Hey Ruth!

A.. I live in Australia, state of New South Wales, town called Colo Vale.

 

B & C Where was the clothing made? What is it made from?

1- lime green pants - Made in China, cotton/spandex

2 -brown quilted jacket - Made in China, polyester/rayon

3 - white/floral dress - Made in Thailand, cotton

4 - Levis jeans - Made in Macau, cotton/spandex

5 - black knit jacket - Made in Indonesia, rayon

 

I''m attaching a pic of myself in the green pants (1) at my brother's wedding which was about a year ago, as you can see it was an outdoors afair.  I bought the outfit, green top and pants in Canberra on a girls weekend away just before I came to Bloomington. I would have included details about the jacket as well but I have cut all the tags off so I havent got a clue about it.

It was a bit scary to see where all these clothes were made...in Asia, mostly China.  I'm sure I have a few things in my wardrobe that are made in Australia, but unfortunately I have nothing with me.  The Levis I bought at College Mall in Bloomington...seems it doesnt matter where you buy the stuff, it's all made in the same area.

 

Anyway I hope this is of some use,

 

Cheers,

Ruth

On All That Is Hemp

What is Hemp and why is it illegal to grow in the United States? Well there are a few things to get out of the way first. The hemp can be confused with marijuana producing plants; however did you knot that are over 100 different varieties of basil around the world? "Strains of Cannabis approved for industrial hemp production produce only minute amounts of this psychoactive drug, not enough for any physical or psychological effects. Typically, hemp contains below 0.3% THC, while Cannabis grown for marijuana can contain anywhere from 6 or 7 % to 20% or even more." (Wikipedia, Hemp, 4th paragraph) Thus industrial hemp doesn't have any illegal uses, though I am sure that someone could come up with something. Would anyone care for the virgin joint? The problem is people do not realize exactly what Hemp is and what it is not. Visual association. We have a tendency to see something and think, 'oh, that's it' and yet we don't look any closer (what was Cinderella hiding beneath her ball gown?)

Hemp is fascinating it can be used for clothing, it can be used for food and the oils as well as other parts of the plant can be used for skin care, nutritional supplements and hair care. As I mentioned before the growth and production of Hemp is also more economical then say cotton.

It is one of the fastest growing biomass's that exists on the planet and is one of the earliest domestic plants known around the globe. The Hemp plant needs little to no chemical fertilizers (or any of that crap, that we don't really need anyone if we'd take care of the land properly), and it needs very little water. So inversion with me a hemp field, growing slowly over around 100 to 120 days. The little plants slowly get bigger, and the wind blows through them rustling the leaves. Storm clouds gather and rain waters the field, until the plants are large enough to harvest. Watch with me as nearly every part of the plant is used, the outer stalks for fiber, the inside of the stalks are often used for animal bedding due to their woodier nature and the silks for oils, papers, or other food supplements.

The production of wood pulp papers is still one of the productions that produces the highest carbon dioxide emission as an industry (it is second only to the production of concrete, just think how much of that is all around.) See here for more information on the production and bleaching of wood pulp.

Did you know that Hemp was grown in Asian more then 6, 000 years ago? It was the precursor to soy products and they contain three times the amount of vitamin E, twice the iron and magnesium as the flax seed.

Despite the fact that Hemp is three times as strong as cotton and lasts a great deal longer. Hemp can also be blended with other fibers (I mentioned the pretty hemp/silk blend on Dharam. Co.), slowly the use of Hemp is growing. The fibers from hemp are being added to make things such as jeans, shirts, pants, jackets, dresses, and other accessories (though so far I don't think we've had any hemp clothing submitted here. Most of the information in this article so far comes from, Living Touch - Hemp)

The United States is the only country in which it is illegal to produce hemp, because of fear. Other countries such as the UK, Canada and Germany resumed the production of hemp for commercial use in the 1990s; however China controls around 40% of the market. Hemp was made illegal in the US when Congress passed the 1937 Marihauna Tax Act, which was based in part on the testimony from articles in newspapers owned by William Randolph Hearst. It was stressed that authors and inventors had significant financial interest in the forest industry, which helped to manufacture William Randolph Hearst's newsprint. From the 1880's to around the year 1933 hemp was grown commercially in the US; however it's use and acreage began to decline. In 1935 hemp began to make a come back when Hearst started his campaign against hemp, pushes stories through his news associations about the ties between hemp and marijuana. The result of this push was that the industrial production and use of hemp in the US was discontinued. (Wikipedia - Hemp, Paper)

Did you know that Henry Ford grew industrial hemp on his estate after 1937? He made plastic cars (the so-called Hemp Car) with wheat straw, hemp and sisal. Filtered hemp oil can be used directly to power diesel vehicles, and in the production of hemp biofuel the seeds/stalks can be used or the whole plant can be fermented.

Hemp can also be used as a purification or "mop crop", it can clean out wastewater such as sewage and other chemicals. Research is currently being done by an Eco-technologist Dr. Keith Bolton from Southern Cross University in Lismore, New South Wales, Australia; he's using hemp to clean contaminants at Chernobyl nuclear disaster site.

Alright well I could write a whole separate piece on the historic uses of the hemp plant in the past from the stone age onward. If you're interested, see the Wikipedia article it's really quit fascinating.

Links To Web Sites Used/Or of Interest:
- Image: The above image was borrowed from Wiki; here.
- EnviroTextiles
- Fabrics.Net
- Hemp.Org, Campaing for the Restoration And Regulation of Hemp
- Hemp on Wikipedia
- "(HEMP HEARTS From Canada )" Best Source of Protein, Essential Fats, Vitamins and Enzymes 1lbs Containers

Another follower :)

It's so interesting getting these emails from people who are related to people who know and yet have never met. I'm not sure why that's interesting something about a supposed relationship... or I'm not going to make sense this morning, not enough coffee yet. So onward, AJ I'm pleased to meet you. :) Thank you for taking the time to respond we appreciate it.

*chuckles* Someone else who always cuts their tags out of their clothing. It does rather make this project slightly more difficult. ^_^

Hi, I'm Candace's aunt, AJ. I hope I can be of assistance with your project. If you need more info, just let me know.

It will be a sad day when the following items no longer grace my closet because they are threadbare and therefore are no longer wearable or (God forbid) I have out grown them :( Comfort, style, and versatility have made these my favorite clothes.

The black jeans are 98% cotton with 2% spandex ( I remember a time before spandex and it was NOT fun.) They are Levi's Perfectly Slimming 512 style. That says it all.

The safety yellow LLBean vest made of 100% nylon with a polyester fleece lining is worn almost daily starting the first of Nov until Easter. The color is very versatile and pairs well with most outfits.. I love that a vest offers warmth, but does not have sleeves that can get in the way.

The blue dress was purchased while vacationing in Grenada. The fabrique is 100% cotton and was batiked locally. This dress is at least 15 years old, and has been brightened up by giving it a Rit dye bath at least twice. The batik was somewhat compromised by my handiwork, but was a good decision as it breathed life into an old favorite. It is very comfortable to wear on a hot summer day.

The periwinkle blue cashmere sweater is one of 4 identical sweaters in different colors that I own. I love these for comfort, warmth without being heavy, and the fact that they can be dressed up or down. Everyday and occasion is "cash" for me in the winter.

Finally, my animal print cardigan is appreciated for it's 3/4 length sleeves and light weight. I think it is made of nylon, but am not totally sure, as I always cut the labels from my clothing.

Good luck with the project, AJ

Hi Mom

Heya, everyone meet my mother. No pictures here though I might update it later with them. *evilgrins* I have a few of these to update. I'm also hoping to get the first images of the map together sometime this weekend. :) I just need cardboard and colored string. On that note I am going to go take care of that; now.

I’m Lisa, I live in the United States.

Article #1: a black pair of sloppy oversized capris with a drawstring waist. 99% cotton 1% spandex…made in Bangladesh

Article #2: a lovely piece I picked up at a bag sale at a local used clothes store! J I wear it over a shirt and pants to dress the outfit up a bit. Sort of shear with lovely fall colors. 100% polyester…made in the USA

Article #3:another thrift store item, cotton button shirt I wear over something else. 100% cotton…made in India

Article #4: sweatshirt and it’s finally that time of year again. 90% cotton, 10% polyester…made in Honduras.

Article #5: gotta take it off to read the tag. My latest and most favorite, purchased at the local Good Will with the right color barb for half price. A brown corduroy jacket kind of shirt. 100% cotton…made in China.

The Cloths I Wear

So, I spammed out the FB community in the hopes of getting a few more people and it sort of worked. This came from an old friend of mine from my previous collage career. Thanks Kris!

Hey, I forgot to send you feedback last week. I have:

4 kinds of sleeveless (muscle)shirts, all 100% cotton, from Vietnam, Honduras and some made in Mexico with U.S. fibers;
2 pairs of 100% cotton PJs, one U.S., one from Cambodia;
quite a few pairs of pants 100% cotton from India and Bangladesh, one pair with insulated lining that's 19% rayon, 2% polyester from China;
100% cottton shirts made in the US, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras, and India

My Witchcraft shirts was apparently made of combed cotton in L.A.

My favorite dress shirts are 1)60% cotton, 40% polyester, made in the Northern Mariana Islands, 2)100% polyester made in the Dominican Republic.

Oh, and Levi's jeans are 16% polyester, made in Vietnam.

Hope that's helpful :)
peace

First Victim, Candace!

Hey, Everyone. Meet Candace, she is the co-founder of this project and will be working with me as we start to put all of this together. In the future she may also be helping me update the blog so don't be surprised to see her posting on here to. :)

Hopefully in the next few days we'll be getting up the first images of the maps (which I still need to find a way to mount. I'm thinking a big piece of cardboard will be the easiest/cheapest way to do it. Now just waiting for boxes to become available that are big enough.)

I'm Candace, I live in the United States.

Ok. So the yellow skirt is a goodwill find, that was a giant tube that I altered by cinching up the sides. its 100% acrylic, but made in the good ole USA!

The black pants with the green shirt: black pants are another goodwill find, altered from flares to straight legs, 97% cotton, 3% spandex!. They were made in Germany. The green shirt is an inside out t-shirt I bought to support a Little 500 bike race team. I used it to make a dinosaur custome that has held up for 2 years now! Its tag is not any longer, but I'm sure its at least half cotton, but not sure where it was made.

The black shirt and shorts: the black shirt is a thrift store find, its 50% cotton 50% polyester and made in the USA! The shorts were pants that were on sale at express in the mall for 10 dollars! since then, they've gotten patched knees, then eventually became shorts. They were made in Mexico and I think it says 98% cotton and 2% spandex.

Sometime farther down the road Candace and I are thinking about doing a clothing swap/alteration work shop somewhere in the Bloomington area. If you are interested in attending such an event, please let us know.

Let's Get This Party Started

Alright since I set this up, I guess that I should go first and get things going. So now to see if I can actually find five or so articles of clothing in my closet that still have tags on them! Lol, I'm sure I can find something, though they might not be my 'favorites'.

So if you haven't figured it out yet, I'm coming to you all from the central portion of the United States. Welcome to Indiana, to be rather more precises about it.

My favorite pair of pants, are actually my PJ pants. I used to wear them out and about until they got a larger hole in the bottom of them. Now I wear them to bed. I actually got these for free when my dorm was doing a clothing drive. Everyone put their cloths in the hall way and before the RA took them we all went through them and picked out what we wanted. One of the guys down the hall was getting rid of these and I took them. :)

They are 100% Cotton and they were maid in the Dominican Republic.

My favorite jeans, I got in Evansville when the Super K-Mart there was going out of business. I got them for the lovely amount of something like four dollars plus tax and have been wearing them ever since.

Jeans are 78% Cottom, 18% Polyester, 4% Spandex and they were made in China.

The last and currently the sweater shirt I want to wear the most (if only it was a little colder, of course then I would wish it was warmer!), is one I bought in Seattle over the summer. I really like soft things and shiny things unfortunately all the soft things I look at usually tend to be made out of Polyester.

Alright so sweat shirt is made out of 63% Cotton, 40% Polyester and was made in China.

One of my few tanktops/shirts that actually still has a tag in it happens to be one that I got from my friend Nicole. We did a clothing swap or tried to about a year ago now. This was one of the tops that she was getting rid of and I picked up. Though original it came from Old Navy.

Clothing swap tank top is 60% Cotton, 40% Modal (I shall figure out what Modal is next time), and it was made in the Philippines.

And the last one I'm going to do because I'm running out of time, is a long sleeved mens button up shirt that I like to wear in those inbetween seasons. When it's not really cold enough for a sweat shirt but not really hot enough for no sleeves. This shirt I got at GoodWill a year or so ago, other then that I can't tell you anything about it.

GoodWill shirt 100% Cotton and it was made in India.

So, that is all from me for now. I'm still having some trouble finding something large enough that's portable that I can mount the maps on. However, I will get there with this project and everything else.

I must run I have other work to do and I'm running out of time before work! If you're seeing this have a good day/evening or whatever it happens to be where you are.

Poofs Out