We make our mark without leaving one.  The company has strict processes, but at the end of the day we feel good about our company and what it stands for.  We are a random band of family and friends that are passionate about the environment. Our company is a great pathway for us to get our message out and help others with the same mission.  That about sums it up.

INDIE PEACE is 100% organic cotton, which means that the cotton does not go through chemical processing as 100% cotton does. This allows the threads to remain intact for two times as many washes as regular cotton. This means that INDIE’s clothing offers quality, allowing the consumer’s clothing to not have as much give and stretching due to wear and washes. INDIE PEACE only uses water based prints, which allows for INDIE’s clothing to not have pasty printing that can peel off from old age or too many washes. INDIE PEACE offers style and variety for the consumer with various designs to choose from. INDIE is exclusively USA made and 100% designed by our founder Lawton Ursrey.

The 2012 collection is available now.

Being a college student take guts. It’s a time away from home and and time where one is left to their own devices. It may mean learning to cram for a test at 3am, learning to reuse, recycle and work with what you’ve got. Regardless of how much money you go into college with, money leaves your wallet quickly – a few books here, a few books there. However, there are savvy ways to be green on a college budget while cutting back on unnecessary items.

1. Reuse grocery bags. This one may seem obvious. Grocery bags are great when used as recycled garbage bags or even for a craft you never knew existed. A new trend is appearing in the reusable garbage bag crowd -making fashionable purses out of old grocery bags. For more information, check out: http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2007/08/plastic_bag_crafts.html.

2. Stay ‘disconnected.’ It is more efficient to keep electronics unplugged with you’re not using them. For instance, remember that light by your bed you use on occasion to read a good book in the evening? Unplug it! Unless you’re using an electronic (computer, phone charger, lamp, etc), keep it unplugged and stay conscious of the electricity you may be sucking out of the electrical socket.

3. “Freecycle” your dorm. Before beginning your ‘to buy’ list for college, consider looking on websites such as eBay for organic cotton bed sheets, clothing or towels. There are two advantages to doing this. First, these items are easily reusable and can be passed down from college student to ‘to be’ college student. Secondly, it’s better for the environment. Products made with organic cotton are made without genetically modified organisms, ensuring a healthier dorm life for you.

4. Consider air-drying your clothing. Rather than spending seven dollars on a 30 minute dryer cycle, take your clothing back to your dorm and create clothing lines to ‘manually’ dry your clothes. Not only does this cut back on money that could be used for something more productive, it’s also energy efficient. Without using the extra energy to dry your clothes, you’re helping to conserve energy that would otherwise be used unnecessarily.

5. Lastly, evaluate what you already have. More often than not, people over buy and over use. Take a look at what you’ve already got back at home. Do you need another computer if your current computer works perfectly fine? Is that iPhone going to fit your needs? Is it practical? Looking at what you already have, or learning to work with what you’ve already got may help cut back on unnecessary spending. At the same time you can avoid harming the environment by reusing items you already have.

This fall season is embracing sustainability as many world-class fashion gurus promote trends of the past with an added modern twist.

What does sustainability have anything to do with the current season’s top fashion headlines?

Remarkably, many of September’s must-have items can actually be found at local thrift stores or can be made by ‘upcycling’ articles of clothing t

hat you already own. Upcycling is an emerging new trend in itself; the term refers to re-using fashion items that have been sitting in your closet by revamping them and de

signing your own, one-of-a-kind trendy pieces. In other words, creativity and sustainability are joining forces to deliver the latest fashion trends this fall.

This season’s hottest items seem to have been generated with sustainability in mind. Many of fall’s top picks revolve around a vintage theme that can work well wit

h sustainable and upcycled fashion. Some of our favorites include:

1. The Cropped Tee. A popular trend in the 80′s, the cropped tee has now become an eminent reoccurring trend of 2010. Cropped tees can be made from any plain T-shirt and personalized with your own individual style. I usually cut a few inches off of the bottom hem line and cut an inch off of the collar hem to make an ‘off the shoulder’ neckline.
2. The Boyfriend Blazer. A staple in every fashionista’s closet, the popular boyfriend blazer can transform any ordinary outfit into a very sophisticated look. Any small, slim fit men’s blazer can be tailored to fit a woman’s frame by a professional. Take a vintage blazer from home or from a thrift store to your local tailor and have it reduced to your measurements. Keep the length and straight edges for a ‘boyfriend’ fit.
3. Statement  Jewelry. Bold, vintage jewelry is the trendiest kind at the moment. Layer antiqued metal chains, pendant necklaces and charm necklaces over a simple top to make your vintage creation the focal point of your look. Large cuffs and vintage watches are also some of the most wanted accessories of this season.
4. Vintage handbags. Visit different thrift shops in search of that perfect vintage handbag. My favorite kind right now are small handbags with a crossover chain strap. These were hot items of the 90′s and can be found at many consignment shops and thrift stores.
5. Clogs. Almost every fashion magazine issue this month has featured the most talked about shoe style for Fall 2010: the clog. Clogs were everywhere in the 90′s, and many can be found today at thrift stores across the country. If you find a pair in your size that you love, personalize them by adding studs or other decorative elements. Also keep in mind that shoe makers can sometimes alter the sizing and fit of the shoe.

These five fashion items are some of our favorite amongst many vintage styles today. While you practice sustainable fashion remember to be creative and add your own personalized style to your ‘upcycled’ garments and accessories.

Send us pictures of your latest upcycled fashion projects. We would love to see them!

Forget what you’ve heard about organic cotton being flimsy. The idea that harsh pesticides are necessary to protect cotton crops against damage-causing bugs is simply not true. In fact, insecticides weaken plants and welcome even more cotton-nibbling creatures. How? When farmers use abrasive substances to shield crops, they kill all bugs, good and bad. What’s more, stronger cotton-eating bugs flourish and there are no predatory insects, birds and spiders to stop them in their tracks. Unfortunately, farmers have to hose down their crops with even more cancer-causing chemicals to kill the stronger bugs. And ultimately, repeated exposure from rough pesticides and tougher insects makes for a much weaker cotton crop.

But the destruction doesn’t stop there.  Once the cotton crop is picked, factories must scour and bleach the plant to rid it of pesticides. However, instead of freeing the cotton of disease-causing chemicals, other compounds, such as formaldehyde, are added in to preserve the “quality” of the fabric.  The chemicals do little to protect the garment and instead leak dangerous substances in the fabric. More shockingly, in an average shirt produced with non-organic cotton, only 72% of the actual garment is cotton.  The rest of the shirt is a combination pesticide residue, layers of silicone and other toxic fillers!

To you, the consumer, purchasing non-organic clothing means sacrificing quality and exposing yourself to potential health problems. Opt for organic options instead. Organic cotton is stronger and more durable than the regular variety because it goes through less processing and has been spared harsh chemicals and pesticide resistant bugs.

On an average, shirts made with organic cotton start to lose their elasticity at 100 washes, compared to those made of regular cotton which start to lose theirs at just 25. On top of that, organic cotton is softer and has a more luxurious feel. It’s hard to believe that such a delicate fabric can be so sturdy, but the secret lies in what it’s made of – 100% certified organic cotton and NO PESTICIDES.

Consumers with allergies and sensitive skin will also find that organic cotton is a better option. Without the use the pesticides, organic cotton is safer, softer and overall superior.

So, before you fork up the dough for another shirt, ask yourself if you are willing to spend your hard-earned dollars on second-rate garments. Instead, try investing in an100% organic option. Your money will be well spent on a lush, environmentally friendly, non-toxic and highly long-lasting piece of clothing. The obvious winner in this battle is organic cotton- it packs the punch against regular cotton.

Pssstttt…. who said organic options had to be pricey? Go to indiepeace.myshopify.com and browse affordable and stylish 100% certified organic options now!

.

Check out the new INDIE PEACE photo album on Facebook!  A new photo is added each day of INDIE PEACE merchandise.  If you want to look at other styles that aren’t uploaded yet, check out the INDIE PEACE website at www.indiepeace.com!