Fashion & Style
What's Your Story? Eco-ethical
What's Your Story? features the different characters that roam the streets of Toronto. Every Monday and Thursday, a new person shares their story, likes and dislikes about the city, a little secret and more.
Name: Kerry
Age: 32
What neighbourhood are you from? Jarvis and Isabella
What do you 'do'? I own an eco-ethical clothing store on Yonge Street called, Green Is Black.
How long have you been in Toronto? 3 years
What's your story?
In high school, I made all of my clothing out of reclaimed material and also did some modeling. Post-secondary wise, I went into social services in non-profit and I just decided to make the switch to for profit. I felt like I could give people the choices that I thought were available and the ability to vote with their dollar for what they believe in. The store is a good combination of my interests.
Favorite thing(s) about Toronto:
The neighborhoods. I like how it's divided into neighborhoods. And the people.
Least favorite thing(s) about Toronto:
The pollution.
You have 24 hours to spend with someone who's never been to Toronto before - what do you do?
I would take them to brunch at Pulp Kitchen and then, I would take out an AutoShare car to visit all of my favorite neighborhoods like Kensington and Leslieville. For lunch, I would take them to Camros for BeauVega dessert. I would take them to dinner at Live and then, take them out dancing to one of the many neat clubs.
One thing that your friends/family don't know about you:
Sometimes, I might not go out if I have a really great book. I might say I'm not up for it.
Discussion
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Is the former old-fashioned or the later is a new ethic's system in philosophically which also argues that there is a priory imperative that if you get featured on blogto you're totally out of touch and living in an utopian Toronto where people eat in fancy restaurants shop in eco-ethical stores and they all love Kensington market despite its utterly depressing atmosphere with Rastas and drug- addicts.
... But then again who really cares about blogto?
Sorry. :-)
Eco-Ethical means you can autoshare around town apparently (i.e. it's greenwash bullshit). Environmentalists would walk, bike or take transit.
Me? I'm waiting for the next big thing: Ego-ethical.
Strange that something that minimizes transport and packaging costs can end up being so expensive. How does one explain $130 shorts and $42 100% cotton tshirts? Local labour is that expensive? Yikes.
Wow.. that is quite the sentence. Clearly you either need a soapbox or a blog to get your important message out!
but then again I don't think he would have an interesting story to tell.
but for the record, kensington market is the least depressing place in the world.
not that it isn't a nice place to visit once in a while...
"kensington market reminds me of the third world"
and your point being?
I work for Kerry at her store. I don't think it's a good idea to jump to conclusions based on one sentence in one article about someone. Greenwashing IS a serious issue in our line of work, but bashing companies and person that try to be ethical isn't the best way to go. Were all in this together, let's build a community based on positivity instead of name-calling. Come into our store and see what we are about!
Shared cars have a time and place, but meandering around town is not a situation where one should be used.
(and please, using neo-colonial phrases that do nothing but reinforce stereotypes only make your argument that much weaker. Ok, hot pants?! keep shopping at value village, a place which really destroys the environment and helps to keep this 'third world' that you talk about 'inferior' - if you don't know how it does this, keep your blissful ignorant existence to yourself.)
Solutions for the environment must be systemic at least, and speciest at best: get rid of the species causing the problem. Cringe as you like, but that will be the effect in the end: humans gone, and whatever's left will rebuild a diverse biosphere. It happened to the dinosaurs, lucky for us.
One more note to Guy, I design sustainable fairly made clothing in Canada on both sides of the Coast so for one thing, this country is big and shipping costs are exponential. I also pay my small manufacturers prices that reflect fair wages. I know they are receiving good pay and benefits. The fabrics I use, on top of it all, are not cheap but the prices are getting better and better. I work with domestic suppliers and local contractors. We do what we can to make the prices affordable but you have to understand that the clothes you are used to buying are made by sweatshop workers for the masses. People get treated like dirt in these factories because there are always more to replace them. They get short weekly or monthly contracts that force them to obey so they can get signed on for another one. people have to migrate and leave their families so they can sleep on a dirt floor in Mexico. Green and compassion go hand in hand. Cheap unsustainable goods (not just clothes) are soon to be a thing of the past. There are different ways of making things without being hurtful to our earth and other sentient beings.
I was a conservative for years, because the odious smugness of the left put me off the 'better angels of my nature'. Were it not that neo-cons are more odiously smug than the left today, I might still have been conservative.
Too bad that a lot of GUYS are PSM'ing hateful comments today. what a shame...
My point, anyway, is that Kensington is generally poorly maintained, smells funny, has buildings of questionable structural integrity and drug-deals in plain sight. These aren't attractive qualities for any neighbourhood, but Kensington generally gets a pass because this apparently goes hand in hand with its eclectic nature. It looks underdeveloped and it reminds me, in a way, of some third-world towns. It does have its positives though, it's friendly and interesting, which is why I said it's a decent place to visit.
As for the subject of this post, I didn't criticize her, I criticized the price of products at her online store.
Too bad that a lot of GUYS are PSM'ing hateful comments today. what a shame...
The real truth of Toronto is poverty, social disconnection, failing economy and aging infrastructure.
But then again these matters are far above the head or too strong for the noses of people who run blogto and get featured on it. To them what matters is their Starbuck's coffee in the morning and gap t-shirts or the new scarfs (kayfas?).
Get a grip.
You must be one of those intellectuals man. That's awesome. You are just so concerned about humanity and social justice. good for you. That is probably why you are reading a blog that you condemn of not being relevant. good job, keep up the good work Chomsky.
Toronto has many pieces. You don't have to agree to like everyone of them, but railing out against the bright spots just makes you comical and a nuisance. Nothing more.
If you want to truly make a difference, and I feel that you sincerely do, bring your voice and lamentations to those folks who are in charge of effective change.
Eco-Ethical Practices
Fair Price:
Better price for premium agricultural products ? far above the artificially-low world market price for cotton which is a result of American and European government subsidies.
This ensures organic cotton and bamboo farmers receive a fair wage so they can better feed and educate their children.
Environmental Sustainability:
Encouraging small-scale farmers to invest in sustainable farming practices which ensure the long-term health of the soil and water supplies.
Also benefits the health of farming communities by eliminating the use of harmful chemical.
Working Conditions ? Ethical, Sweatshop Free!
* Domestic (current)
* Fair Labor Association (approved!)
* Domestic spot checks
* Passed social audit inspection by Fairtrade Labeling Organization
Environment
* All stationary made with post consumer waste fiber, made with wind power where possible
* Hangtags printed on FSC-certified recycled paper
* All stationary made in Canada
* All products made in Canada only yarn is shipped to Canada reducing fuel use. Largest shipping distance of product is from Quebec to Ontario
* Bullfrog powered
* Use Internet for online sales, communications, marketing and public relations
* We do not hand out many catalogues instead we hand out our coupon one page flyer.
* All orders shipped in pre-used recycled cardboard boxes without plastic wrapping
Sustainable Materials
* Organic Materials
* Bamboo (sustainable)
* Recycled Polyester
Please create and dedicate all of your time to running a misery-ridden website dedicated to poverty, social disconnection, failing economy and aging infrastructure.
Hang out there all day so that you don't have time to troll here anymore.
Eco-ethical is just another fancy marketing phrase to sell people expensive stuff and make them feel good about. I have no sympathy for those who fall for such snake-oil products but I do feel annoyed when practitioners of such practices are elevated.
IMO, the old ladies who sell vegetables on the street in Spadina are the true eco-ethical vendors, they don't even use electricity!
I'm off to Beeches Jazz festival (which this blog failed to even mention).
Peace,
World to blogto.com, most rational people have given up on your comments section for these features. It's *embarrasing* to read them.
Seriously, I've giving up on this now too. The comments are always deep sixed by this useless garbage early on, and they never recover.
Boingboing uses disemvowlement sparingly, please consider it.
Yes @ Ratpick...
<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7385615.stm";>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7385615.stm<;/a>
Yes, you're right, and it is very unfortunate that a handful of individuals continue to bring negativity and insult these well-intended pieces, week after week.
I've asked them both publicly and privately to reconsider their sabotaging and harrassing our writers and subjects, to no avail.
We are reconsidering our open commenting policy, which clearly gives people the benefit of the doubt, and apparently shouldn't.
This feature is not about how "ghetto" Toronto is becoming or the third world. It is about Kerry who is doing far more for the environment than most of us could ever commit to in our lifetime.
It's sad that some of you cannot simply accept that Kerry is doing something that many of us cannot do. I bet you cannot give up your SUV, cheap sweatshop clothing and daily meat diet. And you are contributing to the climate change, child labour and extinction of species, each and every day. Maybe you can live with who you are, but some people, selfless like Kerry, will put others before her needs and do what is ethical.
Kerry, you are an inspiration! I'm sorry you had to read some of these comments.
Like any other issue, in order for something to become systematic, the people involved must grow to numbers of citizens who are heard.
One or two politicians or hippies aren't going to stir things up enough for the 'system' to start making change. Change happens when you have a mass exodus of people changing their minds. People like Kerry help stir this up, get more people involved which eventually will start a systematic deconstruction of our current eco-situation.
Change doesn't happen overnight, it starts with individuals like this who learn to compromise and educate others on how to compromise for a better way for all of us.
To say anything along the lines of 'why bother?' is insane. You can wait for some sort of systematic change all you want (make sure you bring a bag lunch, you'll be here for a while) but don't be negative to others who take their thumbs out of their asses and do something about it NOW.
Wanted to say - cool shop and nice idea. I actually don't shop much but when I do I'll go and check it out. Thanks
It's basically commentators ripping apart these people because of what they're wearing, what they look like, where they live, and dismissing any sort of cause they're involved with as being disingenuous, because "they're hypocrites" or "haven't done enough" - a conclusion which they've aptly made, based on the 6 lines of answers provided.
I'd like to see these critics have their own profiles posted for everyone to see and comment on, so that they can show how utterly fascinating and selfless and perfect they are.
Jerrold, please don't give me the "big balls" argument, why don't you post more profiles of normal people like that window washer and no one will post negative comments.
I'm really glad Kerry opened her store. Trying to find well-made, environmentally responsible clothing (beyond organic cotton tshirts) in Toronto has been challenging-to-impossible for years.
I've already bought a couple of items from Green is Black, both of which I'm really happy with.
Thanks for putting yourself out there Kerry, and ditto on keeping up the good work.
I think she has a specialty store that appeals to a certain niche, but a lot has to happen before it becomes a practical option.
I don't know what sort of bubble some of these folks live in where no one questions them and offers them a varying opinion. I was also shocked by a post made by someone named "kimchi_lady" who literally prostrates to the lady profiled and analogizes for us!
Seriously, the problem is not us, the problem is with these people and their detachment from real people with opinions, the problem is this bubble that they live in and their inability to differentiate between criticism and abuse.
My comments are critical but not mean spirited.
A) They're only here for attention.
B) Don't feed that need by making them the center of attention / asking everyone to pass judgement on them.
C) Go watch super nanny.
There is nothing reasonable about the debate here, it's always a coveted attempt at self-aggrandizement flown under the flag of whatever bullshit they can convience people of ("I'm just telling it as it is").
Just get over this crap by disemvowling. They don't get the attention they crave, and like on super nanny they will likely have a hissy fit, but after all that it's over.
Seriously, the longer you let it go on the harder it is to shake this BS later on.
Also, can you please please please stop saying disemvowelling.
Posting comments should be a privilege, not a right. The comments on blogto are generally way more thoughtful than the crap you see on The Globe or The Star, but the personal attacks that always show up on profiles are really obnoxious.
There are two types of criticisms. I welcome constructive ones but comments such as "these environmentalists are lying hypocrites" or questions " why wouldn't she just cook at home with recycled ingredient?" cannot be considered constructive. It is unnecessary, distasteful and immature.
Zack, people disagree all the time. But how they express their opinion is just as important as the message. Your comment about Kensington market and "its utterly depressing atmosphere with Rastas and drug-addicts" was unnecessary, distasteful and immature. And hence, negative comments surrounding you followed.
The problem is simple. Lack of respect.
so when stuff is made in north america I don't know why but it is more expensive take American Apparell as an example ... I don't shop there because it is just too pricey ... why does it cost more if made here ?
and for the nasty comments ... just ignore them they are just negative people who don't have a voice anywhere else and can hide behind a keyboard and a website that let's them get away with it ... nobody is perfect
The person who made your MEC bag was likely paid under a dollar to make it. Are you comfortable with that? Does that sound fair to you? If it doesn't, then you can be grateful that people like Kerry are brave enough to say no to the Wal-Marts and Gaps of the world and force us to recognize that CLOTHES ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THIS CHEAP, and acknowledge that when they are, it means that someone, somewhere is being exploited.
everyone else, the fact that you are even responding negatively to this blog is a sure sign of the guilt you feel for your part in contributing to the environmental crisis this world is in.
oh you don't, do you? I guess your computer is made out of 100% renewable resources and didn't emit any effluvium during it's creation. and I suppose the energy it sucks comes from green sources too. and your last computer isn't sitting in a third-world e-dump getting its toxic parts dissected by old women and children.
my point is, get off your collective high horses and applaud someone who is making a career out of making a difference. it's not like she's clubbing cute bunnies for kicks - check The Star for that.
Once again... stop making character judgments based on a few sentences. You're putting words in our mouths and that is not fair. You are projecting what you think we think or act, and making assumptions about a lifestyle I am not sure you may fully understand. Making up things in your head is not fact, and basing an opinion on such reality shuts you down and prohibits you from actually exploring the world around you. Remember- to assume makes and ass out of you and me. Hahahaha... that never gets old.
However, yes, there are snobby 'greenies'. Being a snob and looking down and insulting people you don't know- in any circumstance, based on any criteria- is douchie behaviour.
Once again, if anyone wants to know what we're about just come into the store!
Happy P.S. Kensington Everybody!
I just want to say that your shop sounds great and that you look like Sophie Ellis Bextor!
A response to Guy Lafleur and a few other people out there. This is a simple analogy of the break down of the cost of t-shirt made today that is affordable to most people. A t-shirt costs, say, $22.00, break that in half, that is what the store makes and what the designer(s)/company makes, divide that in half and take away about 20%, that is what costs to make the garment, take about 40% of that and that is materials. Take the 60% and that goes to the factory. Usually the workers make about 0.08% of the final profit of that t-shirt. You know how much that is? Work it out. Take the time, please. Now every time you shop- think about that. Think why is this so cheap? or...why is this so expensive? No one is telling anyone to go out and buy all green/eco fabulous, whatever. Just THINK about it at least. DO THE MATH. Someone is being abused and I can promise you it ain't no on the design team or the sale staff or even the factory, lol. I worked in the mass garment industry for some time and I learned a lot. It also made me sick. I have seen it first hand (no not the factories in Hong Kong but others I know have). I am not saying every company out there is doing this but just look at the prices, break it down, do the math. And this is easy math. I now have an eco-friendly/ethical women's clothing line and I barely make a profit. I am constantly lowering my prices so that consumers can afford my goods, and this is what I get?!! All of these rants above from people who don't really know what they are talking about (a few of you excluded of course). I am appalled by the level of ignorance from you people. Oh and who was the one who said Value Village is a bad place to shop?? haha, that's so stupid it's funny. You know their profits go to charity? Where I live we have something called Frenchy's and it is a used clothing chain. It is fabulous. I find Prada, vintage Westwood and old retro finds that make my wardrobe more stylish and eco friendly than it would ever be if I just shopped at the Gap or better yet, Walmart. There are a lot of low-income families where I live and they all shop at Frenchy's. It is a very good second option for those of you out there trying to be more sustainable in your daily practices. There is nothing wrong with shopping second hand and then buying some items (for yes more money) that you use a lot like a great winter coat or a pair of boots. A little black dress, a purse, whatever. It's an investment. The items at Kerry's store are investments and if you can't afford them take the other route. Just please! stop bitching about our prices- this is just the beginning and when the whole industry changes for the better you will be forced to make better decisions, so why not start now? think about it.
What I don't appreciate is people preaching to me about only buying organic or fair trade or whatever - yes, there are green snobs. The inaccessibility concept doesn't seem to penetrate. Those who can should, those that can't - try what you can do. For example, I usually try to buy one produce item organic when I'm veggie/fruit shopping and when the organic is equal or just a little more I'll buy it. I've been using organic skincare for most of life (many home-made and ayurvedic) and I'm vegetarian. But when I'm tired, I might just hop on the TTC instead of my bike or even take a cab because I haven't been feeling well. I feel white, upper class Canadians in the "environmental movement" sometimes forget that some people don't have the means or time to always decide the "right thing to do". The government, companies and other stakeholders need to make these options more viable, sustainable and most of all accessible in the long run. Also - please never use "Third World" again...it is totally old-school and ignorant.
Not organic...well local organic is the best and def. not the cheapest. Buying organic from California (and you are in TO or wherever) is ridiculous...don't we know this by now?