About Sew Eco-Logical, what we offer, our mission, frequently asked questions regarding ordering, swaches, definition, return policy, payment options, incorporating organic into your line, and confidentiality

About Sew Eco-Logical

Sew Eco-Logical LLC
1280-B E. 28th Ave.
Eugene, Oregon 97403 U.S.A.
phone: 1(541) 683-5828 • fax: 1(541) 683-6333

Sew Eco-Logical supplies woven and knit textiles to established manufacturers moving into organic and to well managed start up businesses founded upon organic.

Sew Eco-Logical, experienced in converting organic textiles, will support your company in specifying, customizing, and labeling to organic standards.

Whether your company is founded on organic, or newly attracted to organic's sizzle, we are ready to provide quality textiles to your company.

Sew Eco-Logical Offers:

  • Production where you need it.
    Our supply chain extends from the U.S. to Asia and Europe.
  • Expertise in Manufacturing Organic.
    We wil work with your team to develop specifications and work with you all the way to designating words on tags and labels. We provide customers technical information on certification, manufacturing processes and labeling.
  • Reliability and professionalism.
    We stand behind our products. We maintain close contact with you, our customer. We provide realistic lead times and keep your apprised of progress.
  • Organic integrity.
    Organic fiber certificates are secured and maintained on file. We provide customers with copies of the certificates. We work with our milling partners to track the certified fiber through the supply chain.
  • Authenticity.
    We speak plainly and responsibly. We do not use simplistic, euphemistic jargon such as "low impact" and "sustainable". We speak truthfully about the environmental impacts of processes. We provide you with the pros and cons of choices.
  • Performance features coupled with organic.
    Consumers expect performance. The future will bring functional finishes that do no harm to life on this planet. We will introduce these products as they become available.

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Our goal is to provide your company quality organic fiber textiles on-time accompanied by good service.

Our Mission is:

  • To reduce the release of toxic, carcinogenic, teratogenic compounds into the air, water, and soil by utilizing more and more organic fiber.
  • To provide our employees opportunities to develop to their maximum potential and to be fairly compensated for these contributions.
  • To support living wages and job security for organic farmers worldwide.
  • To work within the industry to research and develop products and processes that will meet organic standards and match non-organic textiles in performance.
  • To create and offer to our customers beautiful textiles of a quality that equals the best of conventional natural fiber textiles.
  • To minimize (1) our use of resources, specifically those that contribute to global warming and (2) our production of waste and pollution.

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FAQ

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  • Ordering
    • Do you sell only to businesses?
      Yes. To companies registered with the pertinent State and/or Federal agencies.
    • Who sells smaller quantities to businesses needing a roll or less?
      Near Sea www.nearseanaturals.com
      Organic Cotton Plus www.organiccottonplus.com
      PM Organics www.pmorganics.com
    • What are your minimums to custom knit a fabric?
      1,000 yards or pounds.
    • What are your minimums to dye a knit fabric?
      800 to 1,000 lbs., or equivalent yardage. (Divide 1,000 by linear weight of the fabric to calculate the minimum in yards)
    • What are your minimums to custom weave a fabric?
      3,000-5,000 yards depending upon the construction and the equipment required.
    • What are the minimums to dye a woven fabric?
      The minimum would depend on our dye machinery at the finishing facility location. It ranges between 500 to 1,200 (U.S.) yards. Minimums to weave may first apply.
    • What are the minimums to print a knit or woven fabric?
      Expect a minimum of 1,000 yards per print. For this base minimum, a rough rule of thumb is to take the base cost of the fabric and double it. Economies of scale are achieved at 3,000 yard up.
    • What is involved in print design?
      The design needs to be formatted with the repeat and submitted in the ready for print format. Any assistance you need to format a file would be done by a print designer.

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    • How can we offer color now in our line and grow into the minimum dye lot of 1200 yards?
      There are two options. Given you are flexible as to shade and time of delivery, we can combine the interest of several companies in a common color and pool commitments to meet the minimum. Should your company be able to meet the minimum over a 2 to 3 month period, you would contract with us to purchase goods over the negotiated time period.
    • What is the procedure to order a custom fabric?
      We may or may not have the ability to construct the fabric of organic fiber. First see fabric minimums. Given you are ready to financially commit to the investment, send us complete written specifications or a sample of a full width, minimum one yard piece of the model fabric. Make sure the sample is made of cotton. Rayon, tencel, acrylic and polyester have unique properties that will not be replicated with natural fiber. We analyze the fabric and return with a yes or no. If yes, we quote a price and estimated delivery time. Given that we can reproduce the fabric, you will sign a contract with our company to produce it. Prepayment or a 50% deposit may be required.
    • What is the industry definition of first quality?
      The quality of a textile is measured on defects per 100 yards on a 100 point scale. Defects are assigned 1 to 4 points. Major flaws are assigned 4 points. Minor flaws are assessed 1 point. A first quality textile may have 6 to 12 points of defects. Please refer to the Worth Street Textile Market Rules for how the points are applied to determine the quality. The WSR, codified in 1926, is the frequently cited standard in procedures and customs for purchase, sale, and use of textiles. Defects may exist in first quality fabric. With dyed fabric there may be variations in shade.
    • We are an overseas business and found your web site. How can we do business together?
      Sew Eco-Logical receives many inquiries from new and established, large and extremely small businesses. Because exporting requires additional time to handle details, we focus our attention serving overseas companies who are ready to do business, have figured import costs into their pricing and can order a minimum of 300 yards of a given style. Prior to contacting us please discuss import costs with customs broker, freight company and/or your government? We will need your broker's name, phone and fax number.

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  • Swatches
    • How do I order samples?
      If your company is established and can easily meet minimums, call us or fill out the "Good Fit" form. If you are a new or an at-home business, fill out the "Good Fit" form completely. Then press 'send'. We send samples based upon our fit with your business. Your answers to our questions enable us to efficiently assess how we can assist you. Our company is set up to work with established businesses. We work with new and at-home business that (1) have educated themselves on textiles (2) that specify in detail what they are sourcing (3) that can meet minimums and (4) that are organized to grow.
    • Do you send samples to everyone who requests them?
      Regrettably no. We reserve the right to refer individuals who are in the startup phase or who require special services. Organic Cotton Plus and Near Sea Naturals sells some of the same fabrics we do in smaller quantities, sample sets and cuts.

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  • Definition of organic and certification standards
    • What is the current definition of an organic fabric?
      Until 2006, different countries and certifiers had different definitions of an organic textile. A working group of organic agriculture non profits and certifiers convened, developed and agreed to a Global Organic Textile Standard www.global-standard.org. The U.S. Organic Trade Association was party to its creations and support. The Global Standard touches on every detail of manufacture but leaves out detail. The historical standard such as the OTA American, JAS, Skal will continue to be utilized in certifying organic textiles. Organic textile standards address all phases from farming to the garment manufacture.
    • Are the organic textiles on the market certified from field to finishing?
      Yes and no. The market has not always borne the cost of certifying each stage of the manufacture. Today there is one certified U.S. spinning mill but zero weaving or knitting mills. Overseas there are mills who pay the cost of certification of the spinning and weaving or knitting. In lesser frequency there are dye houses and finishing facilities that are currently certified. Today we offer textiles made of certified organic cotton fiber and yarn. In 2008 we anticipate offering for sale woven and knit textiles certified from fiber to finishing.
    • How is organic cotton grown differently than regular cotton?
      Organic farming nurtures the soil’s biological life. Conventional cotton deadens the soil, kills everything in the name of controlling pests. Organic farming fosters the health of a diversity of insects, birds, soil microbes, and worms. Insects injurious to cotton are held in check by this diversity. Organic farmers rotate crops to allow the soil to rest. Cover crops are grown and natural fertilizers are applied to improve the soil for the long term.

      Chemicals commonly applied to conventionally grown cotton are neuro-toxins, contact bird killers, carcinogens, mutagens and teratogens. For more information on distinctions read below, Incorporating Organic Into Your Line.

    • How about the manufacturing of organic textiles?
      Manufacturing to standard requires mills to special order, educate themselves and sometime retool to utilize different sizes, oils, detergents, scours, dyes, and auxiliaries. Mills shut down lines and clean equipment prior to running the organic. Goods must be segregated to avoid contact with everything else in the mill. Paperwork is generated to track materials and goods. Organic standards mandate responsible wastewater disposal systems be in effect.

    • What is certification, and who are the certifiers?
      Certification involves on-site inspection, inspector's reporting, review of the report by the certification administrataive board in light of the standard, and a certifier's decision to certify or not the operations of the farm, gin, spinner, mill, dye house, or finishing facility. Certifiers are independent non profit and for profit companies that inspect the fiber farming, each step of the manufacture, and all record keeping according to the designated organic fiber standard.

    • Are the standards of organic fabric codified under the Organic Food Act, or other U.S. Federal law?
      The growing of organic fiber is regulated per the Federal Organic law as it relates to the growing of food crops. There is no organic law regulating organic fiber textile manufacture and labeling in the U.S. The aforementioned standards are voluntary

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  • Return Policy
    • What is the return policy?
      We represent the fabrics of several manufacturers in addition to our own goods. Each compnay has its own policy. The policy is stated on the invoice and in any applicable contract document. On program or custom orders, the contract generally covers terms of returns and claims. Return authorization must be issued prior to return. There is a time limit on making claims that begins upon notice of delivery. Only uncut, unwashed goods may be returned. It is the responsibility of the buyer to examine the goods upon receipt and notify the seller of variation immediately. On open stock goods, should the fabric be returned without reason of defect or variation from order, the buyer will pay for the return freight. It is the buyer's responsibility to know the terms for return or claim.

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  • Payment options
    • What are the payment options?
      Cash, Mastercard or Visa. Credit is not extended on first order or orders of minimum quantities. Credit will be extended based upon a good credit report. Credit investigations may slow processing and shipping of an order. On program orders, deposits may be required. On overseas manufacture and delivery, expect requirement of prepayment.
    • Who pays for color matching?
      This is dependent on the line. Generally the cost of color matching the first time and, if necessary, the second time is included in the price of the fabric. Should your company not order the fabric, Sew Eco-Logical and its associates reserve the right to receive reimbursement for the lab costs plus handling for the completed color matches, a minimum of $49.00. We reserve the right to charge for the cost of the 3rd color match.

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  • Incorporating Organic Into Your Line
    • Where do I find more information about the benefits of organic cotton?
      Visit the following web sites:
      http://www.panna.org/resources/cotton.html
      http://www.beyondpesticides.org/
      www.sustainablecotton.org
      www.ota.com/organic/environment/cotton_environment.html
      http://www.pan-uk.org/Projects/Cotton/Newsletter/mar2007.htm
    • How can you assist me in making the case to my company's management to go organic?
      We can arrange for an invitation to one of two farm tours, either the Sustainable Cotton Project's annual tour of cotton agriculture or the TOMC field day. The tours are held in late September/early October in the San Joaquin Valley and northwest Texas respectively. These are eye opening experiences and key to understanding the severe problems associated with cotton agriculture and the opportunities for your company to be part of the solution!
      • Will my name and address be shared?
      No. We do not sell or exchange customer information.
    • Will you keep in confidence information I share with you regarding my business plan and products?
      Yes. What you share with us will stay with Sew Eco-Logical and our production associates.

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