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty and sickness. I will tell them how all of those toxic pesticides are poisoning our waterways and killing our wildlife, and ending up in our food chain. I will tell them that they should care because we only have one planet, one home – and we are all neighbors here – we are all one. If they don’t think they can make an impact, I will tell them that they already are, with every single purchase! I will tell them that buying organic cotton sheets from Target or any other big name store is not something to be excited about! Who cares if it’s organic if a fellow human being in another country had to suffer in order to make it?

I am getting out there because the time has come. It is time for us as regular, everyday people to stand up for ourselves, how we really feel, and what we really want. None of us want to damage the earth, none of us want to make other people suffer, so why have we been paying these big corporations to do just that? Because up until now, we haven’t had much of a choice. Because up until now, no one was telling us what was really going on behind closed doors. But guess what? NOW you have a choice. NOW someone’s out there telling the world what’s really going on. And that someone is me, little 4’10″ me!

I am excited about this change and can use all the support and encouragement I can get! I want to thank all of you who have been my support system along the way, you guys are my rock! Wish me luck as I begin this new endeavor! If you belong to or know of an organization or company who would be interested in having me do a presentation, please e-mail me at Amber@TheBlueButterflyStore.com or call me on my cell at 954-266-9844.

Love & Light,

Amberlina =)

NEW STORE HOURS:

Sat & Sun: 11am-5pm

Mon-Fri: By Appt

Ummm…How come Cotton, inc. doesn’t mention anything about this in their commercials? 

I came across this short video about conventional cotton farming and wanted to share it with you. It shows you a side of cotton that is rarely given attention.

Here’s the jist of it:

Indian farmers turn to cotton with hopes of earning a good income. Their crops become infested with pests, so they buy expensive pesticides to combat them. They spray the crops with the pesticides themselves, so they end up doused in toxic chemicals which have extremely detrimental effects on their health. The pests they are trying to get rid of have already become resistant to the pesticide (which the pesticide companies are aware of), so the pesticides do no good. The farmers then have to buy more pesticides, but without any money, they put up their harvest as collateral. Once again, the pests are resistant to the pesticide, so they have to put up more of their harvest in exchange for more pesticides. At this point, the farmer has become trapped in what is known as the “pesticide cycle” or the “conventional trap”. The farmer ends up losing all of his land, all of his hope, and like thousands of Indian farmers, commits suicide. Meanwhile, the pesticide companies like Bayer, Dupont and Novartis are making huge profits off of manufacturing and selling pesticides to these farmers. 

If you are interested in learning more about this, here are a couple articles:

The Dying Fields

New York Times Article

If you want to do something about this, STOP buying conventional cotton products and sign the “Millions Against Monsanto” petition! !

Please feel free to pass this on!

Love & Light,

Amberlina =)

How come nobody’s telling us about this? 

MaryBeth Burton, the Assistant Director of FAU’s Center for Urban & Environmental Solutions recently informed me of something called the “Eastern Garbage Patch” which is in the Pacific Ocean. It’s basically a massive amount of garbage (specifically plastics – stuff that we’re importing!) that have accumulated there because of the ocean’s currents. At twice the size of Texas, it’s the largest garbage dump in the world. It is wreaking havoc on animal life and vital ecosystems, and it’s been happening for years!

It’s things like this that make me stop and question, “How come I’ve never heard of this before?” The answer is, of course, because the majority of the media is busy covering the lives of celebrities or horrific events that we have no control over. Buying plastic products, pollution, litter, a garbage dump in the middle of the ocean twice the size of Texas that formed due to human activity? These are things we DO have control over! So why aren’t we informed of them? Well, I’m no newscaster, but I figured the least I could do is let my people know about it! So peeps, here are a few links to check out! Take charge, and inform yourself! =)

*NEW LINK! www.GreatGarbagePatch.org 

www.Algalita.org

Pics by the Algalita Marine Research Foundation

Wikipedia article with more references & links.

Remember: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! In fact, <shameless plug warning> you can pick up tote bags right here at The Blue Butterfly that were made from recycled plastic bottles! Instead of swirling around in the ocean causing harm, these plastic bottles were given new life and can carry your goods for you! Groceries, books, beach stuff…the possibilities are endless! =D!

Love & Light,

Amberlina =)

So, how green IS The Blue Butterfly anyway?

 As many of you know, being Green is about much more than organic clothing! It’s a way of living that affects everything you do and every decision you make. (Actually, it’s addicting!) When I decided to start this business, I knew that it had to reflect the principles and values that it represented. I vowed to do my best each step of the way, and make the most earth-friendly choices I could. So, here is a list of ways that The Blue Butterfly has helped our beautiful planet Earth!

- Used the “Harmony” line of paints from Sherwin Williams (Low/No VOC). I wish I would have known about Nature’s Paint Store back then though! They have a beautiful selection of VOC-free, organic paints all from natural pigments – and they’re located right here in Fort Lauderdale, but they ship all over! Tell Vickee I sent ya!

- Purchased items from the Salvation Army & Calvary Chapel’s thrift store to use as store fixtures, as well as furniture.

- Purchased my cash register used from a lady who just closed a local bakery.

- Used Fort Lauderdale’s Freecycle Group to get all kinds of things that were needed! (YARDS of fabric, printer, printer paper, file box, notebooks, telephone, mini fridge, ETC!!!)

- Rescued a huge computer desk from ending up in a landfill! (This one’s got a great story, ask me to tell you about it!!)

- Used organic cotton/hemp fabric & pillowcases from Goodwill to cover the desk.

- Use all earth-friendly cleaning products and supplies to clean the store.

- I drive my Honda Civic Hybrid to get everything done!

- Purchase energy credits as part of FPL’s Sunshine Energy program.

- Ordered business cards made from recycled paper and vegetable-based inks from Greener Printer and then reordered from a local printer that just went green -AC Graphics! They’ve been in business for over 30 years and are the first triple certified printer in the state of Florida! Gus, the owner, is a super sweet guy, and Leo, my sales rep, kindly gave me a tour of the facility when I picked my cards up. I highly recommend them!

- Purchased all bamboo hangers from Ecowood Displays.

- Refused a bag, or brought my own when making purchases.

- Use all recycled tissue paper and bags for packaging.

I’m sure there’s more that have slipped my mind for the moment! I’ve already identified ways that I want the store to be greener, and I’m working on solutions for them. Living with the well-being of our planet and humankind at the forefront of my mind on a daily basis definitely keeps me on my toes! =D Ultimately, the Green path is a journey – one full of excitement, wonder, and constant evolution! Have you joined in yet?!!

In love & light,

Amberlina =)

Ok guys, I’m here to break it down for you . . . Here are the facts!

Unless they are organic and fair trade, virtually all clothes sold in stores today are harmful to you, the people who made them, and our environment as a whole. Here’s a briefing on two of the most popular fabrics and why they’re harmful.

First up, cotton. Yes friends, “the fabric of our lives” isn’t as pretty as its commercials paint it to be. Cotton is heavily sprayed with petroleum-derived pesticides and insecticides. Those toxic chemicals are absorbed into the cotton, which you eventually put on you and your baby. Additionally, cottonseed is used as feed for livestock. Yep, that means that if you’re eating meat that’s not organic, you’re eating all of those toxic chemicals that the animals were given in their food – yumm! The farmers and field workers are also affected by these chemicals as well. Last time I checked, breathing in toxic fumes wasn’t healthy for anyone! Aside from all that, the impact the chemicals are having on our environment are extremely detrimental. The crops are sprayed with pesticides and insecticides, which get absorbed by the cotton plants and the surrounding soil, then run off into our lakes, streams and rivers, destroying wildlife and entire vital ecosystems. The bottom line here is, just because cotton is toted as a “natural” fabric does NOT mean it’s good for nature! Learn more about cotton!

Next up, polyester. I sheepishly admit to buying clothes made of polyester for years, without even questioning what it was really made of. In fact, I honestly never paid much attention to fabric labels, until now. Wanna take a guess at what polyester is made from? If you said crude oil, you’re right! Yes ladies, that cute little dress in your closet with polyester on the tag began its life as black muck. Guys, that club shirt is guilty too. Yes, the same black muck that translates into over $3 a gallon that you pump into your car! Without getting political and going into too much detail, making clothes from oil is just plain unnecessary when we have better, earth-friendly alternatives, and it’s just another way we have become dependent on a non-renewable resource. (Non-renewable means that once it’s gone, it’s gone, as opposed to a plant – a renewable resource, that we can keep growing year after year.) Learn how oil becomes fabric!

In addition to these two heavy hitters having health and environmental concerns, there are some major ethical concerns around them as well, and you’ve all heard of them – yes people, I’m about to say the ”s” word - sweatshops. It’s pretty easy to buy something at the store and not think of the person thousands of miles away who made it for you. Here’s the reality though, people in countries such as China, India, Vietnam, Honduras and many more, ARE working in sweatshops. It is really going on! They are not getting paid a wage they can actually live off of, they’re living in dirty, cramped quarters, and are sometimes forced to work non-stop until the work is complete. However, there is now something called Fair Trade which means every person that helped produce the item was paid a fair wage and treated fairly as well! I encourage you to learn more about fair trade and what other human beings around the world are being subjected to – all for a cheap piece of clothing that goes out of style or falls apart in 3 months. It’s just not worth it! There’s a film out there called China Blue which is a great eye-opener. See the trailer!

Ok, so I’ve told you the bad news, now here’s the good news! Companies all over the world are acknowledging how environmentally and socially detrimental the apparel industry has been for the past half a century or so, and they are offering wonderful alternatives. Additionally, most of these companies adhere to Fair Trade standards. The clothes they are producing are made from organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, soy, lyocell, seaweed, and even recycled plastic! All of these fabrics are eco-friendly options, and some are better than others. In another blog, I will compare all of the eco-friendly fabrics available, and point out the pros and cons of each. For now though, let me at least tell you about organic cotton! Simply put, organic cotton is cotton that has been grown without the use of toxic chemicals. Instead, farmers use methods such as intercropping, crop rotation, and flame weeding to accomplish the same tasks as those nasty chemicals! Learn more about organic cotton!

So, with all this in mind, you can see the driving force behind The Blue Butterfly! I wanted to introduce the concept of eco-friendly, fair trade clothing to South Florida and provide people down here with an alternative, a choice! I’ll be posting more blogs in the future answering any questions you have, providing resources, and sharing with you how you can make easy, earth-friendly choices in your everyday life!

In love & light,

Amberlina =)