Organic Style began as a wish to share my knowledge about an eco-friendly lifestyle. As a vegetarian for about 15 years
and animal lover for my whole life, I became more and more interested in living a healthier lifestyle for myself and those
around me including the environment. Quite a few years ago, I took a vegetarian cooking class and learned about the importance
of organic food. I went to the class assuming I knew everything there was to know about vegetarian food, having been vegetarian
at this point for about 5 or 6 years. What I came home with was a whole new appreciation for organic. I learned it was healthier
for me, healthier for the farmer who is growing the food and harvesting it and also healthier for the environment. I would no longer
be contributing to unneeded chemicals and pesticides on our earth by consuming only organic food. So now I was putting healthier
food in my body, but what was I putting on my body? Since I was always an animal lover first, cruelty free skincare
products were an absolute for me but I also learned that clothing can be made organically too. And there were so many alternative
products being produced that I wanted others to learn about such as towels, sheets, handbags, hats and especially clothing and
accessories for babies. After careful planning and researching manufacturers who I wanted to carry, I opened Organic Style!
All the clothing here is organic and most are also fair trade certified. All the manufacturers I work with practice fair labor and all use
vegetable dyes or low-impact dyes. All the accessories we carry such as handbags and jewelry are fair trade and imported from
countries such as India, Nepal, Ghana and Uganda.

I also wanted to practice what I preach about recycling and reusing so all the shelving and fixtures in the store are either recycled
or made from salvaged wood. The counter is made from floorboards and barn walls from a 200 year old PA farmhouse that was being
torn down and the shelves are made from 200 year old stair boards.

If I can do my small part to help change the world to be a safer, cleaner, healthier place to live then I will be happy!

A Bit About Organic and Fair Trade
Organic clothing is becoming mainstream just as organic produce was 10 years ago. All
the clothing is made from cotton, hemp or linen and is all manufactured under strict fair trade regulations. This means everyone from
the farmers who grew the cotton crop to the folks who made the clothing are paid a fair wage unlike typical sweat shop production.
The crops are all grown without the use of any pesticides or chemicals. It actually takes approximately 1/3 lb. of pesticides to
produce one non-organic t-shirt! People in countries such as Uzbekistan and India where much of conventional cotton is produced
are forced into horrific conditions. The government controls their lives very tightly and if the farmers do not obey, they are likely
to be arrested and beaten. There is also an alarming trend of farmer suicides in India. The state is responsible for bringing the
livelihoods of millions of people to such desperation they feel suicide is the only way out. One of the unique products carried in
the store are handmade baskets from Bangladesh. They are made through the Blessing Basket project which offers an opportunity
to end the vicious cycle of poverty by paying fair trade wages for sharing their heritage through their remarkable talents. These women
were previously forced into prostitution and now can provide for their families through this wonderful program. Purchasing and
supporting organic and fair trade products will lessen the negative environmental and social impact of conventional cotton production
and governmental injustices worldwide.

Charities We Donate To:
We contribute a portion of sales to a different charity each month. A few of our charities for 2008 include:
New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance www.nj-ara.org
Clean Ocean Action www.cleanoceanaction.org
The Smile Train (Cleft Palate surgeries for underpriveleged children) www.smiletrain.org
RAWA (Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan) www.rawa.org

We strongly believe in empowering others and feel it is so important to give to those in need.

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