July/August 1997 Issue

Clothing Arguments: Reviews & Resources

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I N P I C T U R E S

In “Hemp for Victory,” a World War II era propaganda film, the virtues of the “natural” fiber are extolled by none other than the U.S. Government. Recently dragged into the age of technology by Free Speech TV, the film is a little outdated for educational value, but it’s an entertaining cultural history lesson. Laden with cartoonish xylophone riffs and heart warming Americana images, how can it lose?

Of course, it only works with RealPlayer or VDO Live. You’ll also have to listen to an angsty intro blurb about Free Speech TV and Psych@ctive — a weekly feature covering the marijuana legalization front — but it’s only 40 seconds or so. Then the fun starts. 

A R O U N D T H E N E T

ORGANIC COTTON
Patagonia’s “Tale of Two T-Shirts” is fairly riveting as it compares the cultivation, from start to finish, of conventional, chemical intensive cotton t-shirt with that of organic cotton.

ECOTEX NATURAL FABRICS
Ecotex was one of the pioneers of the eco-friendly fabric Tencel, and it’s Web site isn’t shy about telling you how smart a move that was. Self-praise aside, the FAQ page does shed some light on the tree-based fiber.

ECOLUTION — CYBERHEMP
Hemp enthusiasts will feel right at home at the Ecolution site. You can find out more about hemp products, hemp conspiracy theories and hemp news — one article explains how Mercedes-Benz is trying to use cannabis in the structure of its vehicles. Now that would be the ultimate driving machine…

FAIR TRADE FOUNDATION
This Connecticut-based organization makes the point that being socially conscious when buying clothes is just as important as being environmentally conscious. That’s why it’s trying to develop a label for clothes that says “sweat shop free.”

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WE'LL BE BLUNT

It is astonishingly hard keeping a newsroom afloat these days, and we need to raise $253,000 in online donations quickly, by October 7.

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Readers also told us to just give it to you straight when we need to ask for your support, and seeing how matter-of-factly explaining our inner workings, our challenges and finances, can bring more of you in has been a real silver lining. So our online membership lead, Brian, lays it all out for you in his personal, insider account (that literally puts his skin in the game!) of how urgent things are right now.

The upshot: Being able to rally $253,000 in donations over these next few weeks is vitally important simply because it is the number that keeps us right on track, helping make sure we don't end up with a bigger gap than can be filled again, helping us avoid any significant (and knowable) cash-flow crunches for now. We used to be more nonchalant about coming up short this time of year, thinking we can make it by the time June rolls around. Not anymore.

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