a PuraKai T-shirt
Father and Daughter Team Up to Create Line Starting with Organic Cotton Grown in California
Only 2 percent of the clothing sold in the United States is made here.
But Noel Huelsenbeck and his daughter Megan want to make sure that even their organic cotton is made in the USA for their PuraKai Clothing.
To do that, the father and daughter duo from San Diego are turning to Kickstarter to transform their line of "Made in USA" clothing now made from organic cotton grown in India to clothing made from organic cotton grown in California. Right now, the Indian cotton they use is converted into yarn in North Carolina and then knit, cut and sewn into T-shirts in California.
But if they raise $35,000 by July 29, their all-USA project with local organic cotton can go forward. So far, there have been 43 backers promising $3,260. If you pledge $28, you get a US-made merino wool beanie or headband. Donate $35, you receive a soft, light-weight T-shirt that will be delivered by September.
They call their all-USA concept "seed to shirt." The idea bubbled up from their love of the ocean and clean water, desire for "Made in USA" clothing and penchant for fashion. Noel is a lifelong surfer, technology consultant and his 21-year-old daughter likes stylish clothing. "As a surfer, I embraced all surfing wear brands, thinking they represented clean water and taking care of the environment. Then I found out that cotton is one of the worst crops in terms of using pesticides and herbicides. With cotton grown in the San Joaquin Valley, those chemicals are dumped into the Monterey Bay," Noel said.
That's when they started PuraKai Clothing. But being socially responsible, they would like to see California organic cotton farmers get their business too.
In addition, they are donating a portion of their revenues to the Billion Baby Turtles Project in Costa Rica, to help baby turtles make into the ocean alive, and San Diego Coastkeepers, which works on inland and coastal water issues.
