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The Tip is 'Ask Before You Buy' I went to a department store for a pair of dress shoes recently. The clerk helped me with three different pairs that I tried on. 'The Big Secret' was on the forefront of my mind so I asked, "Are these shoes imports?" The salesman responded that they were in fact imported. "Do you have any Made In America shoes like these?" I asked. To my surprise he said, "We have a whole line of Made In USA shoes." I was able to purchase the same color and style with the Made In USA label. These Made in America shoes were less expensive, came with a better warranty and were more comfortable. It's amazing how often this simple Made in US question yields unexpected and often times pleasant results. I now ask this question regularly, whereas before I would not have thought to ask for a Made in America alternative. More often than not, I can find a Made in America product of higher quality and at the same, or slightly higher price. Asking the question is so simple and can make a positive impact, in both the short and long term. Try it sometime. If you are like me, you may be surprised with how many Made in US products are out there. You will love it when you realize you are making a difference that benefits many. With your help America will be ours again and that is a good thing. Buying Tip Continued - Read more on Made in America Products by Sweetgrass From Souks to Recycled Soda Bottles ? Passion in the Making When Sweetgrass founder Paige Morse took her first trip abroad in the early 1990s, she never expected it to lead to a career in fashion design. But in the souks ? or markets ? of Morocco, Egypt and Turkey, she fell in love with textiles and color, patterns and hue. A creative fire was sparked. When she returned to the United States, she started sewing. Her first creations were fleece hats and scarves made from recycled soda bottles. Family and friends were the lucky recipients of her initial designs, once dubbed something Peter Pan would have worn if only Neverland had been a little colder. New discoveries followed when she moved to Boulder, Colorado. At a local handcrafters' co-op, she met hemp activists who educated her on the many benefits of industrial hemp. She also learned firsthand the importance of local economies and how they form the basis of thriving communities. Here she was able to refine garment fit and design, and also formulate a vision for how to sustain herself, her community and the planet while doing something she loved. On a trip to Thailand in 1995, Paige discovered the source of hemp fabric she had first seen in Boulder. She met Laotian women who had traveled for days to sell their rolls of hand-woven, hand-batiked fabric, and she came home with three oversized duffle bags stuffed with cloth. But more importantly, she returned with the conviction to create a clothing company that integrated her love of fashion with her beliefs about sustainable living. Today, located in southern Oregon between the Cascade and Siskiyou mountains, Sweetgrass has grown into a premier eco-fashion company. Please explore our site and learn more about our Design Philosophy, Environmental Ethic and Business Ethic. Browse our latest line of clothing. |
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